Singapore is strengthening its workplace safety agenda with an AI-powered safety advisory tool, a new alliance to support employment longevity, and enhanced leadership programmes, as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) responds to a recent increase in workplace fatalities.
Speaking at Singapore Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Conference 2026, Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash noted that Singapore has built "a strong workplace safety and health system grounded in legislation, tripartite partnership and a genuine commitment to protecting workers," Dash cautioned against complacency despite years of declining workplace fatality and major injury rates.
"Most recently, we saw an uptick in workplace fatalities between April and July, particularly in June. These incidents prompted considerable reflection among the WSH Council and all of us involved in workplace safety," he said.
MOM has since introduced enhanced workplace safety measures with support from the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce, while the WSH Council has urged employers to strengthen controls around vehicular safety and routine maintenance work.
Dash observed that workplace accidents are increasingly occurring during everyday tasks rather than traditionally high-risk activities.
"This tells us that we must go beyond focusing only on traditionally high-risk work. We must also pay close attention to routine tasks and ensure that necessary safety measures are consistently observed."
He added that recent incidents demonstrate how minor lapses can have devastating consequences.
"Accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, particularly during routine work. This reinforces the importance of maintaining situational awareness. A momentary lapse can have fatal consequences. Sometimes shortcuts are taken. Sometimes basic safety procedures are overlooked. Sometimes hazards are not reported early enough. These are areas where we must continue to improve."
Calling on employers to lead by example, Dash said organisations must ensure workers are properly trained, safe work procedures are followed, supervisors intervene when necessary, and employees feel empowered to report unsafe practices.
He also encouraged workers to embrace the WSH Council's "I Choose Safety" campaign by practising the "Look, Think, Do" approach before every task.
"Sometimes that brief pause can make the difference between life and death. Choosing safety also means reporting hazards early, and reporting incidents immediately when they occur so supervisors can intervene quickly and prevent situations from escalating."
Beyond existing risks, Dash warned that workplaces must prepare for emerging challenges driven by climate change, new technologies and evolving work arrangements.
"Tomorrow's workplace safety risks may already be emerging today."
He highlighted heat stress as a growing concern for outdoor workers and pointed to the rise in work-related traffic accidents.
During the first half of 2026, Singapore recorded seven work-related traffic fatalities, already exceeding the total reported for the whole of 2025. Four of those fatalities involved platform workers, compared with two during the previous year.
"This is deeply concerning."
To address the issue, MOM has established a Platform Worker Safety Workgroup together with the labour movement and platform operators to identify targeted safety interventions.
Dash also introduced SAGE (Safety Advisory and Guidance Engine), an AI-powered platform developed by the WSH Council and the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO) with industry partners.
"Using AI, SAGE can analyse workplace photographs to identify common safety risks, recommend relevant guidance based on similar scenarios and provide language support for migrant workers. These capabilities will help WSH professionals access relevant information more quickly while complementing, not replacing, their professional judgement."
The prototype will be tested by workplace safety professionals over the coming months before its planned launch in early 2027.