Dangerous workplace incidents doubled in H12022

The MoM recorded 9,000 violations of the Workplace Safety and Health Act. 

The number of breaches under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act and Regulations increased two-fold in the first six months of 2022, compared to the same period last year, data from the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) revealed.

In a reply to parliament questions, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said they took enforcement action for more than 9,000 violations of the WSH Act and issued more than 50 Stop Work Orders.

Tan added that there have been 28 workplace deaths from 17 during the same period in 2019. Of the 28 cases, half were falls from heights and vehicular incidents.

Based on an initial probe, most of the accidents stemmed from safety lapses. Eight in 10 of the fatalities occurred in construction, transport and storage, and marine and manufacturing.

Tan also attributed inexperience as a contributory factor in the incidents as all of the accidents involved workers with at least two years of experience.

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MoM received around 2,400 to 3,800 reports annually on unsafe acts in the workplace.

To resolve these issues, MoM said it enforced tougher penalties such as “doubling the composition fine quantum and requiring companies that have been issued Stop Work Orders or have had major injuries to engage external auditors to conduct a thorough review of their WSH processes.”

The ministry is reviewing coverage of WSH auditors, offers, and coordinators to boost WSH practices.