SINGAPORE : The National Trades Union Congress has called for more effective laws to define employers' obligations for safety at work.
It says the increasing number of fatal industrial accidents will affect Singapore's reputation for business excellence.
There were two major industrial accidents in this month alone.
On Wednesday, an explosion at a warehouse in Tuas killed two men.
And on the February 12, three Thai workers were killed after inhaling solvent fumes at a Choa Chu Kang work site.
The explosion that rocked the Hong Huat Hung warehouse shattered the lives of the Lee family.
64-year-old Lee Lean Seng, one of the company's shareholders, was found dead on the floor of the warehouse.
His son said his father was planning to take a holiday with them after the Lunar New Year.
"We didn't go into the mortuary to see his body. We are making funeral arrangements now. His funeral will most likely be on Sunday."
The other victim of Wednesday's industrial accident is Goh Tua Bak.
His son said his father had been with the company for over 10 years.
"The company has contacted us and told us they will take full responsibility for the incident. It's an industrial incident, nobody wanted it to happen."
The explosion occurred at about 2pm on Wednesday.
An empty enclosed cylindrical metal tank, measuring 8 metres tall and 3 metres in diameter, had ruptured.
And the impact ripped the lid of the tank, causing a hole, in the roof directly above the tank.
In the meantime, neighbors of Hong Huat Hung are working on repairing their premises.
Parts of their ceiling were damaged as a result of the impact of the explosion.
The Ministry of Manpower has issued a stop work order to the company and is now investigating the cause of the explosion.
NTUC has also released a strongly worded statement calling for more drastic action to be taken by the government where industrial safety is concerned. - CNA