SINGAPORE – From 1 June, Singapore is set to implement stricter workplace safety measures to maintain its low fatality and major injury rates.

This week, the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Taskforce announced an increase in the maximum fine for safety breaches and the mandatory installation of Video Surveillance Systems (VSS) at major construction sites.

Hefty fines, stricter measures in Singapore workplaces

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will increase the maximum fine from $20,000 to $50,000 for violations of the WSH Act’s Subsidiary Legislation that result in death, serious bodily injury, or a dangerous occurrence. The increase in fines is based on the severity of the offence and its impact on serious harm.

Additionally, all construction sites with a contract sum of $5 million or above will be required to install VSS in areas where high-risk work activities are conducted. The systems are intended to monitor and potentially prevent unsafe workplace behaviours, and they will also be used for training purposes and investigations of safety incidents.

These measures are part of ongoing efforts to uphold and enhance safety standards in Singaporean workplaces. The task force said WSH is a shared responsibility and that continued engagement from all stakeholders is essential for maintaining a safe working environment.

Maximum penalty for serious offences

The following violations resulting in serious harm, such as death, serious bodily injury, or dangerous occurrence warrant the maximum penalty:

-- Failure to ensure primary and direct measures, systems and plans to ensure workers’ safety and health are in place (e.g., protective structures to prevent falls, safety and health management system)

-- Failure to conduct risk assessments

-- Failure to appoint competent personnel to perform critical duties and for said personnel to perform their duties (e.g., professional engineer, scaffold supervisor, crane operator)

-- Failure to ensure employees are adequately trained (e.g., any person carrying out manual work in the worksite)

-- Failure to provide suitable personal protective equipment (e.g., safety harness) or facilities or personnel to ensure safety and prevent an incident from escalating and resulting in serious harm (e.g., fire-fighting facilities)

-- Failure to inspect, maintain or repair equipment (e.g., crane, scaffold), where such inspections or maintenance are critical to detect or prevent failures or defects that can cause serious harm

-- Failure to provide a warning notice of hazards that can cause or result in serious harm (e.g., warning notices on unsafe scaffolds, and labels on electrical power circuits).

Singapore's record of workplace deaths and injuries

In 2023, Singapore saw a decrease in workplace fatalities and major injuries, with 36 workers losing their lives, representing a 21.7% decline from the 46 deaths reported in 2022. The number of major injuries also dropped from 614 to 590 within the same period.

Despite these improvements, the Singaporean government remains cautious. “We don’t want to have a situation where we are complacent,” said Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Manpower, as reported by The Straits Times.

Mohamad stressed the need for sustained safety measures, recalling that the record-low figures of the previous year followed a period of high fatality and injury rates.

Increasing the maximum fines for safety violations is intended to enhance ownership and accountability, particularly among top workplace leaders who play a crucial role in fostering a safety-centric culture within their organisations. These changes reflect a broader strategy to ensure improvements in workplace safety are a permanent fixture in Singaporean work environments.