Which is the priority? * Singapore - Life's Safety or cost?

Belt Up? It's not practical - Construction workers at 'greater risk' than school kids but experts disagree on what to do

Singapore -The Electric New Paper, by Elysa Chen -May 12, 2008: -- The tragic death of 8-year-old Russell Koh, who was flung out of a minibus last month, has left many clamouring for seatbelts to be installed in all school buses... And while this is a pressing issue, some are questioning if the safety of workers being carried in open-top lorries should be looked into as well... Dr Lee Dar Hong, associate professor of civil engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS), believes that construction workers are in 'even greater danger than school children'... He pointed out that the space at the back of the lorries, where workers sit, is meant for cargo, not passengers... He felt that although the increased cost might be an issue for companies, 'it should not be a concern if we value the lives of the workers'... Dr Lee's worry for the safety of construction workers is not unfounded... In January, 53 foreign workers were injured in a multiple-lorry collision in Tuas... It has been reported that 184 passengers on the cargo decks of lorries were hurt last year, with two deaths... In 2006, there were 81 injuries and five fatalities... (The Straits Times - Risky cargo: Workers travelling like this may be putting themselves in danger without realising it)