Two workers die from hydrogen sulphide after ignoring safety rules at Singapore water plant

In May 2024, two employees - Srinivasan Sivaraman and Izzat Naqiuddin Dowod - succumbed to hydrogen sulphide inhalation at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks after entering a confined tank passage without respirators. Court testimony revealed that the passage’s ventilator was not operating and that safety procedures, such as keeping one person outside the space, were not followed. Although a personal gas detector was used, it either failed to sound an alarm or the alarm was disregarded, and the workers proceeded despite hazardous readings.

A third worker escaped injury, but the incident prompted criminal charges against contractor Stargroup and its authorised permit manager, Lim Beng Hock, for safety lapses. PUB subsequently blacklisted Stargroup for 18 months, and a stop-work order on confined-space cleaning was lifted after conditions were met.