Escalator maintenance company slapped with S$15K fine after elderly man & woman fell in Hougang
SINGAPORE: On Thursday (Oct 1), a company was given a fine of S$15,000 due to incidents in 2023 in which two elderly individuals were injured after falling from an escalator at Hougang because the handrails were not working properly. The firm, 9G Elevator, entered a guilty plea to one charge of failing to carry out required maintenance works, according to reporting from CNA . The incidents…
Hougang's 9G Elevator company has been fined S$15,000 due to two escalator-related accidents involving elderly individuals in 2023. The company admitted to failing to perform necessary maintenance works, as reported by CNA. On April 21, 2023, an 84-year-old man suffered elbow and back injuries after falling from the escalator at 105 Hougang Avenue 1, owned by Aljunied Hougang Town Council.
The following day, a 76-year-old woman sustained a fractured spine in a more severe incident. The handrail was not moving while the stairs were operational, causing both seniors to lose their balance. During an inspection by Building and Construction Authority officers, it was discovered that the handrail stopped functioning when a person held it.
The court saw footage of the man attempting to grasp the handrail but ultimately sliding down several steps. The escalator had undergone multiple maintenance services between October 2022 and April 2023, but its handrail and shaft bearings had not been thoroughly examined due to wear and tear. The prosecutor from the Building and Construction Authority sought the maximum fine for such incidents, deeming the case one of the worst among similar cases.
The two elderly victims declined compensation from the maintenance company. Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng emphasized the potential for further harm to other escalator users and highlighted 9G's failure to fully assess the handrail corrosion despite multiple inspections. The company has since implemented measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring. The maximum fine for not carrying out required maintenance works is S$20,000.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
