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FAQs on updated coverage of reportable and compensable occupational diseases (ODs) under WSHA and WICA

Occupational Infectious Diseases

What can be considered an “Occupational infectious disease”?
Some examples include Tuberculosis, Chickenpox, Hepatitis B and C (acquired from needlestick injuries) that can be acquired from work. For employees who are in the three high risk settings, namely laboratories, research facilities or healthcare settings, employers should report work-related infections as “Occupational infectious disease”.
Do I need to report “Occupational infectious disease” if my employee does not work in the laboratories, research facilities or healthcare settings?
Infectious diseases acquired during the course of work, outside the three high-risk settings, namely laboratories, research facilities, or healthcare settings, can also be reported to MOM under “Occupational disease – others.”
My employee was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, however I am unable to find this condition in the dropdown list of ODs in the WSH Incident Reporting portal. Where can I find it?
From 1 December 2025, work-related Tuberculosis (TB) arising from exposure to patients with active TB in the provision of healthcare services, or from handling infectious TB material in the healthcare, laboratory or research facility settings should be reported under the category “Occupational infectious disease”. Please select “Occupational infectious disease” from the dropdown menu and provide the diagnosis and details about the condition in the “Description of OD” field.
Contact tracing in the ward was carried out as there was a patient diagnosed with active TB. A few of my employees were identified as having “Latent TB”. Should I report?
Cases of Latent TB do not need to be notified as it is not active. These individuals do not have any symptoms (such as cough) and cannot spread TB to others.
I sustained a needlestick injury while disposing items in a hospital ward and subsequently contracted an infectious disease such as Hepatitis C. Am I eligible for compensation?
From 1 December 2025, occupational infectious diseases acquired in the provision of healthcare services or from exposure to infectious biological material handled in healthcare facilities will be notifiable under WSHA and compensable under WICA.
My employee sustained a needlestick injury while cleaning the clinic. The results for all bloodborne infections were negative. Should I report this as an OD? Would my employee be eligible for compensation?
As the results for bloodborne infections are negative, you do not have to report this as an OD. However, it should be reported as a workplace accident for the needlestick injury. The employee remains eligible for work injury compensation under WICA.
My employee contracted an infectious disease from handling specimens in the laboratory. Should I report this as an OD?
From 1 December 2025, occupational infectious diseases arising from exposure to infectious biological material handled while working in laboratories or research settings would be notifiable under WSHA. They are also compensable under WICA.
My employee contracted Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) from looking after patients with HFMD infection in the ward. Should I report this under “Occupational infectious disease”?

HFMD arising from work-related exposures such as from direct patient contact within the healthcare setting, if assessed by a doctor to be work-related would fall under the category of “Occupational infectious disease”, which is an OD.

From 1 December 2025, occupational infectious diseases acquired in the provision of healthcare services or from exposure to infectious biological material handled in healthcare facilities are notifiable under WSHA and compensable under WICA. This reflects the recognition that exposure to infectious diseases is an occupational hazard in the healthcare setting.

My employee contracted Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) from looking after children with HFMD infection at a childcare centre. Should I report this under “Occupational infectious disease”?

HFMD arising from exposure outside of healthcare, laboratory or research facility settings should not be notified under “Occupational infectious disease”.

However, if the doctor assessed that the condition is work-related, it can be notified as an OD under “Occupational disease - others”. Employees in childcare settings may face exposure to infectious diseases while caring for children.

My worker was diagnosed with a wrist sprain which was deemed as work-related. I previously reported this condition under “Musculoskeletal disorder of the upper limb”. However, I am unable to find this condition in the drop down list of ODs in the WSH Incident Reporting portal. Where can I find it?
From 1 December 2025, employers and platform operators may now report the work-related wrist sprain as “Work-related musculoskeletal disorder”. Please select “Work-related musculoskeletal disorder” from the dropdown menu and provide the diagnosis, details about the condition and nature of work in the “Description of OD” field.
My worker was diagnosed with a low back disorder due to work. What should I report this case as?

If the doctor diagnosed a worker with work-related low back disorder, it would be considered an OD.

From 1 December 2025, employers and platform operators may now report a worker with work-related low back disorder as “Work-related musculoskeletal disorder”. Please select “Work-related musculoskeletal disorder” from the dropdown menu and provide the diagnosis, details about the condition and nature of work in the “Description of OD” field.

My doctor diagnosed me with knee pain that was due to work. Does this qualify as an OD?
If the doctor diagnosed that your medical condition is due to work, it would qualify as an OD, and you can notify it as a “Work-related musculoskeletal disorder”.

Your doctor must report it within 10 days of diagnosis. Your employer or platform operator must also report it within 10 days of receiving the diagnosis.

My worker fell from the stairs and injured his knees and legs. Is this an OD?
Injuries due to an accident at the workplace should be reported as a workplace accident rather than an OD. Workers remain eligible for work injury compensation under WICA.
I am a medical practitioner. My patient suffered tennis elbow and low back pain from manual handling activities. How do I report the two conditions?
The two conditions should be reported as separate ODs despite arising from the same work activity. Please submit two separate OD reports for this case.

Changes to list of Occupational Diseases (ODs)

What is the rationale for updating the coverage of reportable and compensable occupational diseases (ODs) under WSHA and WICA?

This update aligns both Acts, ensuring the same list of 38 ODs is reportable and compensable under WSHA and WICA. In light of MOM's increased attention to occupational health, it is timely to establish clear distinctions between work injuries and occupational diseases.

  • Expanding work-related musculoskeletal disorders involving the upper limb and spine to include other work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as low back disorders. Doing so also ensures that low back disorders due to workplace ergonomic risk factors over a prolonged period are correctly classified as ODs.
  • Moving “Poisoning by carbon dioxide gas” and “Ulceration of the corneal surface of the eye” outside the scope of occupational diseases, to be rightly covered under work injuries.

We also took the opportunity to make editorial changes to nomenclature and OD categories, as well as align both OD lists in WSHA and WICA.

Why was “Poisoning by carbon dioxide gas” removed from the Second Schedule of WICA?
“Poisoning by carbon dioxide gas” has been removed because this condition is reclassified as an accident. It is generally caused by specific incidents rather than prolonged exposure to work-related risk factors. It remains compensable under WICA as a work injury.

Employers or platform operators may now report “Poisoning by carbon dioxide gas” as work-related accidents.

Why was “Ulceration of the corneal surface of the eye” removed from the Second Schedule of WICA?
“Ulceration of the corneal surface of the eye” has been removed because this condition is reclassified as an accident. It is generally caused by specific incidents rather than prolonged exposure to work-related risk factors. It remains compensable under WICA as a work injury.

Employers or platform operators may now report “Ulceration of the corneal surface of the eye” as work-related accidents.

My worker was diagnosed with “Noise-induced deafness”, however I am unable to find this condition in the drop down list of OD in the WSH Incident Reporting portal. Where can I find it?
From 1 December 2025, the OD “Noise-induced deafness” has been renamed to “Noise-induced hearing loss”. Please select “Noise-induced hearing loss” from the dropdown menu when filing your report.

General reporting requirements

What are the ODs that I should report?

The harmonised Second Schedules for both Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) and Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) comprise 38 reportable ODs.

In addition, diseases resulting from workplace exposure to chemical or biological agents not listed in the OD schedule may also be reported to MOM under “Occupational Disease – others”.

What are the ODs that are compensable?
The harmonised Second Schedules for both WSHA and WICA comprise 38 reportable ODs. All ODs are compensable under the WICA.
Who needs to report the ODs?

All employers and platform operators are required to report ODs within 10 days of receiving notification from the worker on the diagnosis.

Medical practitioners are required to report ODs within 10 days of diagnosing the OD. ODs should be reported to MOM via the WSH Incident Reporting.

I know the doctor has already reported the OD to MOM. Do I still need to report the OD as well?
Employers, platform operators, and medical practitioners have separate duties under the WSHA to report ODs to MOM. This is to ensure that no cases go unreported and facilitate MOM’s tracking of the incidence of ODs.
I had been informed by my doctor that I have an OD. My employer or platform operator refuses to report to MOM. What should I do?
You should inform your employer or platform operator that they are required to report the OD to MOM within 10 days of receiving the diagnosis. In the event your employer or platform operator refuses to do so, you may submit the iReport online.
My worker was diagnosed with an OD. Is there a time limit to report the OD?
Occupational diseases should be reported within 10 days of receiving the diagnosis.
Where can I report ODs?
You may report ODs via the WSH Incident Reporting.

Diagnosis and medical assessment

I suspect that my worker contracted an OD but am not sure. What should I do?
If you are unsure whether a condition is work-related, you may refer the worker to any doctor to make a diagnosis. If further assessments are required, the worker can be referred to an Occupational Medicine or relevant clinical specialist to determine work-relatedness of the condition.
My doctor is still assessing whether my worker has a work-related condition. Do I need to report it to MOM now?
Doctors, employers and platform operators are only required to report ODs when the diagnosis is confirmed and is determined to be work-related.
My patient had since recovered from the OD. Do I still need to report to MOM?
Reporting is required when an OD is diagnosed, regardless of whether the employee or platform worker is recovering or has recovered or returned to work. This is to facilitate MOM’s accurate tracking of the incidence of ODs.
What support is available for medical practitioners who are unfamiliar with diagnosing ODs?

You may consult the WSH Guidelines: Diagnosis and Management of Occupational Diseases for more information on proper diagnosis and confirmation of ODs.

For complex cases or if unsure, you may also refer cases to an Occupational Medicine specialist.

Eligibility for work injury compensation

I am no longer employed by my employer. Am I still eligible for work injury compensation?

For employees or platform workers who left employment, they can still claim work injury compensation for the OD if the date of diagnosis is within the limitation period from the date they left employment.

Generally, employees or platform workers should file a claim within one year of the date of diagnosis, with exceptions only if the claimant passes away within the one-year period or if the Commissioner is satisfied that the delay is due to mistake, absence from Singapore, or any other reasonable cause.

Please refer to Who is covered in accordance with WICA or Work injury compensation for platform workers.

What are the limitation periods for the ODs under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA)?

The limitation period of ODs in the WICA are stipulated in the Third Column of the Second Schedule of WICA.

The limitation periods are set at between one and three years after the last day of employment or exposure to hazardous agents to strike a balance between employers’ obligations and workers’ right to compensation.

The Second Schedule of WICA will be updated to reflect the harmonised list and limitation periods of ODs on 1 December 2025.

What are the compensation limits for ODs?
Under the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019, claims for ODs are subject to the compensation limits for death, permanent incapacity and medical expenses.

As announced in February 2024, to keep pace with inflation and healthcare costs, the compensation limits would be revised on 11 November 2025 to:

  • $269,000 for death
  • $346,000 for permanent incapacity
  • $53,000 for medical expenses

When can I start claiming work injury compensation for the new ODs?
New ODs will be eligible for work injury compensation under WICA as long as both conditions are fulfilled:

  1. The OD is diagnosed within its limitation period
  2. The claim is filed on or after 1 December 2025.

Generally, the claim should be filed within one year of the date of diagnosis, with exceptions only if the claimant passes away within the one-year period or if the Commissioner is satisfied that the delay is due to mistake, absence from Singapore, or any other reasonable cause.

When will the removed conditions stop being eligible for work injury compensation?
There will be a transition period, and more operational details will be released prior to 1 December 2025. These removed conditions will continue to be compensable as work-related accidents after they stop being compensable as ODs.