Where people get hurt

Cleaning and landscape maintenance had two deaths in 2025, according to MOM's national statistics. The fatal injury rate was 2.3 per 100,000 workers, the same as construction. In the wider administrative and support services group, two of the three deaths were falls from height.

The sector also had 23 major injuries in 2025, a rate of 26.5 per 100,000 workers. Slips, trips and falls were the top cause. Striking against objects and over-exertion came next. Minor injuries came mostly from slips, trips and falls, and from being struck by falling or moving objects.

The hazards to plan for

The WSH Council guidelines for cleaning and custodial services list these as the main hazards.

  • Slips, trips and falls on wet and soapy floors, and over refuse and obstacles.
  • Falls from height: ladders, covered linkway roofs, ledges and high ceilings.
  • Muscle and back strain from mopping, scrubbing, bending and lifting bins.
  • Chemicals in detergents, descalers and insecticides, which burn skin and eyes.
  • Electrical shock from scrubbers, pressure jets and damaged cables.
  • Biological hazards from blood, saliva, faeces and sharps in rubbish.
  • Crush injuries from drain covers and lift doors, and being struck by vehicles in car parks.

What the rules require in Singapore

The WSH Act gives duties to the cleaning company as employer and to the building owner or manager as occupier (MOM). The WSH (Risk Management) Regulations require a risk assessment before work starts. Cleaning businesses also need an NEA licence.

  • Licence: any business offering general cleaning at premises or public places needs a cleaning business licence before it starts work. Subcontractors need their own licence (NEA).
  • bizSAFE: Class 1 and Class 2 licensees must hold a valid bizSAFE Level 3 certificate for the whole licence period (NEA).
  • Training: every cleaner employed for 3 months or more must complete at least one WSH module and one core module from the endorsed list. This covers part-time, casual and temporary staff of any nationality (NEA).
  • Work at height: avoid it where the job can be done another way, and guard falls of more than 2 metres (WSH (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013).
  • Chemicals: every container must be labelled and a safety data sheet kept for each hazardous substance (WSH (General Provisions) Regulations, regs 42 and 43).
Penalty for untrained cleaners

NEA says a business that does not meet the training requirement can be fined up to $5,000, have its licence suspended or revoked, or be refused renewal (NEA).

Order of controls for cleaning work

Remove the need to work at height first. Use long-reach poles and water-fed poles from the ground. Ask the building owner for safe access to roofs and gutters, with fixed guard-rails or anchor points.

Next, pick safer equipment and products. Use the mildest cleaning product that works, and dispensers that measure the dose. Use trolleys and bins on wheels. Then set safe methods and training. Gloves, goggles and non-slip shoes are the last layer, but every cleaner needs them.

The controls that matter most

  • Mop in sections, put out wet floor signs, and keep a dry path for people.
  • Use a platform ladder or mobile scaffold, not a chair or bin, to reach high spots.
  • Never mix chemicals. Keep them in labelled containers, not drink bottles.
  • Check cables and plugs on scrubbers before use. Switch off motors when not in use.
  • Get a second person to help lift heavy bins. Use tongs and gloves for rubbish.
  • Look into bins before you reach in, and dispose of sharps in a puncture-proof box.
  • Wear high-visibility vests in car parks and near roads, and cone off the area.
Plan for older workers

The WSH Council notes that many cleaners are older workers. Reduced strength, eyesight and balance raise the risk. Rotate heavy tasks, give more rest breaks, and check health conditions such as high blood pressure.

Common mistakes

  • Standing on toilet bowls, chairs or railings to clean high areas.
  • Decanting chemicals into unlabelled bottles.
  • Cleaning on roofs or ledges without fall protection because the job is short.
  • No briefing for cleaners who rotate between sites.
  • Building managers leaving all safety to the cleaning contractor.
The occupier still has duties

A building owner who hires a cleaning firm still has to keep the premises and access routes safe. Agree who provides ladders, anchor points and chemical storage before the contract starts.

Related topics on this site

  • Slips and trips, Ladders and Working at height.
  • Chemical safety and PPE.
  • Manual handling and Heat stress.
  • Electrical safety and Vehicles and danger zones.
  • Contractor management and Lone working.

In other countries

  • Malaysia: Under section 29A of Act 514, an employer with 5 or more employees appoints an occupational safety and health coordinator. This applies where no safety and health officer is required. Section 18B requires every employer to assess the safety and health risks of the work and put the controls in place.

Sources

  1. Workplace Safety and Health Report 2025: National Statistics, Ministry of Manpower.
  2. WSH Guidelines for Cleaning and Custodial Services, WSH Council.
  3. Cleaning services, WSH Council.
  4. WSH Act: responsibilities of stakeholders, Ministry of Manpower.
  5. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, Singapore Statutes Online.
  6. Cleaning business licence, National Environment Agency.
  7. Enhanced training requirement for cleaning business licence, National Environment Agency.
  8. Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013, Singapore Statutes Online.
  9. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations, Singapore Statutes (NUS mirror).
  10. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), updated text to 1 June 2024, DOSH Malaysia.

This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Laws and codes of practice change; always check the current official text and your site's own procedures.