MOM urges voluntary safety time-out for firms in construction, transportation & storage sectors

SINGAPORE – Companies in construction and the transportation and storage industries have been urged by the authorities to conduct a voluntary safety time-out from Oct 5 to Oct 18 to review safety procedures at the workplace.

This comes on the back of seven workplace fatalities since September in the two industries, said Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash on Oct 5.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a Facebook post on Oct 5 that companies in the two industries are encouraged to review their workplace safety and health (WSH) procedures, strengthen risk controls, and address safety gaps.

In particular, they should focus on the safe use of concrete pumps and vehicle roll-away prevention measures, added the ministry.

This includes ensuring handbrakes are engaged before drivers leave their vehicles and using wheel chocks when needed. A wheel chock is a wedge-shaped safety block that prevents a parked vehicle or heavy equipment from accidentally moving.

MOM will also implement enhanced enforcement measures in both industries from Oct 5 to Nov 4, 2026, to strengthen deterrence and accountability.

It will increase the fines for offences from $2,000 to $3,000 for first-time offences, with higher fines for repeat or more serious offences.

It will also increase the minimum duration of stop-work orders from five weeks to eight weeks, and debar companies from hiring new migrant workers for three months in egregious cases.

MOM said the recent workplace fatalities in the construction and transportation and storage industries are a grave reminder that workplace safety and health cannot be taken for granted.

Dinesh said: “We must act decisively to prevent further loss of lives.”

He added: “I also call on our industry partners and stakeholders, including the labour movement, to reinforce these efforts within their networks. Continued vigilance and collective effort will help us strengthen safety practices and build safer workplaces.”