Audi Service Centre Fined S$28,000 After Devastating Lift Explosion Injures Workers

A catastrophic incident at an Audi Service Centre in Ubi has led to a hefty S$28,000 fine for Premium Automobiles, the company behind the operation. The dramatic explosion, which occurred on October 29, 2021, left two workers injured and served as a stark reminder of the critical importance of stringent workplace safety protocols.

The heart of the unfortunate event lay in the ill-advised use of a car lift.

Designed primarily for the safe hoisting of vehicles, the lift was instead tasked with transporting a bulky 700kg battery testing machine (BTM) to a higher floor. This seemingly innocuous task quickly escalated into a nightmare scenario due to a series of compounding errors.

Investigators revealed a critical oversight: no prior risk assessment had been conducted for moving the BTM with the car lift.

Furthermore, workers had not received proper training for such a specialized operation, nor were there established safe work procedures in place. The BTM, a significant hazard with its lithium-ion battery, was also being stored in an area not approved for such equipment, adding another layer of risk.

The scene unfolded dramatically.

As the two workers attempted to lift the enormous BTM, it was placed off-centre on the lift's platform, creating dangerous uneven weight distribution. The lift began to tilt precariously, prompting a desperate attempt by the workers to stabilise the shifting load. Their efforts, however, were in vain.

The lift ultimately gave way, sending the heavy machine crashing down. The impact ignited the BTM's lithium-ion battery, triggering an explosion that reverberated through the service centre.

The consequences were immediate and severe. One worker sustained painful first-degree burns to his left arm, while the other suffered fractures to his left leg and a deep cut to his right hand.

Both individuals were rushed to Singapore General Hospital, highlighting the dangerous nature of the incident.

Premium Automobiles eventually pleaded guilty to an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health Act. The court heard that the company had failed significantly in its duty to ensure the safety and health of its employees.

Specific shortcomings included the lack of a comprehensive risk assessment for the BTM's transportation, the absence of a safe work procedure for using the car lift for non-car items, and inadequate supervision and training for the workers involved.

This incident serves as a crucial cautionary tale for all industries, especially those dealing with heavy machinery and complex equipment.

The S$28,000 fine underscores the severe repercussions of neglecting workplace safety and emphasizes the continuous need for thorough risk assessments, proper training, and strict adherence to established safety protocols to prevent such devastating accidents from happening again.