Incidences and Contributory Factors of Poor Safety Practices or Inappropriate Procedures Logged at Workplace in Past Year

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in the past year, how many incidences of poor safety practices or inappropriate procedures have been logged at the workplace; (b) whether the current manpower crunch is giving rise to more workplace accidents; and (c) how is the Ministry working with employers to ensure that workers’ mental well-being does not affect their ability to deliver quality work in a safe manner.

There was a reduction in the number of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) composition fines (CFs) and notices of non-compliance (NNCs) for safety in 2020 to around 3,000, compared with nearly 9,000 in the preceding year. This is due mainly to the suspension of workplace activities in the second and third quarters of 2020 to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Notwithstanding, the unsafe practices detected remain largely unchanged, with the most common being unguarded openings and open sides, poor maintenance of heavy machinery such as excavators, boom lifts and forklifts and insufficient safeguards when operating machinery.

Preliminary investigations into the recent fatal accidents and ongoing inspections present a similar picture. However, while COVID-19 border restrictions have meant fewer workers, it is unclear the degree to which these factors have contributed to the increase in workplace injuries. Nevertheless, regardless of COVID-19, all stakeholders, especially employers are very clear that the safety of the workers cannot be compromised.

With respect to mental well-being of the workforce, the WSH Council promotes this as part of its Total WSH programme and through platforms such as its annual National WSH Campaigns. This year’s campaign was launched in April 2021 and emphasises workers setting aside Care Time to pause at work to take care of their safety and health. Simple actions like having sufficient sleep, keeping hydrated and doing regular exercises can improve one’s physical and mental health and allow workers to become more alert to unsafe acts or conditions at their workplaces.

The WSH Council’s Total WSH Programme guides employers on how they can manage safety and health, including mental well-being, at workplaces. This includes offering organisations free access to mental well-being talks and workshops. Similarly, the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) Workplace Outreach Wellness (WOW) Package also includes mental well-being programmes to strengthen workplace support for employees. Beyond supporting employers, these programmes are also readily available to help employees themselves manage stress and build mental resilience. Employers may also refer to the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Well-being at Workplaces for practical guidance, including recommendations and available resources, to support the mental well-being of their employees.

We hope that all employers will provide their workers with a conducive and psychologically safe environment to conduct their work safely and healthily.