Mr Dinesh also noted an uptick in workplace fatalities between April and July, particularly in June, which "prompted considerable reflection among the WSH Council and all of us involved in workplace safety".

In June, MOM introduced enhanced workplace safety measures with the support of the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce to reinforce safety practices across Singapore, he added.

The measures were announced after seven workers died in five separate workplace incidents over four weeks, and included higher fines and longer stop-work orders for companies responsible for repeat and serious lapses.

"What we are seeing is that many of these incidents are no longer confined to traditionally high-risk activities," he said, adding that "increasingly, accidents are occurring during routine work".

"Beyond preventing accidents, we must also ensure that workers remain safe, healthy and productive throughout their working lives," Mr Dinesh said.

This meant designing safer work, preventing injuries and strengthening return-to-work support so workers can continue contributing after illness or injury, he said.

MOM, together with the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, will officially launch an open call for the Alliance for Action on Safety and Health for Employment Longevity, he announced.

Separately, the Workplace Safety and Health Council will pilot an artificial intelligence-powered Safety Advisory and Guidance Engine (SAGE), he said.

Using AI, SAGE will analyse workplace photographs to identify common safety risks and recommend relevant guidance based on similar scenarios. It will also provide language support for migrant workers.

A full launch is expected early next year.

A new WhatsApp channel will also be launched to provide timely workplace safety advisories and announcements.