Slip Trip and Fall Hazard for Rebar Workers at a Construction Site in
Singapore Due to Poor Housekeeping
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
In Singapore, the major injuries at the construction sites comprise slip trips and fall hazards.
Among the rebar workers at the construction industry, poor housekeeping is the major triggering
force. According to the National Ministry of Energy and Development, in 2020 about 1744
health workers are affected by tripping, slipping and falling accidents. In 2019, 1844 workers are
injured. Approximately 30 % of the construction sites injuries over the last 4 years are the results
of falling, slipping accidents. About 3000 workers are affected annually (Lestari et al., 2019). In
order to reduce the risk of being injured at workplace, safety in the construction sites is needed to
be highly considered. Safety is recognized as a necessary factor affecting the image of
organization and project manager (Grandjean., 1983). There are two main common hazards that
are observed at the construction site (Abdul et al., 2003). Hazards causing physical injuries are
happened due to equipment like ladder, excavation machinery, power access equipment,
scaffolds, manual handling process and more important, the roof work. At workplace these
hazards are the main factors of direct injuries and even worse injuries causing death. Physical
injury hazards are caused by different types of mechanical energy such as radiation, vibration,
noise and extreme temperatures either cold or hot. One of the adverse hazards, hearing loss can
be caused by noise at the construction sites (Archer, 2007). Some hazards are chronic and some
are characterized as acute. Electric shocks and fall of workers from height are categorized into
acute health hazards at the construction sites. In Singapore, the major facilitator toward both
major and minor injuries at the construction site is fall from heights. Fall from roof is the major
contributor of accidents and shared 20% of the total work place hazards in Singapore (Teo et al.,
2016). The worker on the roof top may experience fatal occupational damage like falling from
heights is 3 times higher than normal construction worker (Dong et al., 2013). The number of
workplace fatalities per 1000,000 persons employed is called fatality rate. In 2006, fatality rates
for the construction sector in the US and UK were 4.1 and 3.7, respectively. However, fatality
rate in 2006 was 9.4, in Singapore. In the construction industry of Singapore, the fatality rates are
unacceptability high. In Singapore, the count of construction fatality accidents from 1983 to
, 1989 is studied by many researchers. In 1983, the deaths at the construction sites of Singapore
were 65. In 1988, the deaths fell to 17 because of a serious recession in construction. The number
of deaths increased from 35 to 49 in 1989 to 1993. The deaths were reduced to 32 in 1994 but it
could not be maintained or declined. As a result in 1996, deaths polls up to 51, in 1997 an
unprecedented 72 and finally reduced to 67 in1998 (Debrah and Ofori, 2001).
1.2. Current Problem
The number of accidents at the construction sites increased as the construction development
increased from a certain limit. Singapore administrations and officials have performed very poor
performance in terms of workers health and safety at the construction sites. The issues such as
slip, trip and fall hazards are happened mostly between the rebar workers but unfortunately these
accidents didn’t get much attention of the police makers and safety measures agencies such as
Ministry of Manpower.
1.3. Research Question
Present study focused on slip, trip and fall hazards at the construction sites of the Singapore due
to poor housekeeping. Therefore, research questions might be,
Research Questions 1: What are the main causes of the slip, trip and fall hazards in the
Singapore construction industry?
Research Questions 2: What are the main solution and abatement approaches of slip, trip
and fall hazards at the workplaces of Singapore?
Research Questions 3: Why do the Government of Singapore / Ministry of Manpower
have poor performance in terms of risk and safety management?
Research Questions 4: Are there any rules, policies and laws for workers safety at the
construction site?
1.4. Objectives
In order to reduce the hazards and improve workers safety at construction sites in Singapore, the
present research aims to provide an effective tool to develop safety risk and management
measures. To protect workers at the construction sites, personal protective equipment are
suggested for the safety of workers.
Singapore Due to Poor Housekeeping
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
In Singapore, the major injuries at the construction sites comprise slip trips and fall hazards.
Among the rebar workers at the construction industry, poor housekeeping is the major triggering
force. According to the National Ministry of Energy and Development, in 2020 about 1744
health workers are affected by tripping, slipping and falling accidents. In 2019, 1844 workers are
injured. Approximately 30 % of the construction sites injuries over the last 4 years are the results
of falling, slipping accidents. About 3000 workers are affected annually (Lestari et al., 2019). In
order to reduce the risk of being injured at workplace, safety in the construction sites is needed to
be highly considered. Safety is recognized as a necessary factor affecting the image of
organization and project manager (Grandjean., 1983). There are two main common hazards that
are observed at the construction site (Abdul et al., 2003). Hazards causing physical injuries are
happened due to equipment like ladder, excavation machinery, power access equipment,
scaffolds, manual handling process and more important, the roof work. At workplace these
hazards are the main factors of direct injuries and even worse injuries causing death. Physical
injury hazards are caused by different types of mechanical energy such as radiation, vibration,
noise and extreme temperatures either cold or hot. One of the adverse hazards, hearing loss can
be caused by noise at the construction sites (Archer, 2007). Some hazards are chronic and some
are characterized as acute. Electric shocks and fall of workers from height are categorized into
acute health hazards at the construction sites. In Singapore, the major facilitator toward both
major and minor injuries at the construction site is fall from heights. Fall from roof is the major
contributor of accidents and shared 20% of the total work place hazards in Singapore (Teo et al.,
2016). The worker on the roof top may experience fatal occupational damage like falling from
heights is 3 times higher than normal construction worker (Dong et al., 2013). The number of
workplace fatalities per 1000,000 persons employed is called fatality rate. In 2006, fatality rates
for the construction sector in the US and UK were 4.1 and 3.7, respectively. However, fatality
rate in 2006 was 9.4, in Singapore. In the construction industry of Singapore, the fatality rates are
unacceptability high. In Singapore, the count of construction fatality accidents from 1983 to
, 1989 is studied by many researchers. In 1983, the deaths at the construction sites of Singapore
were 65. In 1988, the deaths fell to 17 because of a serious recession in construction. The number
of deaths increased from 35 to 49 in 1989 to 1993. The deaths were reduced to 32 in 1994 but it
could not be maintained or declined. As a result in 1996, deaths polls up to 51, in 1997 an
unprecedented 72 and finally reduced to 67 in1998 (Debrah and Ofori, 2001).
1.2. Current Problem
The number of accidents at the construction sites increased as the construction development
increased from a certain limit. Singapore administrations and officials have performed very poor
performance in terms of workers health and safety at the construction sites. The issues such as
slip, trip and fall hazards are happened mostly between the rebar workers but unfortunately these
accidents didn’t get much attention of the police makers and safety measures agencies such as
Ministry of Manpower.
1.3. Research Question
Present study focused on slip, trip and fall hazards at the construction sites of the Singapore due
to poor housekeeping. Therefore, research questions might be,
Research Questions 1: What are the main causes of the slip, trip and fall hazards in the
Singapore construction industry?
Research Questions 2: What are the main solution and abatement approaches of slip, trip
and fall hazards at the workplaces of Singapore?
Research Questions 3: Why do the Government of Singapore / Ministry of Manpower
have poor performance in terms of risk and safety management?
Research Questions 4: Are there any rules, policies and laws for workers safety at the
construction site?
1.4. Objectives
In order to reduce the hazards and improve workers safety at construction sites in Singapore, the
present research aims to provide an effective tool to develop safety risk and management
measures. To protect workers at the construction sites, personal protective equipment are
suggested for the safety of workers.
