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Singapore sees more workplace fatalities in 2015

Xinhua, March 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The number of fatalities at workplace in Singapore rose to 66 from 60 in 2015, with one-third killed due to falls from a height, according to the latest figures released by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute on Thursday.

The construction sector remains top contributor of workplace fatalities, with 27 cases reported, accounting for 41 percent of total fatalities. The transportation and storage sector was the second-highest contributor, with 15 fatalities reported last year.

In 2015, a total of 12,285 non-fatal injuries were reported last year, less than the 13,535 in 2014. The number of major injuries fell by 11 percent to 597 cases, while minor injuries fell by 9.1 percent to 11,688 cases from 12,863 in 2014.

Among the major injuries, 157 cases were reported in the construction sector, while the marine sector and the accommodation and food service activities sector also saw more major injuries, with 32 and 46 cases reported, respectively.

The top reason for injuries was again falls from height, with about 43 percent, or 255 cases, of major injuries were caused by falls -- including falls from height as well as slips and trips, WSH Institute said.

For minor injuries, slips, trips and falls were the top incident types, which accounted for 24 percent of the total number.

Despite a drop in the number of minor injury cases, the manufacturing sector remained the top contributor, with 2,556 cases happened in 2015. The construction sector also saw a decline in minor injuries from 2,686 cases in 2014 to 2,076 last year, WSH Institute said.

"I urge companies to check your existing work practices regularly and to systematically build capability in recognising WSH risks at all levels of the organization. Recognition of risks is critical as it is the trigger for further action to control risks. If done well, it would result in safer and healthier workplaces," said WSH Institute Executive Director Dr Gan Siok Lin. Endit