COVID-19 and Return-To-Work for the Construction Sector: Lessons From Singapore
10.1016/j.shaw.2021.04.001
- Author:
Wee Hoe GAN
1
;
David KOH
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore
- Publication Type:Short Communication
- From:Safety and Health at Work
2021;12(2):277-281
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Singapore’s construction sector employs more than 450,000 workers. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore from April to June 2020, migrant workers were disproportionately affected, including many working in the construction sector. Shared accommodation and construction worksites emerged as nexuses for COVID-19 transmission. Official government resources, including COVID-19 epidemiological data, 43 advisories and 19 circulars by Singapore’s Ministries of Health and Manpower, were reviewed over 8 month period from March to October 2020. From a peak COVID-19 incidence of 1,424.6/100,000 workers in May 2020, the incidence declined to 3.7/100,000 workers by October 2020. Multilevel safe management measures were implemented to enable the phased reopening of construction worksites from July 2020. Using the Swiss cheese risk management model, the authors described the various governmental, industry, supervisory and worker-specific interventions to prevent, detect and contain COVID-19 for safe resumption of work for the construction sector.
