New sectors targetted for workplace safety and health

The Workplace Safety and Health campaign for 2011 was launched with new sectors coming under its radar.

The construction sector accounts for the bulk of workplace injuries and fatalities in Singapore. But sectors deemed as less risky -

such as retail, entertainment, administrative services and finance - still account for 30% of work injuries and 6% of fatalities.

The WSH Advocate and Messenger programmes aim to prepare some additional 100,000 companies in these new sectors for the expanded WSH Act from this September.

In 2010, the workplace fatality rate in Singapore stood at 2.2 per 100,000 workers – an all-time low. The national target is 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers by year 2018.

To achieve this target, the Ministry of Manpower and the WSH Council will focus on 3 areas: cultivating leadership, raising professionalism, and increasing knowledge of WSH among companies.