13 stop-work orders, $375k in fines issued over 3 months for flouting rules on working at height

SINGAPORE – A total of 13 stop-work orders and fines totalling more than $375,000 were issued to firms found to have flouted rules that protect workers carrying out tasks at high places.

In a Facebook post on May 20, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the safety violations were discovered during inspections conducted between February and April at about 550 worksites.

Although the amount in fines meted out was lower than in a

previous operation conducted during the same period in 2024

, the number of stop-work orders went up from nine to 13, despite fewer inspections being carried out.

The latest inspections found more than 1,330 safety violations, with the ministry stressing the need for all relevant stakeholders to remain vigilant and prioritise safety.

Four workers died after falling from a height in 2024, out of a

total of 43 workplace deaths

, with the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council saying in March that the figures marked a 10-year low.

Consistently ranked as the second leading cause of workplace deaths in the past decade, “falling from height” ranked fifth in 2024.

However, the WSH Council noted that injuries caused by a fall from height are typically more severe compared with other types of accidents and tend to be of greater consequence. 

In 2024, 74 workers sustained major injuries due to falls from height, accounting for about 13 per cent of the 587 major workplace injuries recorded throughout the year.

On Facebook, MOM said it will continue with enforcement “to keep our workplaces safe, and ensure that workers and businesses can thrive”.