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Feb 24, 2008
NUS crane tragedy: One worker died a hero
Crane operator's actions moments before machine toppled may have saved lives of many workers, students
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi CRANE operator Mohamad Homsen Kassan died a hero last Friday. Seconds before his 72-tonne crane toppled, he shouted a warning to fellow workers at the worksite below his perch. It bought them precious moments to run helter-skelter for safety at the worksite in the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus. Then, even as the 60m-high tower crane tipped over, Mr Homsen, 46, swung the boom away from the nearest building, the NUS Business School. EYE-WITNESSES SAY crane operator Mohamad Homsen Kassan swung the boom away from a building as it toppled. The crane plunged to the ground. Trapped in his cabin, he died from multiple injuries to his body. His younger brother Rafie Kassan, 37, sketched Mr Homsen's final heroic moments to The Sunday Times yesterday, based on accounts given by eye-witnesses. 'If not for him, many other workers and students could have died,' he said. Witnesses said that as the crane fell, it hit a tree and very narrowly missed the bus stop near the NUS Business School. The crane toppled at about 2.15pm and the victims were pronounced dead by paramedics. Rescuers used power tools and airbags to extricate the bodies of Mr Homsen and Mr Thinatharan. The Chinese national was found lying on the ground beside the crane. Two other workers from China were also hurt. All five workers were employed by sub-contractors on the site. The firms were redeveloping the area around the three-storey NUS Society Kent Ridge Guild House. More than 50 family members, friends and colleagues turned up at the Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery yesterday afternoon for Mr Homsen's burial. Many wondered how such an accident could have happened despite stringent safety rules at construction sites. Said Mr Zulgaffar Mohamad Yusuf, 41, a crane instructor and Mr Homsen's friend: 'I've been operating cranes for almost 20 years but never heard of a 60m tower crane collapsing. These things are usually very stable.' Mr Rafie, a taxi driver, said: 'There are so many tower cranes. This site has only one and it turned out faulty.' Separately, Mr V. Ravindran, 43, the elder brother of Mr Thinatharan, also voiced his disquiet. 'What if the crane had fallen onto the university bus stop?' he said. Another crane operator with more than 10 years' experience but who declined to be named, said: 'The boom is attached to the crane by pins and screws. If the pins or screws crack, the boom can get detached.' Industry insiders said that it is standard practice for all cranes to be checked first thing in the day. It is not known whether the crane belongs to the site's main contractor Kimly Construction or was leased from another firm. The company could not be reached for comment. Mr Homsen began operating cranes 16 years ago. His supervisor, Mr Abdul Rahim Rahmat, said: 'Homsen was very experienced and skilled at his job.' He was a divorcee and had no children. He leaves an 84-year- old father and 10 siblings. p/s : Al-Fatihah untuk arwah...amin.