The first half of 2019 saw a rise in the number of workplace injuries
The number of non-fatal workplace injuries in Singapore increased to 6561 cases in the first half of 2019, compared with the same period last year, found the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
According to the report released today (30 September), the figure was 6,073 in 2018.
However, the cases of workplace fatalities have fallen and is at its lowest in eight years – there were 17 cases in the first half of 2019.
MOM revealed that leading causes of fatal injuries were ‘falls from height’, ‘vehicular-related incidents’ and ‘collapse or failure of structure and equipment’.
As for non-fatal injuries, ‘slips, trips and falls’ and ‘machinery-related incidents’ remained leading causes of major and minor incidents.
“It is encouraging that the first half of 2019 recorded the lowest half-yearly number of fatalities,” said Christopher Koh, Director of Policy, Information and Corporate Services Department at MOM.
“However, we cannot be complacent as non-fatal injuries continue to rise, including in industries that were previously less accident-prone.”
Recent changes to the Work Injury Compensation Act were made to push for better awareness of workplace safety and health awareness, he added.
