Falls from height is the top killer at workplaces in the last three years, making up three in every 10 workplace deaths. The majority of the cases were from the construction and marine sectors, which account for more than 70 per cent of such accidents.

The latest three parties hauled to court on Thursday include Construction company Tat Ho Builder and its director Ng Tze Lik over the death of a worker who fell from an inclined roof of a house under construction. The worker fell while installing a lightning conductor on the roof. There were no lifelines or preventive barricades installed on the main roof, said MOM.

The charges carry a maximum fine of $500,000 and $200,000 respectively.

Separately, Ng Choong Seng, sole proprietor of New Sun Electrical Contractor, was also charged on Thursday with failing to take measures to ensure the safety of the worker. He faces a fine of up to $200,000 and jail of up to two years.

In another fatality on April 3, a worker employed by Giftbuild Pte Ltd was painting a canopy above the 10th storey corridor of a residential block in Bukit Bstok East when he slipped and fell to his death.

MOM charged three parties in connection with this case - the sub-contractor Giftbuild, which was fined $70,000, its director Goh Eng Ban, who was fined $20,000 and the occupier of the worksite Jotun (S) Ptd, which was fined $8,000.

In the third case, foreman Sun Yi Kun of Eng Lim Construction was charged over the death of a worker who fell 23 metres off a landing. Sun was fined $6,000.

"These cases showed that simple safety measures conscientiously applied could have save the three workers," said MOM in a statement on Thursday.

"The responsibility of preventing such accidents must fall squarely on all stakeholders."

To help the industry raise safety standards for work at height, the Workplace Safety and Health Council has worked with key industry players and MOM on a draft Code of Practice on Safe Working at Height.

The draft Code requires workplaces to implement a Fall Protection Plan, which was first announced by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong at the launch of the National WSH Campaign on April 28. .

The plan identifies fall hazards in the workplace and puts in place fall prevention measures like barricades and safe access.