Number of Work-related Traffic Accidents Involving Food Delivery and Courier Service Staff from 2015 to 2017
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye’s inquiry regarding the frequency of work-related traffic accidents among delivery and courier staff and the Ministry's strategies for accident reduction. Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say reported six deaths and 12 serious injuries between 2014 and 2016, detailing collaborations with tripartite partners to promote safe riding habits through the Singapore Ride Safe Campaign. Enforcement efforts include the inspection of 50 delivery companies to review their training and fatigue management protocols, alongside the development of safety guides and educational videos for riders. Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say further highlighted that companies are encouraged to provide protective gear and defensive driving courses to improve safety consciousness. Additionally, a Tripartite Workgroup has been established to investigate insurance coverage and address the specific concerns of self-employed delivery personnel.
Transcript
20 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the number of work-related traffic accidents involving food delivery and courier service staff in the past three years; and (b) what are the measures taken by the Ministry to reduce the number of such accidents.
Mr Lim Swee Say: From 2014 to 2016, there were six work-related traffic accidents that resulted in death, and 12 cases that resulted in serious injury, involving food delivery and courier services riders/drivers.
With the growth of delivery services, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is collaborating with the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, the tripartite partners, the Traffic Police and the Land Transport Authority to step up our engagement efforts with companies and riders/drivers.
To spread safety awareness among riders, the Singapore Ride Safe Campaign was launched on 19 August 2017. It sought to inculcate safe riding habits, such as avoiding blind spots, keeping within speed limits and wearing proper protective gear.
To improve safety practices for companies, the WSH Council has initiated regular engagement sessions to share best practices. These include providing proper protective gear for delivery riders/drivers, sending them for advanced training, such as defensive driving or riding courses, conducting in-house safety training and installing vehicle/helmet-mounted cameras for greater safety consciousness.
For both riders/drivers and companies, the WSH Council, in collaboration with key industry partners and unions, has also developed educational resources, including videos and guides, on safe driving tips. These are made available on the WSH Council website. The WSH Council will also develop a guide on safe motorcycle, bicycle and personal mobility device riding by the end of the year. It will contain advice on road traffic rules, hazard avoidance and safety checklists.
At the same time, we have stepped up enforcement efforts. Since July, MOM has targeted 50 food delivery and courier services companies for inspection. This will be completed by September. The inspections will focus on companies' measures related to training, fatigue management and risk management to improve the safety of delivery riders/drivers.
All these measures seek to improve workplace safety for delivery riders/drivers. We are also looking into helping self-employed delivery persons get adequate insurance coverage. A Tripartite Workgroup has been formed to look into this matter as well as address other main concerns of self-employed persons. This was announced by the Ministry in its Committee of Supply debate this year.