Amidst an increase in workplace fatalities, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM“) announced the implementation of a Heightened Safety Period (“HSP“) on 1 September 2022 as an urgent call to employers to prioritise safety and minimise workplace fatalities. The HSP was due to end on 28 February 2023, but was later extended by three months to end on 31 May 2023 instead.
On 23 May 2023, MOM confirmed that the HSP will not be further extended. Going forward, the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety Taskforce (“MAST“) will retain some HSP measures and implement new SAFE (Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment) measures to strengthen workplace safety and health (“WSH“) ownership on a sustained basis at the sectoral, company, and worker levels.
These measures will be implemented progressively over the next six to 12 months to allow for industry consultation and lead time for companies where required.
| Level | Measure | Implementation |
| Sectoral | Retention of MAST as a standing committee to study and implement further measures to foster a stronger WSH culture. | Immediate |
For the construction sector:
| Details to be released by the authorities June 2024 | |
For the manufacturing sector:
| October 2023 June 2024 | |
| Company | Retention of certain HSP measures, such as requiring chief executives (“CEs“) to personally account to MOM and attend the new Top Executive WSH Programme (“Programme“) where serious WSH lapses have occurred. | Immediate |
Attendance at the Programme will also be required of CEs and Board Directors of all companies in higher-risk industries, namely the construction, manufacturing, transport & storage and marine industries. | March 2024 | |
| Ramping up Enhanced Workplace Health Surveillance programme in order to detect exposure to excessive noise and reduce workers’ risk of noise-induced deafness. | May 2023 | |
Increasing support for small and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) to seek consultation on WSH matters and gain access to WSH resources. | June 2023 | |
| Worker | Equipping workers with updated WSH knowhow through a new online component in the Safety Orientation re-certification assessment. | January 2024 |
| Encouraging reporting of unsafe practices through the launch of a National WSH campaign. | May 2023 |
For advice on how the new SAFE measures may apply to your company, please contact our partners from our Employment Law and Construction and Projects practices.
For more information, click on the following links:
- MOM Press Release titled “Exit from Heightened Safety Period and New Measures for Sustainable WSH Outcomes” (available on the MOM website at www.mom.gov.sg)
- Rajah & Tann February 2023 NewsBytes write-up titled “Heightened Safety Period is Extended till 31 May 2023 and Additional Measures Introduced to Improve Workplace Safety and Health”
- Rajah & Tann September 2022 NewsBytes write-up titled “Four New Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Measures to Address Recent Spate of Workplace Fatalities” (page 15)
