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Singapore sees fall in working deaths, injuries

Xinhua, September 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The number of deaths and injuries at work have declined in the first half of 2015 when compared with the same period last year, while the number of occupational diseases has increased, according to data released by Singapore's Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute on Thursday.

The number of deaths at work fell to 29 in the first half of 2015, a 14.71 percent decrease from 34 deaths during the same period last year. While 5,950 cases of workers got injured in the first half of 2015, a 9.3 percent decline compared with the 6,563 cases in the same period last year.

The institute said construction, marine and manufacturing sectors accounted for 48 percent of deaths at work, while construction sector remained the highest contributor of workplace deaths.

Work-related traffic incidents was the leading cause of death, with eight employees suffering fatal injuries under such circumstances. Other common causes of work-related deaths include falling from height and being struck by moving objects.

According to statistics released by the institute, there were fewer cases of workers sustaining major injuries, which declined from 304 cases in the first half of 2014 to 292 cases this year. The number of cases of minor injuries also decreased from 6,255 last year to 5,658 in the first half of 2015.

Sectors traditionally at higher risk of injuries accounted for 54 percent of the total number of major injuries, but there was a decrease from 169 to 159 cases during the first half of this year. Construction sector also remained the highest contributor. As for minor injuries, these sectors accounted for 43 percent of the total cases, and manufacturing sector was the top contributor.

However, more cases of occupational diseases emerged during the first half of this year, from 428 cases in the same period last year to 438 cases. Manufacturing sector accounted for 31 percent of all cases, recording the highest number.

Despite the increase in number, the occupational disease incidence rate dipped from 13.2 per 100,000 workers last year to 13.0 in the first half of 2015. Endi