SCAL Safety Campaign

29 Jun 2022 Forum Past Event Construction and Landscape

• Date:

  23 Jun 2022

• Time:

  8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

• Location:

  Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i) Halls 1 & 2

• Spots Available:

  200

• Event resources:

  Not Added Yet

Manpower Minister shares upcoming plans to improve workplace safety

The Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) organised its annual Safety and Health Campaign on 23 June 2022. The event, attended by over 200 leaders and stakeholders from the construction industry, focused on the latest workplace safety and health (WSH) developments including findings from recent enforcement operations, industry best practices and workers’ well-being. In addition, five companies and three WSH professionals were recognised for their efforts in promoting and maintaining safe and healthy worksites, and in implementing innovative ideas to improve safety and health standards in their projects.  

Mr Ng Yek Meng, President of SCAL, said in his opening address that he was saddened by the recent spate of fatalities in the construction industry and shared that the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, including developers, consultants, main contractors, sub-contractors and workers, were needed to prevent accidents. 

In his welcome address, Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, expressed his concern at the 27 workplace fatalities in 2022 so far, which was close to double of 2019’s figures for the same period. Among the 27 deaths, 10 were from the construction industry. He shared that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had since taken stronger enforcement actions and introduced stiffer penalties against errant employers. To further lift the industry’s safety standards and strengthen WSH ownership, MOM will be looking into a harmonised disqualification criteria framework for the public sector construction tenders, and reviewing the current demerit points system for breaches under the WSH Act or Regulations.

MOM will also take the opportunity to review the coverage of WSH personnel to improve the level of WSH oversight as well as the use of surveillance technology to alleviate resource constraints and monitor conditions and practices at workplaces closely.