MOM: Occupational disease occurrence drops by 38% in H1 2018

The number of occupational diseases (OD) in Singapore has dropped to 294 cases in H1 2018 - down by 38% from the 471 cases in H1 2017.

According to the latest Workplace Safety and Health figures released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the top three occupational diseases in H1 2018 were work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD), noise induced deafness (NID) and occupational skin diseases.

That said, comparing H1 2018 with the same period in 2017, the occurrence of WRMSD and NID decreased by 14% and 48% respectively. Similarly, the number of cases of occupational skin disease also decreased, from 50 cases in H1 2017 to 21 cases in H1 2018.

Overall, there were 20 workplace fatalities in H1 2018 - fewer than the 23 in H2 2017, but one more than in H1 2017. In line with that, the 12-month rolling fatal injury rate was 1.3 per 100,000 employed persons as at end June 2018, similar to the rate as at end June 2017.

Including non-fatal cases, there were fewer workplace injuries, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases in H1 2018 compared to H2 2017 and H1 2017 across all sectors.

Infographics / MOM Photo / 123RF