19 workplace deaths in first half of 2024, most from vehicular incidents and falls from height

SINGAPORE - Nineteen workers died from getting injured at work in the first half of 2024, up from 14 deaths in the same period in 2023.

Vehicular incidents were the top cause, followed by falls from height, and the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Oct 9.

Vehicular incidents and falls from height made up 11 – or 58 per cent – of the 19 deaths.

The construction, marine, transportation and storage, and manufacturing industries accounted for 63 per cent of the 19 deaths, according to mid-year workplace safety and health (WSH) figures released by MOM.

In the construction sector, five people died in the first six months of 2024, down from seven fatalities in the same period in 2023, and 11 in the second half of that year.

Four deaths were reported in the marine industry in the first half of 2024. There were no deaths recorded from the sector in 2023.

There were two deaths in the transportation and storage sector, fewer than the five recorded in the first half of 2023, and three in the second half of that year.

One person died in the manufacturing sector. There was also one fatality from the sector in the first half of 2023. Four deaths from the sector were reported in the last six months of 2023.

There were three deaths in the water supply, sewerage and waste management industry in the first half of 2024, including two workers who died in May after

inhaling poisonous fumes while carrying out routine tank cleaning

at national water agency PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks plant. There was none in 2023.

MOM did not disclose details of the four remaining deaths, such as which industries they were from.

At least five more workplace deaths have occurred between July and September, bringing the total for the year so far to at least 24. There were 36 workplace deaths in 2023.

When asked for the number of workplace deaths so far in 2024, MOM said it would make the information public when the full-year figures are released.

Singapore’s workplace fatality rate between January and June was one death per 100,000 workers, a slight increase from 0.8 death per 100,000 workers in the first half of 2023, and 0.99 in the second half of that year.

Only four countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a grouping of developed nations, have consistently achieved low fatality rates, MOM said in its WSH report.

Based on the latest three-year averages, the Netherlands and United Kingdom each had 0.4 death per 100,000 workers, followed by Sweden at 0.7 and Germany at 0.8. Singapore ranked fifth at 1.1.

Singapore recorded 293 major injuries in the first half of 2024, with 134 – or 46 per cent – occurring in the construction and manufacturing industries.

The number of major injuries is down from 316 in the first six months of 2023. There were 274 major injuries in the second half of that year. Major injuries are severe non-fatal injuries, including amputations, blindness and paralysis.

The top three causes were slips, trips and falls; machinery incidents; and falls from height. These accounted for 173 – or 59 per cent – of major injuries reported in the first half of 2024.

The manufacturing sector recorded an improvement, with 60 deaths and major injuries recorded in the first half of 2024, compared with 92 in the first half of 2023. This is a 35 per cent drop.

Within manufacturing, the number of fatal and major injuries from metalworking – the process of shaping items out of metal – nearly halved from 40 in the first half of 2023, to 22 in the first half of 2024.

The situation in the construction industry also improved, particularly for smaller-scale work such as renovations. Forty-six people died or had major injuries while carrying out such work in the first half of 2024, down from 59 in the same period in 2023. This is a 22 per cent drop.

MOM said in September 2023 that it would step up inspections of the metalworking industry and raise safety standards for smaller-scale construction work, as these accounted for many work-related injuries in the first half of 2023.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad attributed the improvements in the manufacturing sector to the expansion of a demerit point system and increased surveillance.

MOM had extended the demerit point system to the manufacturing sector in October 2023, after it was used in the construction industry for years. Companies that amass demerit points from safety violations could be banned from hiring foreign workers for up to two years.

Mr Zaqy said there are no plans to expand the system further for now.

“It’s not just about putting it in place, but measuring outcomes and making sure that the industry has time to adjust. Give us a bit of time before we look into what other sectors need to be looked at,” he told reporters on Oct 9 during a visit to stainless steel company HH Stainless in Gul Crescent.

Mr Zaqy also said many workplace deaths are avoidable, and urged more experienced workers not to be complacent.

MOM, he added, will continue to step up its efforts for the rest of 2024 to try to maintain its goal of below one fatality per 100,000 workers. The ministry’s focus is on preventing major injuries, because the probability of deaths decreases when major injury rates decline, he said.

Mr Melvin Yong, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, said the low workplace fatality rate in the first half of 2024 is encouraging.

But he added: “It is still a reminder for all of us that any workplace accident is one too many. Therefore, employers, contractors, subcontractors and workers must all play their part and contribute to a strong safety culture.”

In the first six months of 2024, there were 10,379 minor injuries, defined as non-severe injuries with any instance of medical leave or light duties. This is 4.8 per cent lower than the 10,897 cases reported in the first half of 2023.

About half of these injuries were caused by slips, trips and falls; machinery incidents; and being struck by moving objects.

The manufacturing, health and social services, and accommodation and food services industries accounted for 47 per cent of the minor injuries.

As in 2023, there continued to be a drop in the number of workers developing occupational diseases such as noise-induced deafness, musculoskeletal disorders and skin diseases in the first half of 2024.

There were 473 cases of occupational diseases in the first six months of 2024, lower than the 653 cases in the same period in 2023, and 576 in the second half of that year.

MOM said these numbers “remain elevated” due to an enhanced workplace health surveillance programme, which has raised awareness among doctors and employers about the reporting of such diseases.

MOM said 11 dangerous occurrences – incidents that could cause serious damage, death or injury – were reported in the first half of 2024, fewer than the 12 reported in the same period in 2023.

The top causes were the collapse or breakdown of structures or equipment such as lorry cranes, as well as fires and explosions due to explosive or flammable materials used in the construction and manufacturing industries.

MOM conducted more than 3,000 inspections across various industries in the first half of 2024. These included inspections targeting areas such as slips, trips and falls; machinery safety; and falls from height.

The ministry took enforcement action against more than 7,000 breaches under the Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations. This included 717 composition fines totalling more than $1.4 million. It also issued 22 stop-work orders.

Correction note: The graphic on international workplace fatality rates has been updated following changes to data.