The most dangerous jobs in Singapore
Think ‘fessing up to your boss about that sneaky time-off you took is scary? Think again, because some jobs require you to actually put your life on the line every single time you report to work. Their work takes them up to the tops of the tallest buildings, out to the unpredictable ocean and underground━all to make sure our lives run smoothly. If you didn’t know these jobs and brave souls existed, read on to find out what these most dangerous jobs in Singapore are, and appreciate the ones who take them on.
1. Rope access technician
Maintenance & cleaning whilst suspended hundreds of metres above ground
Image credit: OES Asset Integrity Management via Facebook
The little figures of rope access technicians dangling off the tops of skyscrapers look Spidey-cool, whether they’re cleaning windows or engaged in maintenance and inspection work. In essence, they hold two specialties: first a primary skill in the cleaning or construction realm, and a further specialisation certifying them fit to fulfil that job while suspended.
No surprise, then, that there are only approximately 3,000 rope access technicians in Singapore who are IRATA-certified (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association). In order to get certified, they’ve got to go through rigorous training that incorporates techniques used in rock climbing and caving.
There are also rope access techs who inspect, clean, and repair gigantic ships out at sea.
Image credit: Asian Sealand
We may sit and wave at them from behind our windows, but we must also appreciate that these road access techs get into corners and places which scaffolding and other methods cannot reach, with significantly less disruption to our lives.
Monthly salary: $2,000-$4,500
2. Oil rig driller
On a platform in the middle of the ocean with harsh weather & heavy machinery
14 days on shift, 21 days off, with average annual takings of almost S$90,000━working as a derrickman, or oil rig driller, on an oil rig sounds like a lucrative job with lots of rest days. That is, until you find out what it entails.
These are the people who man the platforms in the middle of the ocean, battling 10-storey waves, so the petroleum-fuelled world we live in can continue to function. Did we forget to mention? You remain on the rig even on your off days, for your entire contract that’s typically 6-12 months long.
Image credit: Beyond Facts via Facebook
These rigs operate around the clock, 365 days a year, in some of the roughest conditions you could imagine. All this is made possible with machines that could flatten you with just a touch. It’s cold and the waves are choppy, you work full 12-hour shifts day and night in quite literally the middle of nowhere. You have no family nor friends, ‘cept your fellow derrickmen, and your mental and physical limits are tested every single day.
On the plus side, being a derrickman means you probably can claim to have the coolest get-to-work gig: you might get there via helicopter, speedboat, or on bum days, supply boat.
Monthly salary: $4,100-$7,500
3. Tower crane operator
Seated in a box hundreds of metres above ground with no toilet
If you haven’t already noticed, many of these dangerous jobs involve working at great heights. Next on the list are tower crane operators, who sit alone in a little box known as a cab for their entire shift━this is as long as 8-10 hours each day. If not for these champs working to put our skyscrapers, bridges and railways together, Singapore would be a vastly different place to live in.
Inside the cab of a tower crane.
Becoming a tower crane operator isn’t as simple as clicking “Apply for job”. There are various kinds of tower cranes, each of which requires a different certification; these are not the same as getting accredited as regular crane operators. However, getting admitted into the 86-hour courses is not that difficult. You have to be at least 21 years old, and not be afraid of heights, duh.
The toilet situation in a tower crane cab.
Tower cranes are built to withstand the elements, so operating them means you’re still going to have to climb up that (exposed) ladder to get to the cab, unless conditions are really inoperable. Some newer cranes may have cargo lifts that take you up part of the way, but it’s still quite a precarious journey.
FYI, there are no toilet facilities in a tower crane cab. You’ll have to get your business done in a bucket or bottle, and carry it down with you to clear at the end of your shift.
Monthly salary: $3,800-$6,500
4. Tanker truck driver
Driving around with 28,000L of toxic or explosive liquids
Image credit: @nighteye via Flickr
Somewhat less death-defying is the next job on this list: a tanker truck driver, which doesn’t require you to be anywhere off the ground. But, would you rather work high up on buildings, or be responsible for 28,000L of highly flammable or toxic cargo?
You won’t need any major qualifications to be a tanker driver, except maybe a diploma and more importantly, a Class 4 driving license that allows you to get behind the wheels of lorries and trucks. You’ll also require a hazmat driver permit because you’ll be transporting anything from hazmat liquids or combustible fuel.
So, have a care when your journey is slowed down by a tanker: besides sitting just metres away from the dangerous materials, tanker drivers are responsible for replenishing the pumps at petrol stations.
Monthly salary: $2,800-$4,000
5. Commercial diver
Underwater with zero visibility, strong currents & heavy machinery
Image credit: Subsea Global Solutions
You might think that diving is fun and cool, but the reality of being a commercial diver is anything but. Think: zero visibility and strong underwater currents, all while you handle extremely heavy equipment, as well as dangers such as decompression sickness, hypothermia, respiratory and circulatory risks, and so much more.
In Singapore, a commercial diver might be involved in the inspection and maintenance of ships, assembling and demolishing jetties, as well as repairing ships in the shipyards. If you’re more specialised, you might be an underwater welder━a highly specialised role that might take you to oceans all around the world.
Without the crew and the massive container ships they man, how will your Taobao hauls and cars reach you? Johnny Depp and his motley crew might have made pirates look cool, but the reality is that these maritime marauders are just one of the many dangers a cargo ship’s crew face while at sea.
NGL, it’s a physically and mentally demanding gig with long hours and irregular shift work, and you’re at the mercy of the elements.
Monthly salary: $3,800-$11,300
The world still needs brave folk to take on these dangerous jobs
Singapore may be a small and relatively danger-free country, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t high-risk jobs here. A quick Google search will show you what the most dangerous jobs in the world are.
Many of these make the list for reasons such as lax regulations, the sheer magnitude of the countries and volume of goods━but they’re jobs that still need doing, and we still ought to be thankful for the people who take them on.
Looking for more job inspo?
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Cover image adapted from: OES Asset Integrity Management via Facebook
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