Improvements in Workplace Fatalities in 1H 2023

IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKPLACE FATALITIES IN 1H 2023

In the first half of 2023 (1H 2023), the annualised fatality rate per 100,000 workers dropped by half to 0.8, as compared to 1.6 for the same period in 2022 (1H 2022), and 1.3 for second half of 2022 (2H 2022). The annualised major injury rate remained stable at 17.2 in 1H 2023 when compared to 17.3 for both 1H and 2H 2022. The improvements reflect the positive outcomes from the Heightened Safety Period (HSP), which ended on 31 May 2023. This also places Singapore back on track towards meeting our WSH2028 aspirations of a fatality rate below 1.0 per 100,000 workers. Based on our safety performance in the past 3 years, Singapore comes after the top four OECD countries.

2 Notwithstanding the above, there is room for improvement in the Construction and Manufacturing sectors - the two biggest contributors for fatal and major injuries. 

a. For the Construction sector, the number of fatalities at regular construction worksites decreased in 1H 2023 compared to 2H 2022. However, more targeted interventions are required for smaller-scale construction works such as Addition & Alteration, Renovation and Facility Management. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will work with relevant agencies and industry to enhance the safety standards for contractors involved in such works. 

b. For the Manufacturing sector, there was an overall decrease in fatalities in 1H 2023. However, the number of major injuries increased, particularly in the Metalworking sub-sector, compared to 2H 2022. The Demerit Point System will be expanded from the Construction sector to the Manufacturing sector in October 2023, as earlier announced by the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce (MAST). Additionally, MOM will prioritise targeted inspections to detect and deter breaches in the Metalworking sub-sector.

3 The Government has been sustaining efforts to improve WSH. When Singapore exited the HSP, MAST retained most of the measures introduced during HSP, and added a new set of Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment (SAFE) measures to instil greater WSH ownership at the sectoral, company and worker levels. MAST will continue to study if additional SAFE measures are required to improve WSH outcomes in specific sectors. 

4 WSH is a collective responsibility. All stakeholders – the Government, employers, workers, union leaders, industry associations, WSH professionals and members of the public – need to play their part in preventing workplace incidents, and building safer workplaces.