SINGAPORE: A man who fractured his leg while alighting from a lorry that was ferrying 24 workers sued his company for damages over its negligence, saying the firm had failed to provide a safe system of alighting from the lorry or any safe system to transport workers.
At around 7am that day, Mr Murugan was being transported from his dormitory to his company premises at 11A Joo Yee Road in the back of a 12-foot lorry with other workers. He then used his left leg to step over the tailboard, so he could place it on a foothold on the lorry. However, Mr Murugan said that he was pushed either by a co-worker or co-workers who were waiting to alight.
He also claimed that the company had failed to provide anyone to supervise and ensure safe alighting, or to carry out a risk assessment to identify the potential hazards associated with alighting from the vehicle.The company, which was defended by Mr Lennon Wu Leong Chong from Tan Kok Quan Partnership, denied the claims and said that Mr Murugan had slipped and fallen as he was making his way down from the lorry.
The tailboard of the lorry was also not lowered as it would prevent alighting workers from placing their feet on the step at the back of the lorry, which helped them alight smoothly. The company said that lorries were used to transport workers to their destination, with workers sitting in the back. It was not normal for the tailboard to be lowered for alighting as doing so would block the foothold.
Most able-bodied workers might easily accomplish this, but"it is certainly not without risks, as this accident has amply demonstrated", she said.
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