SINGAPORE – Seven people died in work-related traffic accidents in the first half of 2026, including four platform workers.
This is double the number of platform-worker fatalities recorded for the whole of 2025, said Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash on July 23.
The deaths are “deeply concerning”, he said, even though a few fatal accidents were caused by other road users.
In an address at the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Conference, Dinesh said platform workers face greater risks from spending long hours on the road.
The WSH Council has reminded employers to address key risks, including those related to vehicular safety and hazards arising from routine maintenance work.
Dinesh said: “What we are seeing is that many of these incidents are no longer confined to traditionally high-risk activities. Increasingly, accidents are occurring during routine work.”
For example, there have been incidents involving vehicles rolling backwards because handbrakes were not engaged, or situations where earlier reporting could have prevented a tragedy, he added.
“This tells us that we must go beyond focusing only on traditionally high-risk work. We must also pay close attention to routine tasks and ensure that necessary safety measures are consistently observed,” he said.
Tackling workplace safety, however, extends beyond preventing accidents. “We must also ensure that workers remain safe, healthy and productive throughout their working lives,” Dinesh added.
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