Companies in Singapore’s construction and transportation and storage sectors have been urged to conduct a voluntary safety time-out after seven workplace deaths were recorded in the two industries since September.
The Ministry of Manpower said the safety time-out will run from 5 to 18 October 2026.
A safety time-out is a pause for companies to review work processes, check whether risk controls are working, and remind workers and supervisors about safe procedures before work continues as usual.
Firms Asked to Review Safety Gaps
MOM said companies should use the two-week period to review their workplace safety and health procedures, strengthen risk controls and address safety gaps.
The ministry said particular attention should be given to the safe use of concrete pumps and preventing vehicles from rolling away.
For vehicle safety, MOM pointed to steps such as ensuring handbrakes are engaged before drivers leave their vehicles and using wheel chocks where appropriate. Wheel chocks are blocks placed against wheels to stop vehicles or equipment from moving accidentally.
Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said on 5 October that the recent deaths were concentrated in the construction and transportation and storage sectors, which is why MOM is targeting the safety time-out and enforcement measures at these industries.
He said the seven deaths since September were deeply concerning, and that action was needed to prevent further loss of lives.
Fines and Stop-Work Orders to Be Toughened
Besides the voluntary safety time-out, MOM will introduce enhanced enforcement measures in both sectors from 5 October to 4 November 2026.
During this period, the composition fine for first-time workplace safety offences found during inspections will go up from S$2,000 to S$3,000.
Higher fines will apply for repeat or more serious offences.
The minimum duration of stop-work orders will also increase from five weeks to eight weeks. In egregious cases involving serious workplace safety lapses that result in fatal or serious accidents, companies may also be barred from hiring new migrant workers for three months.
These measures are meant to strengthen deterrence and accountability, according to MOM.
Recent Fatal Cases Include Tuas Port and Tanjong Rhu
Among the recent cases, two workers died after falling into the sea at Tuas Port on 22 September while carrying out stevedoring work.
Another worker, aged 22, died after falling from height at a construction site along Tanjong Rhu Road on 28 September.
According to CNA, MP for Radin Mas and NTUC assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong said four of the seven workplace deaths in September were in construction, while three were in transportation and storage.
He urged companies not to treat the safety time-out as a paper exercise, saying employers must provide safe systems of work, supervisors must stop unsafe work immediately, and workers must be able to speak up without fear.
Workplace Deaths Rose in First Half of 2026
The latest safety push comes after MOM reported 21 workplace deaths in the first half of 2026.
Singapore’s annualised workplace fatal injury rate rose to 1.1 per 100,000 workers in the first half of 2026, up from 0.97 in the first half of 2025 and 0.96 in the second half of 2025.
Vehicular incidents were the leading cause of workplace deaths in the first half of 2026, accounting for nine fatalities.
MOM said in September that the rise in fatal injuries showed the need for continued vigilance, even though the major injury rate had improved to an all-time low.
