Falling Glass Prompts Evacuation at Singapore Supreme Court
A glass panel falling from the facade of the Singapore Supreme Court building triggered a safety mechanism, leading to the evacuation of a staff member from a lift on July 22. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about building safety in the city-state, following a similar event earlier this year.
Incident Overview
At approximately 2 p.m. local time, a glass panel detached from the building’s exterior and impacted a secondary glass roof. According to a Singapore Courts spokesperson, the impact caused the roof to crack, and fragments of glass fell onto the roof of a lift car. This activated the lift’s safety features, bringing it to a halt.
A court staff member was trapped inside the lift beneath the damaged roof. A lift technician successfully evacuated the individual, and a spokesperson confirmed that she was uninjured and has since returned to her duties.
Emergency Response and Initial Assessment
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to a call for assistance at 1 Supreme Court Lane, in the City Hall area, at approximately 2:40 p.m. Paramedics assessed one person for minor injuries, but the individual declined hospital treatment, the SCDF reported.
The damaged section of the glass roof is estimated to be roughly 2 meters by 2 meters in area. Initial assessments indicate no other structural damage to the building, and the overall structure remains intact, according to the Singapore Courts.
Ongoing Investigations and Safety Measures
Inspections are currently underway throughout the building, but court hearings and other legal proceedings are continuing as scheduled. “We have promptly cordoned off the affected area, including all lifts situated under the glass roof, to ensure public safety,” a spokesperson for the Singapore Courts stated. Witnesses observed workers securing the area with protective sheeting earlier in the afternoon.
The Supreme Court building, which opened in its current location in early 2006, houses a total of 23 courts: 12 civil courts, eight criminal courts, and three appellate courts.
Regulatory Response
On July 23, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) confirmed that its engineers had assessed the building’s structural integrity and found it to be unaffected by the incident. However, the BCA has directed the building owner to commission a professional engineer to conduct a detailed investigation into the cause of the glass panel’s fall and to propose permanent repairs.
The BCA has also instructed the lift contractor to perform a comprehensive inspection of all three lifts within the affected lift shaft.
Recent Precedent
This incident follows a similar event in April, where four people were hospitalized after a glass pane fell at The Star Vista mall in Buona Vista. Two others involved in that incident declined hospital treatment. This raises questions about the frequency of such incidents and the need for enhanced safety protocols across Singapore’s building infrastructure.
The police have been contacted for further information regarding the Supreme Court incident. Additional reporting was contributed by Selina Lum.
