Singapore’s WSH performance improved in H1 2024, building on strong progress from 2023: MOM

While continuing to be top contributors to fatal and major injuries, the construction, manufacturing, and transportation & storage sectors saw their total share drop year-on-year, attributed to continued safety improvements in construction and manufacturing.

Singapore's Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance continued to improve in the first half of 2024, building on the "significant progress" made in 2023, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The annualised fatal injury rate remained steady at 1.0 per 100,000 workers, maintaining the level first achieved in 2023 (excluding the disruption caused by COVID-19 in 2020).  

Only four OECD countries—the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany—have consistently attained this level of performance, it was noted. 

As the ministry added, the annualised major injury rate for H1 2024 was 16.0 per 100,000 workers, consistent with the rate in H2 2023 (16.1) and showing an improvement from H1 2023 (17.4).  

Key sectors see an improvement in performance 

The construction, manufacturing, and transportation & storage sectors remained the top three contributors to fatal and major injuries in the first half of 2024. However, the combined proportion of fatal and major injuries from these industries decreased from 63% in H1 2023 to 54% in H1 2024, driven by sustained improvements in the construction and manufacturing sectors. 

The construction sector continued to be the largest contributor, accounting for 26% of fatal and major injury incidents. The number of fatal and major injuries at larger scale construction sites increased slightly from 28 in H1 2023 to 31 in H1 2024. Nonetheless, this figure remains significantly lower than the 43 reported in H1 2022.  

The Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce (MAST) has further strengthened WSH standards in the Construction sector with additional safety accountability, focus, and empowerment (SAFE) measures implemented in early to mid-2024. These measures include enhanced WSH requirements for public sector construction and construction-related projects (implemented in April 2024), and mandatory video surveillance systems for construction worksites with contract values of S$5mn and above (implemented in June 2024).    

The manufacturing sector also experienced a notable decline in the number of fatal and major injuries, reducing from 92 in H1 2023 to 60 in H1 2024. This progress can be attributed to more rigorous inspections and the introduction of the Demerit Point System in October 2023. 

"While we are heartened by the significant progress made, the Ministry of Manpower will not let up in our enforcement efforts," MOM stated.

The ministry added that it had conducted more than 3,000 inspections across various industries, including higher-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing and marine in the first half of this year. 

Aside from general workplace safety, there were also targeted inspections focusing on priority areas – slips, trips & falls, machinery safety, and falls from height.

Overall, MOM has taken enforcement actions against more than 7,000 violations of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act and Regulations, including 673 composition fines totalling more than S$1.3mn and the issuing of 22 Stop Work Orders.  

These measures were directed at companies found to be in violation of regulations designed to safeguard workers' safety and wellbeing. 

MOM also shared that "the encouraging WSH performance in H1 2024 reflects the collective efforts of all stakeholders in pursuing a culture of WSH excellence."  

"MOM calls on employers and workers to remain vigilant and prioritise WSH, particularly in light of recent fatal incidents in the construction and marine industries.  

"MAST will continue to explore ways to further enhance WSH across all sectors," MOM stated.  

READ MORE: 8 key recommendations to strengthen workplace safety and health in Singapore accepted by MOM