Effectiveness of Grants for Technology Solutions to Improve Productivity and Workplace Safety and Health

46 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many companies have applied for Government grants such as the Productivity Solutions Grant and the Industry Digital Plans for Workplace Safety and Health technology solutions in the last two years; and (b) how successful are these technology solutions in reducing workplace accidents and injuries in these companies.

Dr Tan See Leng: In the last two years, around 700 companies have received either the Productivity Solutions Grant or the Lorry Crane Stability Control System Grant. These grants defray the costs of adopting Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) technology solutions, amounting to a total of $8.4 million.

Technology solutions help reduce workplace incidents and injuries. For instance, Fleet Safety Management solutions improve situational awareness of drivers and equipment operators; electronic Permit-To-Work systems provide better oversight and control of high-risk work activities; and Lorry Crane Stability Control Systems prevent lorry cranes from toppling. However, it is difficult to ascertain the exact efficacy of the individual solutions, as this depends on industry-specific risk factors and companies’ WSH practices. More broadly, technology alone cannot improve WSH without complementary work processes and proper training of workers.