The scene of the Nicoll Highway collapse in April 2004. The engineer placed his right hand over his heart and was momentarily speechless as he surveyed a quiet grass patch that was the scene of a cave-in 20 years ago on Nicoll Highway.
Stationed in a parked bus that was his team's emergency response vehicle, he helped to monitor soil movement to ensure the area was safe for rescue operations. A government inquiry found that an inaccurate assessment of soil behaviour and a design error of the support system underneath caused the collapse.In the two decades since the incident, regular updates to safety protocols are now a mainstay in the construction industry. They include more independent checks, supervision and upskilling of engineers.“The supervision is now done by an independent team.
Every six months, contractors also meet with LTA's senior management to discuss safety performances and flag potential issues. Mr Ng said more precautions need to be put in place, and those in the construction sector need to be more vigilant than ever.