A Safer Singapore: H1 2025 Workplace Safety Hits a Record Low, Plus a Major Update to the Occupational Disease List
Singapore’s commitment to making its workplaces among the safest globally is paying off! The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released its Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance report for the first half of 2025, revealing significant improvements in injury rates and unveiling a major update to the Occupational Disease (OD) list.
This good news is a testament to the collective effort of the government, employers, and workers. Let's dive into the key takeaways.
WSH Performance: Injury Rates at an All-Time Low
Key Accident Statistics (H1 2025 vs. H1 2024)
The major injury rate of 15.5 per 100,000 workers marks a historic low (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19 work disruptions), a significant milestone in the journey towards a 'Vision Zero' culture.
Sectoral Improvements: Manufacturing & Construction
Improvements were noted in the Manufacturing and Construction sectors, which historically contribute the most to fatal and major injuries.
Manufacturing: The number of fatal and major injuries dropped from 65 to 55 cases. The metalworking industry saw a particularly marked 29% reduction, likely due to tighter machinery safety requirements.
Construction: The combined fatal and major injury rate fell from 30.6 to 28.2 per 100,000 workers (81 to 76 cases). This progress is attributed to factors like a sector-wide safety time-out in late 2024 and stricter safety requirements for public-sector projects.
Leading Causes of Accidents
Despite the overall improvements, high-risk activities remain a concern:
Leading Causes of Fatalities: Vehicular incidents and falls from height.
Leading Cause of Major Injuries: Slips, trips, and falls.
Occupational Diseases: A Stable Rate and Expanded Protection
The reported annualised occupational disease (OD) rate for H1 2025 remained stable at 25.2 per 100,000 workers (465 cases). The top three contributors remain consistent: Noise-induced deafness (60%), Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (26%), and Occupational skin diseases (10%).
Major Update to the Occupational Disease List (Effective 1 Dec 2025) 🛠️
Beyond the accident statistics, one of the most important developments is the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) update to the Occupational Disease (OD) list, set to take effect from December 1, 2025.
This revision is designed to strengthen worker protection and provide clearer guidance to employers by aligning reporting and compensation requirements under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) and the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).
The combined list will now recognise 38 occupational diseases and features two key expansions in coverage:
Expanded Musculoskeletal Disorder Coverage: The scope for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is significantly expanded. It will now cover all work-related musculoskeletal disorders, going beyond just those affecting the upper limbs. This better covers common injuries like back, spine, and lower limb MSDs resulting from ergonomic risk factors.
Broader Infectious Disease Coverage: The list broadens the recognition of occupational infectious diseases beyond tuberculosis, to include all such diseases in high-risk settings like healthcare, research, and laboratories.
This alignment and expansion ensure that the same list of diseases is both reportable (under WSHA) and compensable (under WICA), simplifying processes for employers, insurers, and medical practitioners, and ultimately ensuring workers receive timely diagnosis and entitlements.
Sustaining the Momentum
The positive WSH performance in the first half of 2025 demonstrates that continuous vigilance, stronger enforcement—which included over 3,000 inspections, nearly 7,000 breaches detected, and over $1.5 million in fines—and a commitment from all stakeholders are critical.
The updated OD list further solidifies Singapore’s holistic approach to worker well-being, focusing not just on immediate accidents but also on long-term occupational health.
Achieving a truly safe workplace is a shared responsibility. We must all commit to these high standards to ensure a safe and healthy environment for every worker in Singapore.
