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SINGAPORE: An increase in workplace fatalities for the first time since 2005 means there is "still more to be done" to imbibe a strong safety culture in the workplace.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong stated this in Parliament on Tuesday, when he announced that as of last October, the number of fatal accidents at work sites was 2.9 per 100,000 workers - compared to 2008's rate of 2.8.
To enhance safety, Mr Gan said - in response to a query from Jurong Member of Parliament Halimah Yacob - that new initiatives like the National Crane Safety Taskforce and the National Work-at-Height Taskforce were established last year.
These look into better managing safety in these areas, as work-at-heights and crane lifting operations accounted for close to half of the 70 fatalities last year.
The Ministry has also tightened enforcement, with an island-wide blitz last month, and six stop work orders and 179 fines and warnings were issued to 29 worksites.
Sectoral plans for the construction and marine sectors are also being developed to improve safety management in these two sectors, which accounted for almost two-thirds of fatalities last year.
The whistleblowing mechanism for reporting safety lapses has also been "valuable", with a quarter of the 60 tip-offs each month coming from workers.
Poorly managed sub-contracting work was also a "challenge" to workplace safety and health.
And while smaller companies may have resource constraints, it was "no excuse" for any loss of lives. Larger companies contracting work to these companies should act as "mentors" to prevent fatalities and accidents, the minister said.
- TODAY/sc
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