"Ground collapses at Raffles Place construction site, killing worker,"

The 31-year-old had been involved in lifting works when the incident happened at about 2.30pm, causing him to fall into the collapsed soil, a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spokesman told The Straits Times.

The rigger and signalman, an employee of Nardev Builders, was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.

MOM said it is investigating the incident, which occurred at the site where Clifford Centre once stood.

The site at 24 Raffles Place is being developed by S.L. Properties, a subsidiary of Singapore Land Group (SingLand).

A SingLand spokesperson said the group is deeply saddened by the incident.

“Together with our main contractor Woh Hup, we will be in touch with the grieving family to offer our deepest condolences and provide support during this difficult time,” the spokesperson said.

A Woh Hup spokesperson said the worker was under the charge of a sub-subcontractor, and he was assisting with the installation of a rebar cage when the incident took place...

MOM said it has ordered Woh Hup to stop substructure construction works.

The ministry said: “As a general safety measure, the ground near excavations must be assessed and sufficiently reinforced to mitigate risks of ground collapse...

[Business & Human Rights Resource Centre could not contact Nardev Builders to invite it to respond to the news of its worker's death; if a response is received this page will be updated accordingly.]