Ensuring a safer and healthier workplace for all workers

More often than not, Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) are frequently overlooked as most of us tend to only associate it with workplace injuries and industrial accidents that happen at places like construction sites.

However, in actual fact, Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) is more than just industrial accidents.

It is also about injuries that took place in the offices, accidents which happened during transportation and deliveries, and it also includes the physical and mental health of a worker.

Here are the four alarming statistics related to workplace accidents and injuries from the latest Workplace Safety and Health report, that we probably should be paying more attention to.

1. Fewer injuries and occupational diseases in 1Q 2020 compared to 4Q 2019, but more fatalities and occupational disease compared to 1Q 2019

The report noted that while workplace injury cases have fallen, however, despite the suspension of many activities during circuit breaker, there were 16 workplace fatalities this year – close to that in the first half of last year when there were 17 deaths.

2. Construction and Transportation & Storage industries had the highest number of fatal injuries; Construction industry also had the highest number of major injuries

According to the report, the transportation and storage industry accounted for the highest number of deaths. There were five cases of death reported at the workplace in the first half of this year.

While the workplace deaths in the construction industry fell from six cases in the first half of last year to three cases in the same period this year, it is still the industry that reported the highest number of major injuries.

3. In 1Q 2020, Falls from Height was the top cause of fatal injuries; Slips, Trips & Falls were the top cause of major injuries but has been declining

The main cause of fatal injuries continued to be fall from height and vehicular-related incidents, with these two concerns relevant last year as well. Reportedly, four out of the total number of fatalities in the first half of this year were from falls from height – same as the same period last year.

Slips, trips and falls continue to be the main cause of major and minor injuries even though the number of such cases fell on the whole from 1,862 in the first half of last year to 1,508 in the same period this year.

The second-most common cause of major and minor injuries was related to machinery, with 809 cases this year compared to 1,119 cases in the same period last year.

In response to the statistics, Labour MP Melvin Yong who has been advocating more attention to be placed on workplace safety and health said in a Facebook post that companies should consider implementing a structured re-orientation programme for workers, especially those in high-risk worksites.

“As more workers return to their workplaces, there is a need to ease them back gradually into their jobs, as many have not returned to their worksites for months.”

“The Labour Movement will continue to engage our tripartite partners to create safer and healthier workplaces for all, because #EveryWorkerMatters and #EveryLifeMatters”, he added.

Indeed, one life lost is one too many, and every worker is a precious resource and an asset. A responsible employer ought to do more to provide safer workplaces and keep our workers healthy. Don’t you agree?