
Tragic Incident Leads to $7,000 Fine for Eldercare Provider After Wheelchair Client’s Fatal Fall
2025-06-03
Author: Mei
A Heartbreaking Accident Strikes Singapore’s Eldercare System
In a devastating turn of events, a 76-year-old man tragically lost his life after falling from a wheelchair lift while boarding a van provided by Active Global Respite Care in Singapore. The incident occurred on February 3, 2021, when Mr. Hassan Mohamed Karchi Arsan Osman fell and struck his head upon impact.
Failure to Prioritize Safety Leads to Consequences
On June 3, 2023, the eldercare services provider was hit with a hefty $7,000 fine following its conviction under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations. Court documents revealed a shocking neglect of safety protocols surrounding the operation of the wheelchair lift at the rear of their transport vans.
Two employees involved in the incident, healthcare assistant Moe Thadar and van driver Kwa Kim Seng, were each fined $10,000 for their roles in this catastrophic oversight. Both failed to secure Mr. Hassan’s wheelchair brakes, ultimately leading to his untimely death.
Inside the Incident: What Went Wrong?
On that fateful afternoon, Moe Thadar and Kwa were tasked with assisting clients into the van at a senior care center. As they prepared Mr. Hassan for boarding, crucial safety measures were overlooked. Moe failed to engage the wheelchair's brakes, and as the lift was raised, Kwa began conversing with a colleague instead of waiting for confirmation that Mr. Hassan was secure.
The moment their attention wavered proved fatal; the wheelchair rolled backwards, sending Mr. Hassan tumbling from the lift to the ground below. He was pronounced dead later that evening due to severe head trauma.
A Call for Change in Safety Protocols
As the case unfolded in court, Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Kimberly Boo emphasized the alarming lack of risk assessment protocols in place at Active Global Respite Care. Not only were crucial safety checks, like engaging wheelchair brakes, ignored, but the company had no documented plan to ensure client safety during transport.
In the wake of this tragedy, the defence team argued that this was an unprecedented event for the company, which had served clients safely without incident for years. They noted that Mr. Hassan had utilized their services nearly 500 times prior to this unfortunate day.
Looking Ahead: Safety Measures Implemented
In response to the tragedy, Active Global Respite Care claimed to have taken significant steps to rectify their safety practices since the incident. This includes revising their operating procedures and increasing staff presence at pick-up and drop-off points to ensure better safety for clients.
As the community reels from this heartbreaking loss, the case serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of stringent safety measures in eldercare, urging all providers to prioritize the well-being of their vulnerable clients.