| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SINGAPORE: The number of fatalities at workplaces has gone up. The Manpower Ministry (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health Council said in their latest report that 36 people were killed at the workplace in the first half of this year.
This is five more than the total number of deaths during the same period last year. Most of the workplace fatalities this year took place in the construction, marine and manufacturing industries.
The report highlighted that most of the deaths took place when a worker falls from height. Such cases accounted for three in 10 incidents. Other common causes of deaths included falling objects and collapsed structures.
The report also said that the number of people sustaining permanent injuries at the workplace rose to 70 in the first half of this year, 11 more than the same period last year.
This time round, most of the injured workers came from the construction industry. Twenty-eight construction workers were injured in all - double last year's figures.
To tackle these problems, the National Work-at-Height Taskforce - formed by the MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Council - will announce plans later this month on the implementation of Fall Protection Plans at all workplaces.
The council is also producing a series of technical guidance materials aimed at reducing the number of workplace accidents.
Despite these increases, MOM and the council said that the overall number of work injuries has gone down slightly in the first half of this year - 5,268 compared to 5,274 in the same period last year.
The council's chairman, Lee Tzu Yang, stressed that all stakeholders must take personal responsibility to manage workplace safety and health matters. They must take active steps to ensure no one is subjected to unnecessary risks at work, he said.
- CNA/ir
|
