Legal Action Follows 2024 Fatal Exposure
A cleaning services company and a worksite manager were formally charged on July 16, 2026, following a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigation into a fatal safety incident at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks. The incident, which occurred on May 23, 2024, resulted in the deaths of two workers due to exposure to hydrogen sulphide gas.
The cleaning firm, Stargroup Est, faces one charge under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations for failing to implement reasonably practicable measures to minimize workplace risks. Additionally, worksite manager Lim Beng Hock, 49, faces 12 charges under the Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations for failing to exercise due diligence regarding the issuance of confined space entry permits.
Incident Details and Regulatory Response
During the May 2024 operation, four workers were cleaning a water treatment process tank when they entered an enclosed passage. Investigations revealed that hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas often emitted during sludge drainage, exceeded safe thresholds and triggered alarms. Two workers subsequently died after being transported to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
The Singaporean national water agency, PUB, has also faced regulatory action. The Ministry of Manpower issued a composition fine to the agency for allowing staff to enter confined spaces without adequate ventilation. Furthermore, a PUB officer received a stern warning for failing to comply with safety protocols on the night preceding the incident.
Institutional Safety Enhancements
In response to the tragedy, PUB has implemented several corrective measures. The agency has installed permanent ventilation systems in all confined spaces across its plants to ensure compliance even during short-duration tasks. PUB has also blacklisted Stargroup for 18 months, prohibiting the firm from tendering for new projects. The agency stated it has enhanced its contractor management processes, now requiring verification that ground-level measures align with documented risk assessments and safe work procedures.