MOM urges construction, transport and storage firms to hold voluntary safety time-out amid recent workplace fatalities

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday (Oct 5) urged firms in the construction, and transport and storage industries to conduct a voluntary safety time-out.

This comes amid two recent cases of workplace fatalities reported at a Tanjong Rhu HDB construction site , and at Tuas Port .

The incident at Tuas Port on Sept 22 involved two workers who fell into the sea while conducting stevedoring work.

On Sept 29, a 22-year-old worker fell to his death at a Tanjong Rhu Build-To-Order site after he was struck by the discharge hose of a concrete pump truck and fell from the 12th-floor of a block.

On Monday, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash noted that a total of seven workplace fatalities have occurred since September.

He said that these incidents are "deeply concerning" and decisive actions must be taken to prevent further loss of lives.

Referring to these incidents, MOM said the workplace fatalities are a "grave reminder" that workplace safety and health cannot be taken for granted.

"To reinforce workplace health and safety, MOM is calling on companies in both industries to conduct a voluntary Safety Time-Out (STO) from Oct 5 to 18," the ministry said in a Facebook post on Monday.

It urged firms to use the STO to review their workplace health and safety procedures, strengthen risk controls, and address safety gaps, with particular focus on the safe use of concrete pumps and vehicle rollaway prevention measures.

This should include ensuring that handbrakes are engaged before drivers leave their vehicles and using wheel chocks where appropriate.

"I urge employers to use the Safety Time-Out to thoroughly review their work processes, address any safety gaps, and engage their workers and supervisors on how work can be carried out more safely," the minister of state said.

He also called on industry partners and stakeholders, including the labour movement, to reinforce these efforts within their networks.

"Continued vigilance and collective effort will help us strengthen safety practices and build safer workplaces."

Enhanced enforcement measures

The ministry also announced that it will implement enhanced enforcement measures in both industries for a one-month period ending on Nov 4.

This, it said, is intended to strengthen deterrence and accountability.

During this period, the ministry will increase the composition fine quantum for offences from $2,000 to $3,000 for first-time offences, with higher composition fines for repeat or more serious offences.

It will also increase the minimum duration of stop work orders from five weeks to eight weeks.

In addition, companies will be debarred from hiring new migrant workers for three months in cases found to be egregious, the ministry added.

新加坡人力部（MOM）周一（10月5日）敦促建筑业、运输业和仓储业的公司进行自愿安全停工。

此前，丹戎禺组屋建筑工地和图阿斯港分别报告了两起工作场所死亡事故。

9月22日，大士港发生一起事故，两名工人在进行装卸作业时落入海中。

9月29日，一名22岁的工人在丹戎禺的一个预购建筑工地被混凝土泵车的卸料软管击中，从一栋楼的12楼坠亡。

周一，人力部国务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什指出，自9月以来，共发生了7起工作场所死亡事故。

他表示，这些事件“令人深感担忧”，必须采取果断措施防止更多生命损失。

针对这些事件，人力部表示，工作场所的死亡事故“严重提醒”人们，工作场所的安全和健康不容忽视。

“为了加强工作场所的健康和安全，人力部呼吁这两个行业的公司在10月5日至18日期间进行自愿安全暂停（STO）活动，”该部门周一在Facebook上发帖称。

它敦促各公司利用安全培训令审查其工作场所的健康和安全程序，加强风险控制，并解决安全漏洞，尤其要关注混凝土泵的安全使用和车辆溜车预防措施。

这应包括确保驾驶员离开车辆前拉起手刹，并在适当情况下使用车轮挡块。

“我敦促雇主利用安全暂停期彻底审查他们的工作流程，解决任何安全漏洞，并与他们的工人和主管讨论如何更安全地开展工作，”国务部长说。

他还呼吁行业伙伴和利益相关者，包括劳工运动，在其各自的网络中加强这些努力。

“持续的警惕和集体努力将有助于我们加强安全措施，并建立更安全的工作场所。”

加强执法措施

该部还宣布，将在截至 11 月 4 日的一个月内，对这两个行业实施更严格的执法措施。

声明称，此举旨在加强威慑和问责。

在此期间，该部门将把初犯的罚款金额从 2000 美元提高到 3000 美元，对于再犯或更严重的违法行为，罚款金额将更高。

此外，停工令的最短期限也将从五周延长至八周。

此外，该部还补充说，对于情节严重的违规企业，将禁止其在三个月内雇用新的外籍劳工。