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Overall, Singapore's fatality rate has fallen over the years, averaging 1.1 per 100,000 workers, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said in a response.
On 7 January 2025 (Tuesday), Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) addressed parliamentary queries regarding construction fatalities in the second half of 2024, and additional steps taken to enhance safety awareness as well as ensure compliance with workplace safety regulations.
In response, Manpower for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng shared that of the 14 construction worksites where fatalities occurred in H2 2024, nine were issued stop-work orders due to inadequate safety management systems which were posing risks to workers.
These worksites, he clarified, were required to undertake measures, such as reviewing their safety management systems, before they could resume work. None of the 14 incident worksites had previously been issued with stop-work orders.
Dr Tan went on to share that while Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance is better than many developed countries (Singapore’s fatality rate stands at 1.1 per 100,000 workers), there is still room for improvement, particularly when compared to top performers like the Netherlands.
To improve safety, MOM conducted over 3,000 inspections in 2024, focusing on critical issues such as working at heights, vehicular safety, and (avoiding being) struck by falling objects. A Safety Time-out was also implemented in November 2024 to reinforce safety protocols and raise awareness across the industry.
In collaboration with the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce (MAST), which includes partners like MND, BCA, and the WSH Council, MOM introduced several measures to elevate safety standards in construction. These include:
- The Safety Disqualification Framework, which bars contractors with poor WSH performance from tendering for public construction projects.
- A requirement for construction worksites with contracts over $5mn to install video surveillance systems.
Additionally, the mandatory external safety audits following serious lapses remain in effect, and leadership accountability has been strengthened by requiring Chief Executives and Board Directors in high-risk sectors, including construction, to attend the Top Executive WSH Programme.
However, construction-related fatalities still account for nearly half of all deaths. MOM will continue to monitor the impact of its measures and emphasised the importance of vigilance, particularly during the Chinese New Year period when project deadlines often intensify.
"MOM will continue with enhanced enforcement efforts during this period. We must not compromise on safety.
"It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every worker returns home safely," the Ministry added.
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