The rate of workers dying from workplace injuries hit a 13-year low last year, with 1.2 deaths per 100,000 employees.
This was revealed by Second Minister for Manpower and Home Affairs Josephine Teo yesterday at the annual bizSafe convention in the Singapore Expo.
"It is still sobering that 42 workers sustained fatal injuries, but the reduced rate of 1.2 per 100,000 is at least a meaningful improvement," said Mrs Teo.
She noted that the 2017 rate was the lowest level since 2004, when comparable records on worker fatalities were first kept. The rate was higher at 1.9 in 2015 and 2016.
In 2007, when bizSafe was launched, the fatality rate was even higher at 2.9 per 100,000 employees, with 63 workers dying.
The rate of deaths and the number of deaths are different, because the rate takes into account any changes to the size of the workforce. The number of deaths does not.
The steady improvement over the past decade has been due to the commitment of employers and employees to the "Vision Zero mindset", in which all injuries and illnesses are viewed as preventable, said Mrs Teo.
Mr Seet Choh San, honorary president of the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers, said that despite the low fatality rate, more can still be done.
"The journey never ends until nobody is hurt. Last year saw a very big drop from the year before, but we must not rest on our laurels," he said.
The rigour with which risk assessment is applied in companies can be strengthened, and applied more systematically.
Mr Seet said: "For example, if there is a noise issue, a common response will be to use ear plugs. But we should really be going upstream to eliminate the hazard. You remove the hazard, you remove the risk."
Mr Bernard Leong, health, safety and environment manager of Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore, said that security is crucial for a functioning workplace.
"How safe a workplace is will affect both productivity and morale. Employees can give their best only if they know it is safe and secure to come to work," he said.
Fabian Koh
