Rising numbers of people are falling to their deaths at work in Singapore, and a lack of safety precautions is often to blame.
Thirteen workers died after falls from height during the first six months of the year, up from nine during the same period last year.
To combat this problem, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which released the figures Thursday, said it would step up enforcement at worksites. It plans to inspect more than 1,000 sites by the end of next month.
The ministry is particularly concerned about employees falling from roofs. Such falls cost three people their lives between January and June this year, compared with two for the whole of last year. And in this year's cases, the employer was found to be negligent or irresponsible.
Falls from ladders are another worry. Two workers died this way during the first six months of this year, compared with three for the whole of last year. Again, employers had failed to enforce safety procedures.
For the first nine months of this year, the ministry found more than 1,800 safety and health violations related to working at height. More than half of the sites involved were fined, and 37 were made to stop work.
Common violations include inadequate barricading of openings through which workers can fall, as well as a lack of proper access to and from work areas.
Falls from height are preventable, said a spokesman for the ministry.
Accidents on roofs often happen because of unsafe access or a lack of proper equipment such as safety harnesses. Such equipment must be worn in accordance with safety guidelines, and attached to a suitable anchor.
Falls from ladders often occur because workers use them in an unsafe way--for example, by standing on the top rung.
In August, the ministry summoned about 150 small roofing contractors to an awareness session after they had been caught failing to comply with safety rules.
Nevertheless, there is still a small number who are not taking action to prevent falls from heights, the ministry said.
To tackle this issue, it will step up enforcement measures such as surprise inspections. It will also work with the Workplace Safety and Health Council to educate employers and staff.
One factor that could be contributing to falls is how workers themselves view safety precautions.
Dominic Yeo, a consultant for a local construction firm, said they were often too confident. Some think that if they step out without proper safety equipment for just a few minutes, nothing will happen to them.
"The supervisor cannot watch everyone. Once he turns his back, the helmets come off," said Yeo.
He added that many workers were keen to put in long hours to earn more money. However, the physical toll on them could leave them less alert, which could in turn cause accidents.
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