FATAL FALLS FROM HEIGHT REMAIN TOP KILLER AT SINGAPORE WORKSITES

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Most worksite deaths involving workers in
Singapore, were due to falls from height, according to the manpower ministry.

In the first half of this year, of the 25 fatalities recorded, there were
10 deaths from falls as compared to 11 in the same period last year, the
ministry said, adding "falls from height remain a top killer at the worksite."

The ministry today unveiled a new training course on work at height and
stepped-up inspections on the worksite as part of a two-pronged approach to
prevent work-at-height fatalities.

The approach was recommended by the National Work at Height Taskforce led by
the Workplace Safety and Health Council, following a three-month height
inspection on over 2,000 worksites in the island republic.

More than 1,800 safety violations were uncovered at these worksites which
have either had a work-at-height incident before or have more work-at-height
risks in their workplaces or projects during the inspection.

Following the inspection, 185 companies were fined and 22 worksites were
slapped with stop-work orders, the ministry said.

The ministry's Occupational Safety & Health Director of Policy, Information
and Corporate Services Suresh Navaratnam said the inspections highlighted that
more could and needed to be done to save unnecessary loss of lives due to work-
at-height accidents.

He said industry players needed to be alert to the problems they had at
their workplaces and take immediate action.

The ministry said it would not hesitate to take stern action against
companies which failed to ensure workplace safety such as charging them under
the Workplace Safety and Health Act, which carries a maximum fine of $500,000,
or for individuals a maximum fine of $200,000 or two-year jail term.
-- BERNAMA