Singapore recorded 43 workplace deaths in 2024, up from 36 in 2023, according to the annual workplace safety and health (WSH) report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 26 Mar 2025.
The workplace death rate climbed to 1.2 per 100,000 workers in 2024, from 0.99 per 100,000 workers in 2023. This marks a return above the one-per-100,000-workers mark, which Singapore had dropped below for the first time in 2023, excluding 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the rise in fatalities, the total number of workplace injuries declined by 2.8 per cent, from 22,787 in 2023 to 22,157 in 2024.
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Construction, Transport and Marine Sectors Drive Rise in Workplace Fatalities
The construction, transport and storage, and marine industries accounted for 80 per cent – or 34 – of the 43 workplace deaths in 2024.
The construction sector recorded 20 deaths in 2024, up from 18 in 2023. The sector has seen a steady climb in workplace deaths since 2020, when nine fatalities were recorded. Its workplace death rate was 3.7 per 100,000 workers in 2024, up from 3.4 in 2023.
Regular construction sites witnessed more deaths, climbing from seven in 2023 to 13 in 2024. These included the deaths of a local site engineer and a Bangladeshi construction worker at a North-South Corridor worksite.
The transport and storage sector accounted for nine deaths in 2024, up from eight in 2023.
The marine sector, which had no fatalities in 2023, recorded five deaths in 2024. This resulted in the sector’s workplace death rate jumping to 8.1 per 100,000 workers.
Four of these fatalities involved works on vessels at anchorage, and two involved diving operations where systemic safety lapses were observed.
Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad attributed the “surprising” rise in workplace deaths in the marine industry to bad practices that are often missed until incidents happen, as well as safety lapses or complacency.
MOM told reporters that it plans to work with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to ramp up enforcement against offshore marine contractors, particularly divers, as some are not using commercial diving equipment.
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Some contractors opt to use scuba-diving equipment for convenience, since commercial diving gear may be more cumbersome and hinder movement.
The water supply, sewerage and waste management industry had three deaths, and the manufacturing sector recorded two.
Vehicular incidents were the top cause of workplace deaths, followed by suffocation or drowning, and the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment. These three causes collectively accounted for 56 per cent (24 fatal injuries) of all workplace fatal injuries in 2024.
Record Low Major Injury Rate Despite Ongoing Safety Challenges
Singapore registered its lowest rate of major workplace injuries in 2024, with 15.9 such injuries recorded for every 100,000 workers, down from 16.1 in 2023.
There were 587 major injuries reported in 2024 – a marginal decrease from 590 in 2023. Major injuries are severe non-fatal injuries, including amputations, blindness and paralysis.
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The construction, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services industries were responsible for 54 per cent – or 319 – of the 587 major workplace injuries in 2024.
At 146, the construction sector had the highest number of major injuries, followed by the manufacturing industry with 123.
The workplace major injury rate for the construction sector was 27.3 per 100,000 workers, down from 28.5 in 2023. The rate also decreased for the manufacturing sector, falling from 35.1 in 2023 to 28.9 in 2024.
Mr Zaqy said this shows industries could be catching on to good practices.
The top causes of major injuries were slips, trips and falls, machinery incidents and falls from height. These collectively accounted for 61 per cent (357 injuries) of all workplace major injuries in 2024.
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In 2024, there were 21,527 minor workplace injuries, or non-severe injuries with any instance of medical leave or light duties given. This was 2.9 per cent lower than the 22,161 cases reported in 2023.
About 71 per cent of these minor injuries posed low fatality risks. Slips, trips and falls, machinery incidents and being struck by moving objects accounted for half of these cases.
The health and social services, manufacturing, and accommodation and food services industries contributed 46.8 per cent of minor workplace injuries in 2024.
The number of workers developing occupational diseases – including noise-induced deafness, musculoskeletal disorders and skin diseases – dipped from 1,229 in 2023 to 899 in 2024.
This was still an increase from the number in 2021 (659) and was due to growth in the reporting of noise-induced deafness cases with improved surveillance efforts and increased awareness among doctors and employers.
In 2024, 19 dangerous occurrences – incidents that could cause serious damage, death or injury – at workplaces were reported, on a par with the 19 incidents in 2023.
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Most involved the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment, while others were caused by fires and explosions.
MOM Ramps Up Enforcement and Workplace Safety Measures
MOM carried out more than 17,000 inspections in 2024, focusing on higher-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing and marine.
“Aside from general workplace safety, there were also targeted inspections in priority areas – slips, trips & falls, machinery safety, vehicular safety and falls from height,” the ministry said.
The ministry took enforcement action against more than 16,000 breaches under the WSH Act and regulations. This included 1,500 composition fines totalling more than $3.1 million, and the issuance of 58 stop-work orders.
In November 2024, the authorities encouraged construction companies to impose a voluntary safety time-out to strengthen their safety procedures and increase safety awareness among workers after the sector saw 10 deaths between July and October. MOM also stepped up enforcement at construction worksites.
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MOM’s targeted inspections and the demerit point system for breaches drove a 20.1 per cent drop in the death and major injury rate in metalworking, a field that deals in the shaping and reshaping of metals.
There was one death in the metalworking industry in 2024, down from two in 2023, and 47 major injuries, down from 59 in 2023.
There was also a 16.7 per cent drop in the death and major injury rate in the food and beverage sector, which MOM attributed to proactive engagement efforts by the ministry and the Singapore Food Agency to educate the industry on good WSH practices.
Mr Zaqy said the rise in workplace deaths in 2024 showed that staying close to Singapore’s targeted workplace fatality rate of below one per 100,000 workers would require more effort in focusing on higher-risk sectors.
“Singapore’s workplace safety and health performance (WSH) continues to rank among the top-performing countries globally, with a five-year average workplace fatality rate of 1.1 per 100,000 workers,” said the ministry.
Moving forward, MOM will need to target particular sectors that have lapses and complacency through increased enforcement and awareness, added Mr Zaqy.
The ministry is planning to tighten controls on diving permits and increase the number of inspections in the marine sector in 2025.
Mr Zaqy said there has been good progress on video surveillance systems at construction sites, as they allow the ministry to have “one foot in the door” in terms of enforcement and surveillance.
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MOM is exploring adding video analytics to these systems, which can process camera footage in real time and detect unsafe behavior or workplace risks.
“On the one hand, I think it’s easy to just say put more regulations, restrictions and constraints, but that would not make companies competitive,” Mr Zaqy told reporters during a visit to chemical manufacturing company Chevron Oronite on Jurong Island.
“Safety is important, so the way to do it is to find productive ways that will not be too interventionist and disrupt the efficiency of their work.”
MOM noted that more time will be needed for the effects of measures, such as video surveillance systems and the greater emphasis on safety in the evaluation of construction tenders, to be seen.
“Strengthening Singapore’s culture of WSH excellence is a collective effort and a non-negotiable priority. We have the potential to do better, as seen by Singapore’s record-low performance in 2023,” the ministry added.
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