SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed a safety time-out at the Lentor MRT station construction site after a worker died in an accident early Thursday (Mar 1) morning.

The accident took place at 3.35am "in a tunnel that connects to Lentor station", the LTA said in a statement. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the accident at 642 Ang Mo Kio Avenue Drive at 4.10am

"The worker was employed to dismantle components of Tunnel Boring Machines, following the completion of tunnelling works," said the LTA, referring to the construction of the station along the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

Detailing how the accident happened, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it occurred while four workers were dismantling a man-lock chamber of a tunnel boring machine within a tunnel. 

"The man-lock chamber was being lowered using chain blocks, when the man-lock chamber suddenly swung and hit a work platform that one of the workers was standing on," said MOM.

The ministry added that the worker fell from the platform, which was 2.5 metres above the ground.

SCDF paramedics pronounced the man dead at 4.30am.

Details of the deceased are currently unknown.

LTA said that it is working with the contractor to assist the deceased's family.

The agency has also "imposed a safety timeout to review work processes and is assisting the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Police in their investigations".

The Lentor station contract was awarded to China Railway No 5 Engineering (Singapore branch) in 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

Its parent company has contributed to constructing roads, railways and other public works across China.

Detailing how the accident happened, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it occurred while four workers were dismantling a man-lock chamber of a tunnel boring machine within a tunnel.