Number of work-related accidents up almost 7% on-year in
H1
SINGAPORE: Number of work-related accidents in the first
half of 2008 was up seven per cent from the same period last year
to more than 5,200 cases.
According to statistics by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH)
Council released on Wednesday, less severe injuries such as
temporary disablements contributed to the bulk of the
increase.
These mainly came from construction, ship building and ship repair,
transport and storage, and the hotel sector.
There were 26 fatal accidents in the first half of 2008, same as
last year.
However, with some of the accidents claiming multiple victims, the
number of workplace fatalities rose to 32 in the first six months
of 2008, up from 28 in the previous year.
The overall fatality rate at the half-year mark, was 1.5 deaths per
100, 000 persons employed, up from 1.3 a year ago.
Commenting on the sobering statistics, Chairman of the WSH
Council's construction and landscaping committee, Jackson Yap, said
employers in the construction and marine sectors must do
more.
He said management must be able to effectively manage the larger
numbers of new and relatively inexperienced foreign workers who are
in Singapore to help meet the increased workload.
Mr Yap continued to say that one important area is providing
appropriate and adequate safety training for all workers, including
direct employee and contract workers.
He said workers must possess the necessary safety skills before
being assigned to work tasks.
Mr Yap also revealed that the Council's new Logistics and
Transportation Committee is working on a programme to improve the
safe use of transport vehicles.
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