MOM urges voluntary safety time-out for firms in construction and transportation & storage sectors
This comes on the back of seven workplace fatalities since September in the two industries.
The authorities in Singapore have called on companies in the construction and transportation and storage sectors to conduct a voluntary safety time-out from October 5 to October 18. This initiative follows seven workplace fatalities in September, which were predominantly concentrated in these two industries, according to the Minister of State for Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) highlighted the need for companies to review their workplace safety and health (WSH) procedures, enhance risk controls, and address any existing safety gaps. Specific attention should be given to the safe use of concrete pumps and measures to prevent vehicle roll-aways. MOM also emphasized the importance of ensuring handbrakes are engaged before drivers leave their vehicles and using wheel chocks when necessary.
In addition to the voluntary safety time-out, the ministry announced enhanced enforcement measures from October 5 to November 4. This includes increasing fines for offenses from $2,000 to $3,000 for first-time offenders, with higher fines for repeat or more serious offenses. The duration of stop-work orders will also be extended from five weeks to eight weeks, and companies may be barred from hiring new migrant workers for three months in severe cases.
Other workplace deaths in September include two fatalities on September 22 when workers fell into the sea while moving cargo at Tuas Port, and another on September 11 when a worker was struck by a compressed air hose at a construction site in Jurong Port Road. MOM stressed that these recent fatalities serve as a stark reminder that workplace safety and health should never be taken for granted.
They urged industry partners and stakeholders, including the labor movement, to reinforce these safety efforts within their networks, emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and collective action to strengthen safety practices and build safer workplaces.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
