Last year, Singapore registered the lowest number of workplace fatalities since records were first compiled in 2004. However, cases of major and minor injuries at the workplace have increased over the years.
The Manpower Ministry (MOM) released these findings in the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Report on 11 March 2020.
There were 39 workplace deaths in 2019, which translates to 1.1 cases per 100,000 workers.
In September 2017, at the XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a target of achieving and sustaining a workplace fatality rate of less than 1 per 100,000 workers by 2028 – a feat only the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom and Germany have achieved.
The top three causes of fatal injuries last year were due to the collapse or failure of structure and equipment, vehicular related incidents, and falls from heights.
Slips, trips and falls (STF) remained the top cause of both major and minor injuries. There were 3,910 major and minor injuries resulting from STF in 2019, compared to 3,610 in 2018.
Workers in construction, cleaning, food and beverage and security were found to be the ones most prone to STF major injuries, according to the report.
The second most common cause of major and minor injuries was machine-related incidents.
The number of minor injuries had also increased by about 8 per cent since 2018 – with 13,111 cases last year.
According to MOM, workers with workplace injuries that result in medical leave of four days or more are considered minor injuries.
Meanwhile, major injury cases refer to those that put workers out of work for 20 days or more, and often result in some form of permanent disability such as a loss of limb or blindness.
Construction remains the industry with the most number of fatalities. Inexperienced construction workers were also found to be significantly more prone to fatal injuries.
Other industries that saw an increase in the number of major injuries included manufacturing, transportation and storage, accommodation and food series, and wholesale and retail trade.
“To counter the rising trend of non-fatal injuries, companies must conscientiously address STF risks by educating workers and implement risk control measures. The construction industry also needs to take ownership by inculcating safety mindsets and retaining experienced workers, who tend to be more risk aware.
“If contractors have to bring in new workers, they will be subjected to enhanced safety orientation requirements to level up their WSH knowledge. We will continue to work with employers, unions WSH professionals and other government agencies to improve WSH outcomes,” said WSH Commissioner and MOM Occupational Safety and Health Division Director Silas Sng.
MOM conducted 17,000 workplace inspections in 2019, which uncovered more than 8,900 WSH contraventions – the most common being unguarded openings, unsafe means of access and egress, and obstructed passageways.
Fifty-eight stop-work orders were issued, and composition fines amounting to a total of $1.4 million were issued to around 1,000 companies.
MOM said that it will focus inspections on industries where major injuries are rising such as accommodation and food services, and wholesale and retail trade.
Using platforms such as campaigns and forums, the WSH Council will reach out to more than 500,000 workers to promote safety and health practices in 2020, said MOM.
There are also plans to develop the WSH capabilities of 1,000 union leaders and industrial relations officers by March 2021, as announced in 2019.
The council will also address STF issues by expanding education and engagement in the cleaning, food services and security industries.
The WSH Council and the Tripartite Cluster of Cleaners have also introduced a WSH module for cleaners. The module will be made mandatory for all cleaners in 2022.
