Eileen Poh | poh.eileen@nus.edu.sg
Huang Chenmei Juliet | juliethuang@nus.edu.sg
the ridge news
A NUSSU Publication
March 4, 2008
Story Highlights:
- Aftermath of the crane collapse
- Not all students are aware of the accident
- Engineering students unworried about construction site near faculty
- Operations have not resumed at the accident site since the collapse occurred
- Office of Alumni Relations is calling out to staffs and students to raise funds
A week after the crane collapse accident, broken tree branches and a cordoned-off bus stop appears to be all that are left of the deadly crane collapse at the construction site of the new Alumni House.
However, deeper down in the minds of students, the collapse had left them with a greater sense of vigilance.
A 60-meter tower crane came crashing down, narrowly missing the bus stop at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School at 2.15 p.m., Feb. 22.
Most students approached by the ridge were aware of the accident.
Some students followed the news on local media for consecutive days. Others said that they were more cautious and watchful of their surroundings after the accident.
Empty crash site
(Photo by Juliet Huang)
However, vigilance was not in the minds of all students.
Barely two weeks after the accident, there are hints that it merely created a ripple effect – the incident causing an initial commotion but then dissipating slowly from our memories.
One student approached by the ridge was not aware of the crane accident. A graduate engineering student, Gibson Lee, was not worried that such accidents could possibly repeat.
“NUS would have increased safety awareness after this accident,” said Lee.
Huang X.Y., a second year Engineering student who wished to use his initials agreed.
“An incident like this would prompt more stringent checks,” said Huang.
Students waiting next to the crash site seemed unaware of their surroundings, with the exception of a few head-turns at the cordoned off bus stop.
The accident site was deadly silent as the ridge visited the crash site last Friday. Two Indian workers from the neighbouring site told the ridge that operations had ceased since the accident occurred.
The presence of another two cranes at the construction site near the Engineering faculty raised fears that history could possibly repeat itself again.
However, students attending lessons at the nearby blocks did not seem worried.
When asked about the off chance that the accident will repeat itself, Chang Jer Hsuan, a second-year Engineering student said, “Nope. I am always quite vigilant, but if the cranes really dropped down, how much time will I have to escape?”
Huang also said, “The accidents could be prevented with better care. But, I don’t think there is anything we can do about it if the accident does happen again.”
The crane collapse left three dead and two injured. None of the casualties was students from NUS.
The Office of Alumni Relations is calling out to staffs and students to raise funds from Feb. 26 to Mar. 26 in aid of the deceased’s families.
Related article: Three dead, two injured in crane collapse at NUS
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