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SINGAPORE – Two workers died in workplace accidents this week, prompting the NTUC union movement to urge companies to prioritize and safeguard worker safety, and not put their lives at risk by rushing to catch up on work.
In a Facebook post on Friday (November 4), NTUC Deputy Secretary General Melvin Yong said there have been five workplace deaths over the past two weeks.
He added that to date, the number of deaths in the workplace this year is more than two-thirds of the total in 2019, when 39 lives were lost.
“This is in the context of the Covid-19 restrictions, where there was a drastic drop in the level of business activities,” he noted.
Expressing concern and alarm at the sharp rise, Yong said the figures serve as a critical and grim reminder to guard against fatigue or even complacency as Singapore continues to move towards phase three of its reopening.
He said he was pleased that the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSH) and the Singapore Contractors Association asked construction companies to carry out a safety break last week.
The WSH Board provided details of the latest incidents in an update on Friday.
The first accident occurred on December 1, when a worker packing goods in a warehouse fell from a height and succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
The next day, a worker repairing a machine died after one of its parts fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The Ministry of Human Resources has launched investigations into both incidents, the WSH Council said on its website.
At his post, Mr. Yong asked for trained WSH representatives in all organizations.
These representatives could also ensure that the implementation of safe management measures in the workplace to stop the spread of Covid-19 does not compromise safety in the workplace.
He said companies should also consider implementing a structured reorientation program for workers returning to the workplace after an extended period of absence.
This especially for high risk sectors such as manufacturing, construction, transportation and storage.
Employers should also consider taking WSH refresher courses so that safety remains at the top of everyone’s mind, he added.
Said Mr. Yong, “At the end of the day, workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility. Each of us must play our part in our effort to achieve a safer and healthier workplace for all.”
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