Workplace Accident Protocols to Ensure Victims Receive Immediate Care and Family Members are Updated

37 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower how does the Ministry ensure that employers have a proper protocol to follow when workplace accidents happen so that victims receive immediate care and family members are updated.

Dr Tan See Leng: Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), employers are required to develop and implement procedures to respond promptly to workplace accidents and ensure that injured workers receive timely medical attention. As part of workplace inspections, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) checks that employers have these emergency preparedness and response plans in place. Failure to develop and implement such plans is an offence under WSHA.

For major workplace accidents, such as those resulting in fatality or where the injured worker is unable to call his or her next-of-kin, the authorities investigating the case will remind the employer to keep the worker’s next-of-kin updated.