Last year, 67 died in work accidents, compared with 63 in 2007.

More than half of the deaths came from the construction and marine industry.

Still, the workplace fatality rate inched lower to 2.8 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to 2.9 in 2007.

But Singapore is still some way from its 2018 goal of having fewer than 1.8 deaths for every 100,000 workers - set by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year.

More workers were also injured last year). A total of 11,072 workers were hurt last year - about 30 every day, on average - up nearly 11 per cent from 2007.

Those with the worst injuries lost their fingers or their hands.

One reason for the rise: more workers employed against the backdrop of buzzing construction and shipbuilding and overhaul activity.

The latest casaulty figures were released on Monday by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council at its Programme-Based Engagement (ProBE) seminar at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh.

Under the ProBE initiative,the Manpower Ministry's safety officials earmark and closely scrutinise three common causes of injuries and deaths at worksites.

This year, officials will zoom in on work at height, confined spaces and the use of cranes.