A video shared on Facebook by @SingaporeIncidents has gone viral, showing five migrant workers from Myanmar repainting a HDB block in Woodlands. The video, captioned “Surely we have a better way to repaint HDB block?”, captures the workers suspended on ropes while painting the exterior of the building.
In the footage, the workers can be seen wearing safety helmets and harnesses, with ropes securely tied around them. A safety fence and a warning sign stating “Danger Keep Out” are also visible at the site. The person who took the video commented, “Whoa, they are really brave, from Myanmar, and then they work this one very dangerous.”
The video has sparked discussion online, with some commenters jokingly calling the workers “Spiderman.”
Source: Facebook
While others noted that the rope-access method is considered safe, provided proper safety measures are followed.
Source: Facebook
Under Singapore law, the practice is regulated by the Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013, which came into effect on 1 May 2013.
According to these regulations, an “industrial rope access system” is defined as a system designed to allow a person to perform work on a building, structure, or tree. It consists of equipment that enables the worker to manually raise or lower themselves in a harness supported by one or more ropes, along with equipment used to anchor the ropes.
Source: Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013
When implemented correctly, rope-access systems are a legal and recognised method for high-rise painting and maintenance in Singapore. Compliance requires trained personnel, certified anchor points, proper harnesses, and risk assessments to ensure worker safety.
