On 27 May 2024, the Ministry of Manpower (“MOM“) announced in a press release that new workplace safety and health (“WSH“) measures would come into effect on 1 June 2024, namely:
- Increase in maximum fines for safety breaches pursuant to the Workplace Safety and Health (Amendment of Penalties) Regulations 2024 (“Penalties Regulations“). The new maximum fines run up to S$50,000 for first convictions, depending on the type of offence.
- Mandatory installation of video surveillance systems (“VSS”) at construction sites with a contract sum of $5 million and above. A VSS must be installed at worksite locations where high-risk work activities are conducted.
Increase in Maximum Fines
MOM has made a significant adjustment to the maximum fines for a first conviction, aiming to create stronger deterrence and strengthen ownership and accountability of WSH, particularly among senior company leadership. These maximum fines have been implemented across 21 WSH Act subsidiary legislation, being the 20 Regulations set out in the Penalties Regulations and the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) (Amendment) Regulations 2024.
The new maximum fines are distinguished by category of offence as follows:
Maximum fine for first conviction | Category of offence |
S$50,000 | Offences which are a major cause of serious harm, i.e. death, serious bodily injury, or dangerous occurrence (“DO“). Examples include the failure to conduct Risk Assessment, ensure employees are adequately trained, and appoint competent personnel to perform critical duties. |
S$20,000 | Offences which are not a major cause but contribute to serious harm. Examples include the failure to ensure supporting measures are in place, appoint WSH personnel, and provide emergency response. |
S$10,000 and below | Less serious offences that are procedural or administrative in nature. Examples include the failure to notify authorities after an accident or DO, ensure the completion of training programmes, or keep records of completed WSH tasks. |
Further examples of each type of offence are set out in Annex A to the MOM press release.
Mandatory VSS for Construction Sites
All construction sites with a contract sum of S$5 million and above will be required to install a VSS at worksite locations where high-risk work activities are conducted.
The WSH Guide on Video Surveillance Systems sets out details on:
- the scope of high-risk work activities and locations where VSS will be required;
- specifications for VSS; and
- guidance on using VSS to improve WSH.
This measure is due to the Construction sector remaining a top contributor of fatal and major injuries. The implementation of remote monitoring and video capture aims to deter unsafe workplace behaviour, provide valuable training resources, and assist with investigations into safety incidents.
Click on the following link for more information:
- MOM Press Release titled “Entrenching WSH Excellence with Increase in Maximum Fines and Mandatory Video Surveillance” (available on the MOM website at www.mom.gov.sg)
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