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Key highlights from recent news on Covid-19, Workplace Accidents and Sustainability below.
Covid-19
1/3: 82 workplace Covid-19 infections in first half of 2021
SINGAPORE – Infectious disease cases at the workplace have risen to 82 in the first six months of this year.
All the cases recorded between January and June this year were due to Covid-19, said the Manpower Ministry (MOM) on Friday (Oct 8).
According to its mid-year report on workplace safety and health, the number of infectious disease cases had hovered at one to two cases each year between 2017 and 2019.
2/3: Covid-19 booster shots for those 30 and above, and healthcare, front-line workers
SINGAPORE – From Saturday (Oct 9), healthcare workers, front-line workers and those aged 30 and above will be invited to take Covid-19 vaccine booster shots.
They will join those aged 50 to 59 who have been receiving their booster shots from Oct 3.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the booster jabs will be administered to these groups of people who have received their two-dose regimen at least six months ago.
3/3: Covid-19 isolation bed occupancy at 85%, ‘significant strain’ on healthcare system: MOH
Singapore – The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that the occupancy rate for Covid-19 isolation beds in hospitals is at 85 per cent, the daily number of community cases putting a
significant strain” on the healthcare system.
On Friday (Oct 8), MOH provided an update on the country’s hospital capacity and manpower situation in managing the ongoing surge in Covid-19 cases.
Community infections have been around 3,000 a day for the past few days, noted MOH.
Despite the slowing of numbers doubling, from six to eight days three weeks ago to about 10 to 12 days, “the large daily numbers have placed significant strain on our healthcare system.”
Workplace Accidents
1/2: Vehicular accidents top cause of workplace deaths in first half of 2021
SINGAPORE – Vehicular accidents were the top cause of workplace deaths in the first half of this year, according to mid-year statistics on workplace safety and health released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Oct 8).
Twenty-three workers died on the job between January and June, six of them in accidents involving vehicles.
Four who died were delivery or dispatch riders, of whom three were killed due to other negligent road users.
2/2: Workplace injuries in first half of 2021 comparable to pre-COVID-19 levels, but fatal accidents a ’cause for concern’: MOM
SINGAPORE: The rate of workplace injuries in the first half of 2021 was comparable to pre-COVID levels, said the Ministry of Manpower in a report on Friday (Oct 8).
There were 193 injuries per 100,000 workers during this period, compared to 205 injuries per 100,000 workers during the second half of 2019.
The workplace fatality rate has also remained similar to pre-COVID-19 levels with 0.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers, compared to 0.6 in the second half of 2019. However, this marked an increase from the 0.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers in the second half of last year.
Sustainability
1/2: Envisioning the Future of Buildings – Sustainable, Resilient, Hyper-Efficient and People-centric
Our buildings leave a huge carbon footprint on the planet – they consume about 30% of the world’s energy, and account for almost 40% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the emissions of the building lifecycle will be one of the most important areas in our fight against climate change. 28 cities, including London, New York, Tokyo and Sydney, have joined the Net-Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, pledging to ensure that all buildings will operate at net-zero carbon by 2050. To achieve these sustainability goals, we need to transform the way we design, build and operate our buildings.
Two key trends will drive new innovation in the next generation of green buildings. Firstly, digitization will enable buildings to leverage Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence to optimize its systems. Secondly, electrification will effect a shift from fossil fuel use to renewable sources of energy. This all-digital, all-electric future gives us a foundation to reshape the lifecycles of our buildings.
2/2: Firms have huge part to play in Singapore’s transition to climate-resilient economy: Grace Fu
SINGAPORE – Private enterprises have a huge part to play in Singapore’s transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Monday (Oct 11).
She highlighted the challenges of climate change which businesses will have to adapt to, such as disruptions to supplies of natural resources, and noted how sectors such as the car industry may be affected in this transition.
“Climate action will cause some industries to fade away and new ones to emerge in their place,” said Ms Fu, who was speaking at the opening of the Corporate Governance Week, held virtually by the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or Sias.
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