To further improve the safety of construction workers, the government of Singapore has introduced stricter safety laws and increased the fines that can be imposed on construction sites. Under these protocols, construction firms must utilize surveillance cameras to oversee adherence to safety protocols.
(Photo : Pexels/Denniz Futalan )
Stricter Construction Regulations in Singapore
While there was a significant decline in the number of fatalities and major injuries that occurred in the workplace in 2023, with 36 people losing their lives, a 21.7% fall from 46 in 2022 and significant injuries dropping to 590 from 614, officials are determined to avoid becoming comfortable. On Monday, May 27, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced that the maximum fines for safety-related violations will increase from S$20,000 to S$50,000 (US$37,000) beginning on June 1.
A video surveillance system (VSS) will also need to be installed at workplaces where extremely dangerous work activities are carried out. As mentioned, this requirement will be implemented across all sites, with contracts totaling at least five million Singapore dollars.
Moreover, this initiative focuses on companies substantially violating the Workplace Safety and Health Act Subsidiary Legislation. These violations are a significant contributor to workplace fatalities, serious injuries, and dangerous situations such as explosions.
On the other hand, the absence of protective structures to prevent falls, the failure to appoint trained workers for essential positions, and the neglect of maintenance and inspection of equipment such as cranes and scaffolding are all examples of common infractions within the construction industry.
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Using Technology to Ensure Construction Safety
The two most common workplace violations are workers' inappropriate use of personal protection equipment and standing too close to machines. Accordingly, the prime contractor, Zheng Keng Engineering and Construction, demonstrated to the media the video surveillance system implemented at the construction site in October 2023.
The company's safety administrators are notified via a Telegram chat system initiated by an automated alert system whenever any of the seventeen cameras positioned throughout the worksite identify safety breaches. One of them will then correct the worker, or the violation will be fixed immediately.
According to Zaqy Mohamad, senior minister of state for manpower, the system's $25,000 price tag represented a negligible portion of a multimillion-dollar undertaking. He reportedly believes that some of these technologies are worth the additional money if you consider all the expenses and weigh them in terms of total costs.
In addition, the WSH officer at Zheng Keng, Mr. Guo Jin Shun, stated that in the past, operations personnel conducting site surveys discovered nine to ten transgressions per week manually. Since the introduction of the new digital eye, the frequency of security breaches has decreased to between four and five per week.
Guo noted that people who have worked for a more extended period and have more experience tend to be more self-assured and complacent. Thus, they are likely to be captured by the cameras. The next step would be for them to receive education and be informed about the harmful behavior.
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