Singapore’s WSH performance in 1H 2025 reflects continued progress, with major injury rate at an all-time low

Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance in 1H 2025 reflects continued progress to make Singapore workplaces among the safest in the world. The annualised workplace fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers was 0.92, compared to 1.0 in 1H 2024. The annualised major injury rate per 100,000 workers fell to an all-time low (excluding 2020 where projects were disrupted due to COVID-19) of 15.5 from 16.6 in 1H 2024, continuing the downward trend in recent years. Strong commitment from all stakeholders is key to sustaining these improvements.

2            Beyond addressing workplace safety risks, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will update the Occupational Disease list with effect from 1 December 2025. The revised list will strengthen protection for workers and provide clearer guidance for employers by aligning reporting and compensation requirements under the WSH and Work Injury Compensation Acts.

Sectoral Safety Performance

3            Improvements have been observed in both Manufacturing and Construction, the sectors that are the top contributors to fatal and major injuries. 

4            The Manufacturing sector saw progress, with the number of fatal and major injuries declining from 65 in 1H 2024 to 55 in 1H 2025. In particular, the metalworking industry saw a marked 29% reduction in fatal and major injuries compared to the same period last year.  Tighter machinery safety requirements likely contributed to this decline

5            The Construction sector’s annualised fatal and major injury rate per 100,000 workers also fell from 30.6 (81 injuries) in 1H 2024 to 28.2 (76 injuries) in 1H 2025. Regular / larger-scale worksites recorded fewer injuries (27 compared to 31 in 1H 2024). For smaller-scale [1] construction works, there were 46 injuries in 1H 2025, comparable to 47 in 1H 2024. The improvement may be attributed to stronger enforcement, a sector-wide safety time-out in November 2024, and stricter safety requirements for public-sector projects introduced in April 2024.

6            Across sectors, vehicular incidents and falls from height were the leading causes of fatalities, while slips, trips and falls remained the top cause of major injuries.

Enforcement Efforts to Sustain Progress

7            MOM conducted more than 3,000 workplace safety inspections in 1H 2025 across high-risk industries. Areas of focus included vehicular safety, preventing slips, trips and falls, machinery safety, and safe working at height. Close to 7,000 breaches were detected, with errant companies receiving over $1.5 million in composition fines and 28 stop work orders. These enforcement actions reiterate the need for companies to strengthen WSH, and thereby prioritise the safety and health of their workers.

Updated Occupational Disease List

8            Occupational diseases (OD), while less visible than accidents, can have significant impact on workers’ quality of life. The 1H 2025 annualised OD rate remained stable at 25.2 per 100,000 workers (465 cases), comparable to 25.6 (468 cases) in 1H 2024. The top contributors in 1H 2025 were noise-induced deafness (60% of cases), work-related musculoskeletal disorders (26%), and occupational skin diseases (10%). Increased awareness of OD through MOM’s engagement and enforcement efforts have contributed to improved detection and management of OD in recent years.

9            To strengthen protection for workers and improve clarity for employers, MOM will update and align the OD lists under the WSH Act (WSHA) and the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) based on the latest medical evidence and international practice. From 1 December 2025, the same list of 38 ODs will be reportable under WSHA and compensable under WICA. Key changes include the coverage of work-related musculoskeletal disorders beyond those affecting the upper limbs, and broader recognition of occupational infectious diseases for workers in high-risk settings. The revised OD list can be found in the Annex.

Shared Responsibility for Safer and Healthier Workplaces

10          The improvements in WSH performance, together with the expanded OD coverage, mark important progress in protecting workers from both work injuries and occupational health risks. MOM will continue working closely with unions, employers, and industry partners to sustain the momentum and press on towards a culture of WSH excellence.

Table 1 – List of Occupational Diseases in WSHA and WICA (Note: The disease names may be subject to further change.)            

OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Conditions removed from OD lists