● Singapore enters next phase of efforts to support safer and longer working lives
● New initiatives aim to strengthen workplace safety and health (WSH) outcomes
● AI-enabled SAGE platform will help WSH professionals access official guidance faster and strengthen risk management decisions
New national workplace safety and health initiatives have been unveiled at the Singapore Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Conference 2026.
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| Source: WSH Council. From left: Tan Hee Teck, President, SNEF; Abu Bakar Bin Mohd Nor, Chairman, WSH Council; Singapore Minister of State for Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash; and Ngien Hoon Ping, Group CEO, SMRT Corporation. |
Held at Marina Bay Sands, the 9th edition of the biennial conference focused on how Singapore’s WSH ecosystem can better anticipate emerging risks, strengthen shared ownership and translate safety insights into practical action across workplaces. Over 1,500 policymakers, business leaders, WSH professionals and industry practitioners attended activities under the theme Insight to Impact: Collective Effort for Stronger WSH Outcomes.
Singapore Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash launched the Safety Advisory and Guidance Engine (SAGE), an AI-enabled knowledge and decision-support tool developed by the Workplace Safety and Health Council in partnership with the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers.
Designed for WSH professionals, SAGE helps users retrieve relevant information, identify workplace hazards and apply best-practice control measures based on Singapore’s WSH framework. SAGE provides guided task categories that help users navigate common WSH activities. This lowers the barrier to using AI for WSH tasks, making the platform easier to use regardless of the user's familiarity with AI.
By making authoritative guidance easier to access, the tool aims to support faster, more consistent decision-making in safety-critical environments while complementing the experience and professional judgement of WSH practitioners.
The move comes as Singapore enters the next phase of its WSH journey. According to the Workplace Safety and Health Report 2025 released by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in March 2026, two all-time lows were achieved in the country.
The workplace fatal injury rate fell to a record low of 0.96 per 100,000 workers in 2025, while major injury rates across most workplace settings declined to 15.7 per 100,000 workers.* However, reported workplace injuries rose by 2.5%, underscoring the need for continued vigilance even as Singapore remains among the safest working environments globally.
Mr Dinesh also unveiled the Alliance for Action on Safety and Health for Employment Longevity (AfA-SHEL), which supports safer, healthier and longer working lives. The initiative will look at how workers can be better supported to remain in, or return safely to, employment after injury or illness.
He said: “Singapore’s workplace safety and health progress is not a static achievement, but a continuous national effort. As we advance the WSH 2028 agenda, our focus must be on sustaining the progress we have made, strengthening support for workers, employers and WSH practitioners, and ensuring that our
WSH system remains responsive to the needs of a changing economy. By working together, we
can continue to raise WSH standards and build safer, healthier and more resilient workplaces.”
The
AfA-SHEL was introduced by the minister during the MOM's Committee of
Supply Debate in March 2026. Jointly led by MOM, the National Trades
Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), the AfA brings together employers, workers, relevant government agencies, healthcare institutions, solution providers and other stakeholders to co-create practical, industry-led solutions to strengthen WSH and support employment longevity.
The AfA will focus on developing practical solutions in three areas:
• Injury prevention for the general workforce, beyond high-risk workplaces
• Supporting returning to work after a serious injury or health episode
• Workplace adaption and job redesign to make work tasks, processes and environments safer and more suitable for Singapore's workforce, which comprises people with varied physical and health needs
The WSH Council further introduced a new WhatsApp channel to provide employers, workers and WSH practitioners with mobile-first access to events, alerts, advisories and resources. This complements the Council’s existing WSH Bulletin, social media channels and website.
Abu Bakar Bin Mohd Nor, Chairman of the WSH Council, said the next phase of WSH progress will require stronger shared ownership across the ecosystem. “As workplace risks become more complex, the next phase of WSH progress cannot rest on any one party alone. Workforce ageing, more unpredictable weather patterns, and new technologies are changing the risks that employers, workers, and WSH professionals have to manage," he said.
"That means we must keep adapting our systems, tools and mindsets, while ensuring every part of the ecosystem plays its role in anticipating risks earlier, designing for safety from the outset, and embedding WSH practices on the ground. This shared ownership will be critical as we continue strengthening Singapore’s WSH culture.”
The Top Executive WSH Programme (TEWP) has also been enhanced. From 1 September 2026, the TEWP will place greater emphasis on executive accountability, governance and due diligence. The enhanced programme was redesigned by the Institute of Adult Learning and Singapore University of Social Sciences in consultation with MOM, the WSH Council, training providers and the Singapore Institute of Directors.
New enhancements include:
● Special emphasis on governance and executive leadership
● Targeted learning designed for C-suite leaders and board directors
● More examples of scenario-based and application-focused learning
● Greater focus on the CORE Framework and the 17 Approved Code of Practice measures
● Enhanced emphasis on evidence of leadership commitment and due diligence
The conference concluded with a call for organisations to strengthen shared responsibility, practical innovation and adopt a people-centred approach to workplace safety and health.
Details
AfA-SHEL
MOM is inviting Singapore-registered organisations to participate in the AfA through an open call ending 31 August 2026. Selected organisations will participate in an innovation programme to develop their prototypes over approximately 14 months, beginning in August 2026. Participants will receive funding support, access to WSH and industry experts, and consultancy support from an assigned account manager.
Applications will be evaluated by the AfA Secretariat, comprising MOM, NTUC, SNEF, and the WSH Council. Around 30 organisations will be selected, with balanced representation across the AfA's three focus areas.
Interested organisations can submit their proposals via https://go.gov.sg/afashel2026opencall by 31 August 2026.
SAGE
Beta testing for SAGE begins in August 2026, with the full public launch slated for January 2027. The tool will be available in multiple languages – English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, Bengali, Hindi and Burmese.Subscribe at https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VarATmI4yltLGpon1z0j
*Workplace Safety and Health Report 2025, Minister of Manpower. Source: https://www.mom.gov.sg/-/media/mom/documents/safety-health/reports-stats/wsh-national-statistics/wsh-national-stats-2025.pdf
