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Work-related accidents: what and when to report

Work-related accidents, workplace accidents, Dangerous Occurrences and Occupational Diseases must be reported to MOM. The reporting requirements differ depending on the type of accident. If there is doubt after you have completed investigations, please report.

At a glance

Who should report Employer, workplace occupier or doctor, depending on the type of accident.
When to report Within 10 days of an accident or diagnosis.
Relevant legislation
  • As an employer, if you don’t report an accident, it is an offence and you’ll be fined up to $5,000 for the first time.
  • For second or subsequent offences, you’ll be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to 6 months, or both.
What to report When to report Who should report

Employee was injured in a work accident or contracted a disease due to work exposure to biological or chemical agent, resulting in any one of the following:

  • Outpatient / hospitalisation leave
  • Light duty
  • Death
  • Occupational Disease

Notify the Commissioner if the accident resulted in death.

Submit an incident report within these deadlines:

  • Fatal accidents: Within 10 days of the accident.
  • Non-fatal accidents: Within 10 days of employer’s first notice of accident.

If the employee subsequently dies from the injury or disease, you must notify the Commissioner immediately.

 Employer
An employee dies during work or at a workplace as a result of work. Notify the Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable and submit an incident report within 10 days. Employer
Self-employed person or member of public dies at a workplace as a result of works done. Notify the Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable and submit an incident report within 10 days. Workplace occupier
Self-employed person or member of public is injured as a result of works done at a workplace and is sent to hospital for treatment. Notify the Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable. Workplace occupier

Scenarios that need to be reported include the following:

Scenario Who should report
A construction worker slips and falls, fracturing their leg. The worker is initially given 2 days of medical leave, but is subsequently given 2 weeks of medical leave. Employer
An employee meets with a traffic accident:
  • While traveling during work or for work (e.g. to a meeting), regardless of the mode of transport.
  • While taking company transport to and fro between home and workplace.
 Employer
An employee, a Singapore resident employed by a Singapore employer, suffers a work injury during an overseas assignment. Employer
A seaman suffers a work injury while on board a Singapore-registered vessel, regardless of the location of the vessel. Employer
A teacher is conducting a lab experiment, a test-tube shatters and a student is cut and is sent to hospital. School to notify Commissioner
(in its capacity as the occupier)

A teacher is conducting a lab experiment, a test-tube shatters and the teacher is cut and:

  • is given outpatient medical or hospitalisation leave
  • is given light duty
  • resulted in death
 School (in its capacity as the employer)
There was a fire explosion in a construction worksite and 2 workers were injured.
  • Employer of the injured workers
  • Occupier to notify Commissioner
An employee suffers a medical condition (e.g. heart attack, stroke) at the workplace. Employer

Occupational Disease

What to report When to report Who should report
Submit an incident report within 10 days of receiving the diagnosis. Employer
Submit an incident report within 10 days of diagnosing the Occupational Disease. Doctor

If an employee contracted an Occupational Disease listed in the Second Schedule of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), the employer and doctor are required to report separately for the same employee.

Doctors can refer workers with suspected occupational disease to Occupational Medicine clinics for further investigation if they are unsure if a disease is work related.

Dangerous Occurrence

What to report When to report Who should report
Any event in the list of Dangerous Occurrences. Notify the Commissioner as soon as reasonably practicable and submit an incident report within 10 days of the occurrence. Workplace occupier

Scenarios that need to be reported include:

Scenario Who should report
A mobile crane topples at a work site. Occupier (regardless whether anyone is injured).
Employer (to report as a work-related accident if an employee is injured).

Unsafe acts or work conditions

This is any act or work condition that appears unsafe and may cause damage to life or property.

You should report such incidents to MOM if you see them.

Accidents that are not reportable

Examples of accidents that don't need to be reported include the following:

  • An employee meets with a traffic accident:
    • While traveling in their own car, a friend's car or public transport between home and workplace.
    • While running personal errands during or after work in their own transport (including bicycle), their friend's transport or public transport.
    • While driving own or company transport for work, the employee is not injured but a member of public is injured and hospitalised.
  • A patient dies as a result of inappropriate medical treatment.
  • A member of the public or self-employed person faints at a shopping centre, not as a result of any works within the premises, and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
  • A student has a fall within the school compound but not as a result of any works within the premises.