The number of workplace deaths in the first half of 2020 was similar to the same period in 2019 and 2018 despite a reduction of workplace activities due to COVID-19.
The number in the first six months of this year stood at 16. In comparison, there were 18 and 17 workplace deaths in the first half of 2018 and 2019 respectively.
However, workplace injuries for the first six months this year dipped by nearly 25 per cent to 4,996 – compared to the same period last year.
These were the numbers presented by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 28 September 2020, in its Workplace Safety and Health Report for the first half of 2020.
While the ministry said the decrease in injuries was likely due to the suspension of certain workplace activities in the second quarter of the year due to COVID-19, that has not stopped the 12-month rolling fatal injury rate from maintaining at 1.1 per 100,000 workers, similar to 2019.
In response, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Melvin Yong said in a Facebook post that the number of fatalities was concerning.
He said: “As more workers return to their workplaces, there is a need to ease them back gradually into their jobs, as many have not returned to their worksites for months.
“I urge companies to implement a structured re-orientation programme for workers who have returned to work, especially in high-risk worksites, and to conduct refresher WSH courses for all returning workers so that safety remains at the top of everyone’s minds.”
Falls from height and vehicular-related incidents continue to be the leading cause of fatal injuries.
In the first half of the year, there were four fatal injuries due to falling from heights, which mirrors the same period in 2019.
There were three fatal vehicular-related accidents in the first half of this year, which was one less than the same period last year.
The leading causes of minor and major workplace injuries continued to be slips, trips and falls (STF) and machinery-related incidents.
STF remained the top cause of both major and minor injuries, accounting for 58 major and 1,450 minor injuries in the first half of the year.
As for machinery-related incidents, the first six months saw 29 major and 780 minor incidents.
The transportation and storage industry accounted for the highest number of fatalities in the first half of the year with five cases.
The manufacturing industry was the second-highest contributor to fatal injuries with three cases.
While the construction industry saw a drop in fatalities, MOM noted that it was likely due to the suspension of construction activities during the circuit breaker measures.
To further enhance workplace safety, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council will be implementing WSH 2028 initiatives to improve transparency and accountability.
With effect from 1 September 2020, employers have been required to report all workplace accidents that result in medical leave or light duty.
The WSH performance of companies will be published, beginning from the last quarter of 2020. The initiative will start with construction companies.
A new criterion will be introduced, disqualifying unsafe contractors from all public construction tenders.
The WSH Council has also been facilitating and encouraging companies to innovate and adopt WSH technologies.
In partnership with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), MOM will be making the following suite of WSH-related technologies available to companies with funding support:
