Workplace deaths in first half of 2022 double from previous 6 months, but no significant increase in major injuries

SINGAPORE – While workplace fatalities have been making the headlines recently, with 37 lives lost on the job so far this year, the latest government data showed that the number of cases categorised as "major injuries" has held relatively steady compared to the second half of last year.

The Workplace Safety and Health report, released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Sept 16), showed a total of 297 major workplace injuries in the first half of the year. This is up from the 294 in the second half of 2021 but still lower than the 314 injuries in the first half of 2021.

There were 28 deaths in the first half of this year, double the figure for the previous six months, whereas the first half of 2021 saw 23 deaths.

Overall, there were 10,429 workplace injuries in the first half of this year, down from the 10,915 in the second half of 2021.

The construction industry accounted for the most major workplace injuries, with manufacturing being the next largest contributor, followed by transportation and storage, and accommodation and food services.

Construction also saw the most workplace deaths in the first half of this year, followed by transportation and storage, and manufacturing.

MOM also said that the number of fatal accidents involving vehicles has been rising over the last one-and-a-half years.

There were seven of such accidents in the first half of 2022, compared to five in the second half of 2021 and six in the first half of 2021.

The number of "dangerous occurrences", or incidents with a high potential for multiple casualties, increased exponentially, with the total of 13 for the first half of this year being the same as that for the whole of last year. 

The construction industry had the most dangerous occurrences, followed by manufacturing, transportation and storage, and marine.

MAJOR WORKPLACE INJURIES

In the first half of 2022, there were 297 major workplace injuries reported. Of these:

• 84 were from the construction industry
• 60 in manufacturing
• 29 in transportation and storage
• 29 in accommodation and food services
• 19 in administrative and support services
• 19 in wholesale and retail
• 11 in marine
• 46 in other sectors

The causes:

• 95 slips, trips and falls
• 40 falls from height
• 35 machinery incidents
• 23 exposure to extreme temperatures
• 21 incidents involving vehicles
• 83 other infrequent incidents

WORKPLACE DEATHS

There were 28 workplace fatalities in the same period. Of these:

• 10 were from the construction industry
• Five in transportation and storage 
• Four in manufacturing
• Four in marine
• Two in real estate services
• Two in accommodation and food services
• One in other sectors

The causes:

• Seven falls from height
• Seven vehicular incidents
• Four collapse/failures of structures and equipment
• Four slips, trips and falls
• Two crane-related incidents
• Four other infrequent incidents

MINOR WORKPLACE INJURIES

There were 10,104 minor workplace injuries in the same period.

The causes:

• 2,887 slips, trips and falls
• 1,453 machinery incidents
• 975 struck by moving objects
• 782 struck by falling objects
• 775 cases of over exertion/strenuous movements
• 688 striking against objects
• 2,544 other infrequent incidents