No longer every man for himself: How shared responsibility has raised S’pore’s workplace safety standards over the years

The rule was clear: No naked flames near flammable solvents. On July 12, 1992, this safety protocol was not followed in the boiler room of a chemical tanker, setting off a fire and explosion that blew up the boiler flat level of the ship. Six workers were killed and 61 others injured.

What happened on board MT Stolt Spur left an indelible mark on a young assistant safety officer named Mr Abu Bakar Mohd Nor.

“I remembered how devastating workplace incidents can be, not just for the workers, but also for their families and the wider community,” says Mr Abu Bakar, who is now chairman of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council.

“When I started my career in 1990 as an assistant safety officer at Keppel Shipyard, safety frameworks were underdeveloped and incidents were more common,” he recalls.

“Back in the 1990s, our safety systems were nascent, with safety often viewed as the workers’ own responsibility,” he says.

Since those early days, Singapore’s WSH journey has advanced significantly. What began as basic rules to prevent fires and falls has grown into a comprehensive system covering everything from construction site risks to heat stress as well as mental well-being.

The

transformation journey

did not happen overnight, but unfolded over several decades.

“Over the years, we have gone from safety being seen as an individual duty, to the responsibility of employers, then entire industries, and today championed at the national level by government agencies working alongside industry and union leaders,” he adds.

Today, both employers and workers recognise that safety is more than a box-ticking exercise. It is not just about taking ownership, but also about setting clear accountability when lapses occur. According to the WSH Report 2024, Singapore now ranks among the safest countries for workers.

Stronger laws and enforcement

Every fatality, however, is one too many. The WSH Report 2024 shows that the fatal injury rate rose from 0.99 to 1.2 per 100,000 workers between 2023 and 2024, accounting for 43 lives last year – primarily in the construction and marine industries.

Workplace safety and health is no longer the remit of a single ministry. It has become a cross-domain responsibility involving multiple agencies and sectors. Today, it is overseen by the Multi-agency WSH Taskforce, which brings together bodies that regulate transport, land development, trade and industry, the environment and healthcare.

The idea is simple: Risks at work cut across sectors, so preventing workplace accidents requires a whole-of-government effort, with agencies pooling expertise and aligning standards.

“Government agencies involved in the higher-risk sectors such as transport, national land development, trade and industry, the environment, as well as health, have come together to champion safety and health in their respective areas of work,” says Mr Abu Bakar.

A cornerstone of these efforts is the legally binding WSH Act, which took effect on March 1, 2006. It broadened protection to all workplaces, spelt out the duties of employers, employees and others on site, and made safety obligations enforceable by law.

For example, employers have a duty to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of their employees at work. But employees also have a role to play – they must follow safety regulations and not misuse tools, appliances and machinery.

Over the years, the Act has been updated to cover new risks – for example, regulating combustible dust after a 2021 explosion killed two workers and injured one at an incineration plant in Tuas.

The Act is complemented by WSH guidelines that are regularly updated. In 2022, new guidance was published for the delivery services sector as demand for such services surged during the Covid-19 pandemic. And in April 2025, the Council issued WSH Guidelines on Preparing for Adverse Weather, a response to rising climate-related risks such as heatwaves, strong winds and floods.

Legislation may set the framework, but employers play a critical role in keeping the workplace safe for all. The National WSH Campaign 2025, themed Reporting Saves Lives, reinforces this by urging everyone on site to be a safety champion. Its tagline “Aware, Assess, and Act” stresses the importance of identifying hazards early, reporting them promptly, and embedding safe practices into daily routines.

To make reporting part of workplace culture, the WSH Council has urged companies to implement their own reporting framework.

For example, City Developments Limited’s CityNexus app includes a platform for sharing feedback and suggestions on environment, health and safety matters. At Teambuild Construction Group, workers can scan a QR code on safety noticeboards to submit feedback through the firm’s online WSH Reporting System, which is then routed directly to department heads or site managers for immediate action. Such platforms create a trust-based environment where workers feel safe to report hazards or unsafe practices, and for supervisors to respond quickly.

New safety techonologies

Beyond cost, says Mr Silas Sng, commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, the bigger hurdles lie in organisational readiness and culture. Many firms struggle to weave new tools into existing routines, while workers may see monitoring systems as intrusive rather than protective.

Even when data is collected, companies often lack the know-how to interpret it or act on it in meaningful ways. To bridge these gaps, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been piloting new technologies with industry partners, such as testing video analytics at live worksites through the new SafeSite VA project.

A second artificial intelligence (AI) project, AISpot, is being designed to complement traditional video analytics and to more accurately flag a wider range of safety hazards in photos or video footage. The MOM, says Mr Sng, also brings technology providers and end-users together in regular forums, so solutions are practical, user-friendly and grounded in real site conditions.

Today, WSH extends beyond traditionally high-risk sectors like construction to include less visible risks in offices and other workplaces. Increasingly, the focus is not only on physical safety, but also on mental health and well-being.

At the awards this year, companies and organisations from sectors such as hospitality, healthcare and education are also being recognised.

Among them is the National University of Singapore (NUS), which has trained mental health peer supporters across 58 departments.

Dr Andrew Tay, chief wellbeing officer at NUS, says: “Our data demonstrated that when we care for the well-being of our employees, they are 2.5 times more likely to score higher engagement scores. Employees experiencing higher psychological safety at work are 38 per cent more likely to achieve a better performance rating.”

His comments reflect a wider shift across all sectors – that caring for workers’ well-being is not just good for morale, but also drives performance. That shift is evident in Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay’s inaugural win in the CARE Award category at the 2025 WSH Awards, which underscores how safety and health have moved beyond worksites to encompass all workplaces.

Ms Vasundhra Nasa, general manager of the hotel, says: ”Given that hospitality is a fast-paced and often demanding industry, it is vital that our employees feel cared for, valued and heard. Strong employee engagement improves overall well-being, reduces turnover and strengthens the culture. It is a key driver of sustainable business success.”

Among the hotel’s initiatives that staff look forward to are “Love Hour” – which lets employees finish work an hour early or start work an hour later once a month to promote work-life balance – and an appreciation week filled with activities from funfairs to free massages.

Passing on safety values

Alongside the annual WSH Awards, the year-old WSH Advocate Programme – now expanded to cover more industries – has also played a part in raising safety standards. A second batch of 19 companies recently joined the inaugural group of 18 to make up 37 WSH Advocates driving the safety message on the ground.

The programme now covers four main sectors including the built environment, chemical, manufacturing, transportation and storage. Under the programme, all contractors and sub-contractors need to have WSH accreditation, such as a minimum of Level 3 under the bizSAFE framework.

By embedding safer practices through procurement, capability building and recognition, the programme is designed to create a powerful multiplier effect – one that positions WSH not as a cost, but as a strategic and competitive advantage that strengthens both business performance and workforce resilience.

Still, systems and frameworks can only go so far. The real catalyst for change lies in leadership.

Mr Abu Bakar recalls: “I often share the story of how, during a site inspection, a worker offered me his safety glasses after I had dropped mine. “When I told him to keep them, he insisted that I wore them because I set the standard. That moment reminded me that leaders must inspire and role-model safe practices. Leaders must know the way, and guide others along the same path.”

The WSH Council has also widened its outreach to schools, tertiary institutions and community partners like the National Safety Council of Singapore, to instil safety values from a young age. “I always believe safety is at its strongest when each and every one of us, regardless of age and occupation, takes both personal and collective responsibility,” says Mr Abu Bakar.

For more information, visit

www.wshc.sg/wshawards