SISO Mag Issue 2 2015 - Singapore Institution of Safety Officers
Transcription
SISO Mag Issue 2 2015 - Singapore Institution of Safety Officers
MCI (P) 072/10/2014 MAKING the DIFFERENCE in SAFETY IN THIS ISSUE 03 SISO Supports Singapore Polytechnic’s WSH Forum 2015 05 How to implement lifting plan that meets WSH Management System and Legal Requirements 11 An Effective Remedy 02 ISSUE 2015 SISO’s Contributions at the 28th SEA Games 02 SISo Joins NTUC as its 12th U Associate Partner pg.03 CONTENTS 02 TOP NEWS ISSUE 2015 TOP NEWS 02 SISO’s Contributions at the 28th SEA Games 03 SISO Joins NTUC as its 12th U Associate Partner 03 SISO Supports Singapore Polytechnic’s WSH Forum 2015 REPORTS 28 NETS’ Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety 28 Learning and Sharing Session: “Role of Human Error in Process Safety” 28 SISO’s Participation at the U Safe Awards 2015 SISo’s Contributions at the 28th SEA Games The recently concluded 28th SEA Games was a resounding success both in termsof medals won by Singapore and the country’s hosting of the event. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who volunteered whole-heartedly and worked professionally and diligently to ensure that the 31 venues for the Games were safe for all. We are very proud of our volunteers. We would like to share some pictures of the volunteers at the 28th SEA Games. 32 Construction Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Leadership Summit 2015 FEATURE ARTICLES 05 How to implement lifting plan that meets WSH Management System and Legal Requirements 09 bizSAFE Awards 2016 11 An Effective Remedy 31 WICA Clinic COURSES 16 Schedule of SISO Courses 20 Snapshots @ SISO Courses MEMBERSHIP 32 Welcome New Members ADVERTISERS 04 Nitti (Asia) Pte Ltd 06 Uvex-Safety 08 Honeywell Safety Products 10 Leeden Ltd 12 QSS Safety Products (S) Pte Ltd 14 PDS International 15 PDS International 18 Bollé Safety Asia 19 Kimberly-Clark Singapore Pte Ltd 22 3M Technologies (S) Pte Ltd 24 3M Technologies (S) Pte Ltd 26 Dräger Safety Asia Pte Ltd 27 ST Healthcare 29 CEJN Safety 30 Messe Düsseldorf Asia Pte Ltd Here are some of the feedback from SISO SEA Games Volunteers: Lee Kok Hwa Raymond “I learnt to be more patient and understanding when being involved in a big event such as this Games, everyone was happy at the end of the day” SISo Mailing Address: Blk 167 Jalan Bukit Merah #02-13, Connection One, Tower 5, Singapore 150167 Ng Choon Wang “This is the best thing that happened over these 2 years.” Office Tel: 6777 5185 Fax: 6777 6896 Email: [email protected] Website: www.siso.org.sg Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Monday – Friday) Lunchtime: 1pm – 2pm Suzaini Bin Husen “Opportunity to work with different types of people from different races, religion, background and education with one goal, to deliver and commit to our task.” Editorial and Design Direction: Oculus Design Pte Ltd oFFICE BEARERS 2014 – 2016 President Seet Choh San [email protected] Vice President Bernard Soh [email protected] Hon. Secretary Andrew H S Tan [email protected] Hon. Asst. Secretary Seah Liang Bing [email protected] Hon. Treasurer Roger B C Lim [email protected] Committee Members: Competency Standards & Practices Eric Law [email protected] Communications & outreach Ong Pak Shoon [email protected] Government & International Affairs Niranjan Arun Masurekar [email protected] Membership & Activities S Damodaran [email protected] Professional Development Tan Yen Ping [email protected] Executive Manager: Quek Chin Tuan [email protected] Ex-officio: Winston Yew Deputy Director, Industry Capability Building Department, Workplace Safety and Health Council, Ministry of Manpower Hon. Legal Advisor: Lee Kwok Weng Editorial Committee: Ong Pak Shoon Quek Chin Tuan Michael Teo Anurupa Sarkar Kent Chai Dennis Tay Jason Tee [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The information set forth in this Issue of SAFETY MATTERS has been obtained or derived from sources believed by the respective author to be reliable. However, the author of each individual article does not make any representation or warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information’s accuracy or completeness. The views and comments expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institution. TOP NEWS SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 SISo Joins NTUC as its 12th U Associate Partner Quek Chin Tuan Executive Manager, SISO [email protected] On Monday, 25 May 2015, the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO) joined the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) as its 12th U Associate Partner, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement was signed between SISO Honorary Secretary Mr Andrew H.S, Tan and Mr Vivek Kumar, Director of NTUC U Associate and Future Leaders Programme (seated 2nd and 3rd from the right, respectively). The NTUC U Associate Programme is a key NTUC initiative to reach out to Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) through industry and professional associations and extend to them the advantages of the Labour Movement. Launched in March 2011, the programme has 12 U Associates on board currently. Welcoming SISO as the Labour Movement’s latest U Associate, Mr Vivek Kumar said the collaboration will further the development of the WSH professionals Secretary General NTUC, Mr Chan Chun Sing, (Back row, 8th from the left) observing the MOU signing ceremony with staff from NTUC and Executive Committee Members of SISO. in Singapore. “Workplace safety and health (WSH) is a growing area of opportunity for our professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) and we are already seeing competition for good WSH jobs. Hence, I am pleased that SISO, as the leading professional association in the sector, has decided to partner the Labour Movement as a U Associate. We plan to work together to help our WSH professionals chart progressive careers in Singapore, and even at regional and global levels” said Mr Vivek Kumar. Mr Seet Choh San, President of SISO, believes that the partnership with NTUC will create professional development opportunities to enhance the competency and skills of its members. “SISO and NTUC are moving in the same direction to secure better jobs and careers for our workforce. With the globalisation of markets, and with it competition from global players, WSH professionals need to upgrade their skillsets and broaden their competencies. This partnership with NTUC is a strong platform for the profession to progress to the next level,” said Mr Seet. As a prelude to the signing of the MOU, the SISO Executive Committee Members, namely Messrs Seet Choh San, Bernard Soh, Andrew H.S. Tan, Roger Lim B.C., Seah Liang Bing, and Ong Pak Shoon, attended a dialogue session with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Secretary-General of NTUC. The Executive Committee provided Mr Chan with an in-depth understanding of SISO and shared some of the projects that SISO was developing to enhance the professional development of WSH professionals. The Executive Committee was very pleased to note that NTUC and SISO shared common interests in furthering the growth and development of the WSH profession which would contribute positively to the continued safety and well-being of the workforce and, in turn, Singapore’s economy and productivity. SISo Supports Singapore Polytechnic’s WSH Forum 2015 Michael Teo Administrator [email protected] The Singapore Institution of Safety Officers was pleased and honoured to be able to work with the PACE Academy of Singapore Polytechnic and once again provided SISO’s support for the Singapore Polytechnic’s Annual Workplace, Safety and Health (WSH) Forum. Held at PACE Academy at Singapore Polytechnic on 8 April 2015, this 3rd edition had “Integrating Safety and Health into Design” as its theme. This theme focused on the concept of Design for Safety and it proved to be popular as more than 100 attended the Forum. The Forum had seven distinguished speakers. The Keynote Speaker was Mr Chan Yew Kwong, Director, Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate, Ministry of Health, and he kicked off the proceedings by speaking on the thematic topic “Integrating Safety and Health into Design”. Mr Tan Yen Ping, Executive Committee Member, Singapore Institution of Safety Officers, spoke about “The WSHO’s Role in Total WSH”, where he shared his views on how the WSHO’s role can evolve, particularly in the implementation of Total WSH. A third speaker, Mr Goh Chye Guan, Managing Director, Total Safety Solutions, spoke about “Total WSH-Industry Perspective”. Ms Ng Xiao Qian, Specialist (Occupational Hygiene), Occupational, Safety and Health Division, Ministry of Manpower was the fourth speaker, and Mr Tan Yen Ping presenting “WSHO’s Role in Total Workplace Safery and Health she shared information on the topic of “Introducing Risk Management 2.0”.The fifth speaker, Mr Jonathan Wan, Managing Director, ASRETEC, shared his insights on “Dfs for Work at Height” while the sixth speaker, Mr Helder Araujo, Managing Director, My EAR Singapore Pte Ltd, spoke on “the Hearing Conservation Programme”. ” The seventh speaker in the line-up, Mr Jerry Seah, Director, Singapore National Employers Federation, then took to the stage to speak about “Healthy Ageing for Workplace”. 03 feature article SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 How to implement lifting plan that meets WSH Management System and Legal Requirements Suzaini Husen Group HSSE Manager, Tiong Woon Crane & Transport Pte Ltd [email protected] Lifting operations, however simple or complicated, must be executed safely. The objectives of implementing a Lifting Plan are to elaborate the key details and reduce risk at the source. This allows the implementation to be carried out safely, and overall workplace and worksite safety can be improved. Charge, Competent Person and Specialist Professional Engineer (PE Geotechnical) e.g. new sites, coastal areas and paved ground. • Compliance to statutory requirements and manufacturer’s operational manual for the lifting equipment. 4 Workplace Safety and Health (Operation of Cranes) Regulations 2011. 4 Code of Practice Safe Lifting Operations (Revised 2014), Singapore Standards related to lifting activities, etc. 4 Ensure the maximum ground pressure is not exceeded and the ground will sustain loads shouldered by the crane. A good Lifting Plan shall be supported by a Risk Assessment, Safe Work Procedure and/or Method Statement and Permit-To-Work. A Lifting Plan aims to facilitate an agreement amongst all stakeholders including the lifting crew to achieve a safe outcome. A lifting plan (routine/non-routine) encapsulates all the important information that must be considered, and in turn the lifting operation can be carried out safely. Elements of a Lifting Plan The lifting plan shall include but not be limited to the following considerations: • The personnel’s roles, responsibilities and competencies 4 Attended the required training e.g. Lifting Supervisors Safety Course, Crane Operation Training Course and Rigger & Signalman course. 4 Appointed Lifting Supervisor, Rigger & Signalman and a MOM-registered crane operator. 4 The level of working experiences and familiarisation with cranes (e.g. types of cranes, models, configuration and capacities). The boom of a telescopic crane is based on bending forces. The boom of a lattice boom crane is based on compressive force. 4 Clients’ requirements and expectations. • Conduct a site survey to better understand the work to be carried out and the correct type of cranes required. 4 Information about the load weight, working radius, location, scope of lift, type of lifting gears required, and much more is a requisite. With some ground conditions or site layouts, it may be necessary to provide additional hard standings to bring the ground-bearing pressures down to an acceptable limit for the crane to travel on or work from. Possible methods are: - Layering of timbres or spreader mats - Layering of stone, hardcore or crushed concrete (possibly replacing upper layers of weak soil) - Concrete raft; precast panels may be suitable 4 Selection of the correct type of crane to be used. - 4 The work site is adequately prepared — the ground is levelled for the setup of intended crane. Access roads must be available as well. Ground improvement e.g. dynamic compaction, lime stabilisation, stone columns and geotextiles. For these solutions, the bearing pressures are defined via on-site testing. - Steel plates to lay across poor ground conditions for better stability. • Checking of possible underground services and ground-bearing pressure. 4 Location of underground services and/or trenches. 4 Utilities and drainage arrangements that may affect integrity of ground (e.g. live cables, sewerage, water pipes and covered manholes). 4 Bearing capacities of ground shall be sourced by Site in (continued on page 07) 05 feature article SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 How to implement lifting plan that meets WSH Management System and Legal Requirements (continued from page 05) • It is mandatory to conduct a Risk Assessment on the safety and health hazards exposed to any person who may be affected by the lifting operation in the workplace. 1)Hazard Identification 2)Risk Evaluation 3)Risk Control • Permit-to-Work system which is mandatory for all lifting operations. 4 Involves contractor applying for permits to carry out lifting activities. 4 State the scope and conditions in which lifting activities will be carried out. 4 3 basic steps to Risk Assessment (RA) • Selection of appropriate lifting equipment, lifting gears and appliances. 4 An independent inspection is conducted on site to verify that appropriate control measures have been taken to mitigate any foreseeable risks. 4 Avoid simultaneously carrying out any conflicting or incompatible work before the permit can be approved. 4 Inspection by Authorised Examiner every 12 months or 6 months as per site requirement. 4 Choose the correct lifting gears for load to be lifted. 4 Keep in proper storage area after use to prevent further deterioration from exposed weather (direct heat, rain, sands and stained by dirty oil/ grease). • Environmental factors detrimental to the lifting operations such as ground conditions, adverse weather, wind and poor illumination. 4 Wind force – cranes must never lift at wind-speeds beyond those recommended in the crane manufacturer’s instructions. 4 Heavy rain – the possibility of lightning-strikes. Case study 1. The bigger the top angle the larger the load in each sling will be. • A 50-ton mobile crane was lifting a bucket filled with wet concrete and had a total weight of about 1.8 ton when it toppled. 2. Never exceed the top angle between slings, i.e.above 120o. • The Safe Working Load at the intended working radius is 1.9 ton. 3. At this angle, the force in each sling is as big as the load that will be lifted. • Contributing factors: 4 There is no appointed lifting supervisor and rigger/signalman. 4 The workers increased the crane’s working radius by pushing the concrete bucket away from the crane when the crane’s safe working load had already reached its maximum. 4 Toolbox meeting was not conducted prior to lifting activity. 4 No lifting permit (routine lift). 4 Competency level of crane operator and lifting crew. • Worksite operation including proximity of other lifting equipment and work activities. 4 Overlapping of lifting zone between mobile crane and tower crane. • Weight and dimension of load which can be obtained from manufacturers, vendors, packing list, etc. 4 Assessment of the need for tagline to control movement of the suspended load. 4 Weight of load, given overall dimensions, lifting points and centre of gravity of the load. 4 Use two or more taglines to control the load depending on dimension and weight of load. 4 Working radius and height of load to be lifted. • Means of communication during lifting operations. 4 Appoint a competent lifting crew for the job. 1. A load with lifting points above the CoG is always a stable load. 4 Use of hand signals — distance where signaller stands, using of hand gloves while giving signals to the crane operator and considering environmental factors. 4 Conduct toolbox meeting, briefing of risk assessment and safe work procedures prior to lifting activity. 4 Ensure there is a valid lifting permit. 4 Use of walkie-talkies – common languages that can be easily understood, charging of the battery and individual channel for lifting activity. 4 Involvement from all stakeholders before executing the lift. Briefing of Risk Assessment, Safe Work Procedure, Permit-to-Work and Lifting Plan prior to the execution of lifting activities. 4 Prevent lifting crew from working under suspended load. • Some recommendations: (continued on page 09) 07 FEATURE ARTICLE How to implement lifting plan that meets WSH Management System and Legal Requirements (continued from page 07) Conclusions When we implement the lifting plan, we will learn to understand that each element of a lifting plan is very important. It provides every detail and requirement for each process to be carried out safely. It requires all stakeholders to perform their duties and responsibilities diligently. When proper planning is done, it eliminates time wastage through unnecessary events that may arise and also improves productivity. Most important, the lifting activities are carried out safely without harm to people or environment within the workplace. Develop Workplace Safety and Health Management System – oHSAS 18001:2007 / SS 506 Standards Most lifting engineers and supervisors do not realise that when they implement the lifting plan and execute the task safely, not only do they keep to their progress schedules but also meet the WSH management system and legal requirements. bizSAFE Awards 2016 Applications for the bizSAFE Awards 2016 is now open till Friday, 14 August 2015. The Awards recognise bizSAFE members for their commitment and dedication in advocating and raising workplace safety and health practices and standards. You can download the application from www.wshc.sg. The bizSAFE Awards will be presented at the annual bizSAFE Convention in February 2016 organised by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and supported by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). There are three main categories in the bizSAFE Awards. 1. bizSAFE Partner Award The bizSAFE Partner Award recognises bizSAFE Partners who have been proactive SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 These are done through the documented plans as below: 4 4.4.7 Emergency preparedness and response – Development of emergency response procedures for the lifting operation. 4 4.3.1 Hazard identification, risk assessment and determining controls – Lifting activity risk assessment (routine / non-routine). 4 4.5.1 Performance measurement and monitoring – Conducting of safety inspections regularly by safety personnel for compliance. 4 4.3.2 Legal and other requirements – Valid lifting machine and lifting gears certificates. 4 4.4.1 Resources, roles, responsibility, accountability and authority – Appointment letters for the lifting crew and crane operators. 4 4.4.2 Competence, training and awareness – Lifting crew and crane operator attended the mandatory training and in-house training from main contractor. 4 4.4.3 Communication, participation and consultation – Conducting of a toolbox meeting before the final execution of the lift and risk assessment meeting. 4 4.4.6 Operational control – Establishing safe work procedures, monthly crane maintenance checklist, daily checks on crane and lifting gears before use and endorsing lifting permit-to-work. and committed in bringing companies onboard the bizSAFE programme by incorporating safety as part of their business model (e.g. having bizSAFE Level 3 as a criterion in procurement contracts). 2. bizSAFE Enterprise Exemplary Award The bizSAFE Enterprise Exemplary Award commends Small-and-Mediumsized Enterprises (SMEs) that are on bizSAFE Level Star with outstanding WSH performance and standards. References and further information • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • WorkplaceSafetyandHealthAct WSH(OperationsofCranes)Regulations WSH(Construction)Regulations WSH(GeneralProvisions)Regulations WSH(RiskManagement)Regulations CodeofPracticeforSafeLiftingOperations at the Workplace SingaporeStandardSS536:2008Codeof Practice for Safe Use of Mobile Cranes SingaporeStandardSS559:2010Codeof Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes SingaporeStandardSS506Part1&3 Occupational Safety and Health Management System SingaporeStandardSS497:2011Codeof Practice for Design, Safe Use and maintenance of Gantry Cranes, Overhead Travelling Cranes and Monorail Hoists SingaporeStandardSS343:Part1:2001Wire rope slings SingaporeStandardSS343:Part2:1989Hooks SingaporeStandardSS343:Part3:1990 Shackles Rigger&SignalmanHandbook KrabbendamAdviesService winners will be evaluated for the Champion Award. 3. bizSAFE Enterprise Progressive Award The bizSAFE Enterprise Progressive Award gives recognition to bizSAFE Enterprises for their dedication to the bizSAFE programme by progressing from bizSAFE Level 1 to Level 3 within 6 months (between 15 July 2014 to 14 June 2015), and have established Risk Management within their organisation. Only small-andmedium enterprises (SMEs) may apply. Enterprises winning the Exemplary Award for three consecutive years will be honoured with a Gold Award. bizSAFE Champion Award The bizSAFE Champion Award recognises individuals who have been key players in improving safety and health performances in their workplace. These are employees who are key drivers of the bizSAFE programme in their organisations. Exemplary Award applicants shall nominate an employee for the bizSAFE Champion Award upon submission. Nominees of the Exemplary Award 09 FEATURE ARTICLE SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 An Effective Remedy U Chit Ko Pe Senior Workplace Safety and Health Officer, Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd [email protected] Repeated practices, good or bad, become norms. Generations of workers adhere to good culture and pass it on. In work arenas, they are known as safe work practices which will engender a work safety culture in an organisation. Singapore aims to become a country renowned for safe and healthy work environments anchored in work safety culture. The Workplace Safety and Health Council in Singapore has developed the CultureSAFE programme to encourage all organisations to be aligned with work safety culture. It is a one-stop platform where deepseated safety and health attitudes and perceptions are showcased by well-established organisations. other organisations can then tap the knowledge and create sustainable safety cultures in their own workplaces. Understanding Safety Culture Safety culture is defined by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation as an assembly of characteristics and attitudes in organisations and individuals. The committee believes that safety issues need to be an overriding priority. Similarly, safety culture of an organisation is defined by the Advisory Committee on Safety of Nuclear Installations as the product of individual and group values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies, and patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organisation’s health and safety management. In Singapore, the CultureSAFE programme is a platform for organisations to embark on a journey of building workplace safety and health (WSH) culture. It focuses on cultivating the right WSH mindsets and attitudes in every employee from top management down to the workers on site. It constitutes a five-step cyclical approach: diagnostic; reporting; action planning; implementation; and review and evaluation. Diagnostic approach entails a perception survey and evidence-based assessment to establish the present WSH culture profile of the organisation. Reporting is the summarisation and presentation of a consolidation of the organisation’s WSH culture profile. Strengths and areas of improvement are identified as well. Action Planning draws recommendations and prioritises the action plans or tasks, based on the identified strengths and areas of improvement. Implementation is a means of execution and operation of the accompanied with periodic updates. Review & Evaluation focuses on the action plans and tracks the results of the implementation. It refines the action plans further to ensure robustness and sustainability and/or work on other areas of WSH improvements. The CultureSAFE programme helps to spur the development of the WSH culture at any workplace or organisation. The CultureSAFE model comprises six attributes, and is used to specify two key aspects of WSH culture: Organisational Commitment and Stakeholder Commitment. The six attributes are WSH leadership and commitment; governance; work management system; competent and learning organisation; ownership and teamwork; and communicating and reporting. Utilising the Behavioural observation and Intervention Approach There is a need to prevent any hazardous situations from arising before they lead to accidents or injuries. The achievement of a WSH management system does not necessarily equate to safe and healthy workplaces. Near-miss incidents, cases requiring first aid, and accidents leading to injuries can still occur. They are usually caused by poor implementation of the WSH management system, unsafe workplace conditions and/or at-risk behaviours. They can be further zoomed into one factor — weak WSH culture at the workplaces. The behavioural observation and intervention approach helps to minimise the occurrence of hazardous situations by focusing on at-risk behaviours. This approach intends to make safety a habit for all workers, and places an importance on the safety of everyone in the workplace. The implementation can be easily broken down into four key steps — SAFE, which is acronym of Scan, Act, Follow up and Evaluate. (continued on page 13) 11 FEATURE ARTICLE SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 An Effective Remedy (continued from page 11) Scan First of all, safety coaches or observers need to be identified and assigned. WSH advocates can be deployed as safety coaches representing each trade of work. The pool should comprise engineers, supervisors and workers. Over time, almost every worker can be roped in with peer coaching — this way each and every worker will start to develop a sense of WSH ownership. A behaviour observation checklist then needs to be developed, and it must be based on behaviour factors, not site conditions. When the workplace is deemed to have fairly cultivated safe work habits, other modified checklists need to be introduced as a replacement of old ones. Act An incentive or reward can be handed out to workers who demonstrate good WSHrelated behaviour. Cash or commodity vouchers are two possible options, and they should be given out during daily tool box meetings or weekly safety talks. However, the recognition should not stop there. Workers who have done well should be acknowledged and have their names, photographs and compliments posted on safety notice boards. Such behaviour should also be an individual performance attribute during staff appraisals. As for those who display at-risk behaviours, the observer needs to intervene immediately and stop the behaviours or work activities. At the same time, the observer has to step up and explain the WSH-related concerns to the workers. Advise how the work activity should be carried out. Errant workers need to be counselled if necessary. Peers play a part in showing care for one another; this way everyone can remain safe at work. Follow up It is important to adopt a no-name-noblame principle so as to avoid discouraging the workers with at-risk behaviours. Project managers are to be kept in the loop on findings of at-risk behaviours by all means possible. These include direct submissions of completed checklists to the management, ad hoc personal discussions with management, or pre-scheduled meeting sessions with the management. As the management is made known of such cases, its follow-up is necessary to identify the underlying at-risk behaviours in each case. This way, strategies can be developed to tackle such at-risk behaviours in a timely fashion. Evaluate The observation process is to be repeated with modified checklists. But, it is to be conducted universally rather than targeting any worker or trade group. This step determines if the at-risk behaviour persists. Other rounds of observation conducted by different safety coaches or observers can verify if the worker or the group with at-risk behaviour is an isolated one; or if there is a systemic problem that pervades the workplace and/or the external vendor. Evaluation in this step will reveal if the management’s follow-up action is effective. If it is found that the atrisk behaviour has persisted, the management has to consider alternative follow-up actions. 13 FEATURE ARTICLE SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 15 courses SAFETY MATTERS / Singapore Institution of Safety Officers Schedule of Siso Courses (July to October 2015) All courses are conducted at Singapore Institution of Safety Officers, 167, Jalan Bukit Merah, #02-13 Connection One, Tower 5, Singapore 150167, unless otherwise indicated. Please contact: [email protected] for more information. Certificate in Workplace Safety and Health Participants of this course will gain the necessary WSH knowledge and skills to assist in implementing WSH risk control measures and management systems at the workplace. Intake Start Date Time Duration Fee 9 and 10 Tuesday, 28 July 2015 Tuesday, 15 September 2015 Tuesdays & Thursdays (6.30pm – 10.30pm) and Occasionally Saturdays (9am – 6pm) 3 months S$322.10* (with WDA grant) S$3220.70* (without grant) *Fee includes GST Develop a Risk Management Implementation Plan - BizSafe level 2 To provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to perform as a Risk Management Champion for their organization. Learners will learn to develop and manage the risk management process and to reduce risks at source through implementation of control measures. Intake Time Duration Fee 1. Tuesday, 28 July 2015 to Wednesday, 29 July 2015 2. Monday, 24 August 2015 to Tuesday, 25 August 2015 3. Monday, 14 September 2015 to Tuesday, 15 September 2015 4. Tuesday, 27 October 2015 to Wednesday, 28 October 2015 9am to 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 2 days Full course fees for SISO Member: S$450.00* **Nett price after SDF Funding: S$210.00 **Nett price after WTS Funding: S$9.00 Full course fees for non-SISO Member: S$490.00* **Nett price after SDF Funding: S$250.00 **Nett price after WTS Funding: S$49.00 *Fees include GST, refreshments and training materials and is preSDF / WTS funding **SDF/ WTS Funding (For Corporate Registrations): Participants must attend at least 75% of the course and complete the assessment Corporate customers need to log in SkillsConnect website before registration for those who are applying for the funding for participant(s) WTS funding only applies to company-sponsored trainee who is 35 years old and above with a monthly income of $1,900 and below. WSQ - Develop a Business Case for WSH To provide learners with required the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of required of a WSH Officer to analyse, create and communicate a successful business case to meet an organization’s WSH needs. All learners will be awarded with Statement of Attainment (SOA) upon meeting 75% of the required course attendance and assessed to be competent. Implement Incident Management Processes To provide learners with the skills and knowledge required by the person in charge of a facility to implement the incident management process during an emergency incident in a process facility. This unit covers the approach, structure, tools, processes, communication methods that can be utilised during an emergency incident. Date Time Duration CPD points Fee 1. Monday, 13 July 2015 2. Thursday, 20 August 2015 3. Monday, 21 September 2015 4. Monday, 19 October 2015 9am – 6pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 2 days 8 SDUs (For WSHO) 10 CPUs (For FSM) S$417.30* (SISO Member) S$470.80* (Others) *Fee includes GST refreshments and training materials Develop a Workplace Safety and Health Management System (WSHMS) Implementation Plan (BizSAFE Level 4) To provide learners with the skills and knowledge to be a WSHMS Program Lead for the organisation in preparing a WSHMS implementation plan to meet the requirements of SS 506 and risk management code of practice and for recognition of bizSAFE Level 4 by Workplace Safety and Health Council. It entails reviewing the current WSH policy, risk management plan, and WSH programmes. It also includes establishing frameworks for WSH management programmes and emergency preparedness and response plan in accordance with organisational safety and health needs and WSH legal and other requirements. Date Time Duration CPD Points Fee 1. Tuesday, 7 July 2015 to Friday, 10 July 2015 2. Tuesday, 13 October 2015 to Friday, 16 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 4 days 28 SDUs S642.00* (SISO Member) S$706.20* (Others) *Fee includes GST WSH (Construction) Regulations This workshop on the WSH (Construction) Regulations, will be led by Mr Lee Kah Bee, an ex-MOM officer who oversaw the review and drafting of WSH legislation. He will go through the statutory requirements under the said Regulations. He will also share some common safety lapses uncovered by MOM inspectors during their routine inspections as well as during special operations. Some common misconceptions and key court decisions will also be discussed. Participants will also be doing case studies based on past accident cases. Date Wednesday, 29 July 2015 Tuesday, 7 July 2015 to Wednesday, 8 July 2015 Time 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) Time 9am – 6pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) Duration CPD points Fee 2 days 14 SDUs $492.20* (Full course fees) $147.70* (Nett course fees after WDA funding for S’porean & PR) Duration CPD points Fee 1 day 7 SDUs (Pending) S$192.60* (SISO Member) S$321.00* (Others) Date *Fee includes GST refreshments and training materials 16 *Fee includes GST refreshments and training materials courses Workplace Safety & Health (Safety) Committee Training Course To provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to perform and discharge their responsibilities as safety committee members, as required by the Workplace Safety and Health Act. Upon completion of this course, learners will contribute effectively to the improvement of safety and health at the workplace. Date Time Duration Fee 1. Wednesday, 22 July 2015 to Friday, 24 July 2015 2. Wednesday, 19 August 2015 to Friday, 21 August 2015 3. Wednesday, 16 September 2015 to Friday, 18 September 2015 4. Wednesday, 21 October 2015 to Friday, 23 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 3 days S$449.40* *Fee includes GST refreshments and training materials Risk Assessment for a Safe Workplace (Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management) To provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to implement effective risk assessment (RA) in their workplaces. Learners will learn to adopt a systematic methodology in developing appropriate control initiatives with reference to the Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management. Upon completion of this course, learners will understand the legal requirements, be able to identify hazards, evaluate risks and implement appropriate risk control measures. Date Time Duration Fees 1. Thursday, 30 July 2015 to Friday, 31 July 2015 2. Thursday, 27 August 2015 to Friday, 28 August 2015 3. Monday, 14 September 2015 to Tuesday, 15 September 2015 4. Thursday, 15 October 2015 to Friday, 16 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 2 days S$450.00* (SISO Member) S$490.00* (Others) SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 ISO 9001:2008 Internal Quality Auditor Training This program provides participants with the practical know-how of conducting internal audits effectively. Key audit processes from planning up to reporting and follow-up are clearly explained using simple to understand slides. The technique of conducting internal audits is taught with many practical exercises and quizzes to engage trainees and give them a sound understanding of the complete internal audit cycle. Date Time Duration CPD Points Fees *Fee includes GST, refreshments and training materials Enhanced Risk Management Code of Practice (RMCP) This program provides participants with a better understanding of culture and personal risk factors that could compromise worker’s ability and safety (e.g., decreased mental alertness, fatigue, inherent personal health risks uncovered from medical examinations, individual susceptibility to particular health risks). Participants will also know the main changes to the 2015 revision of the Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Risk Management, (“RMCP”). Date Time Duration CPD points Fees *Fee includes GST, refreshments and training materials and is preSDF Funding OHSAS 18001 & SS 506 Part 1 Internal Auditor Course To provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to plan and conduct effective internal audits on OHS management systems. Learners will learn to report audit findings clearly and undertake effective follow-up audits on corrective actions taken so as to ensure continual improvement. This course also provides an introduction to the requirements of OHS management systems (OHSAS 18001 & SS 506 – Part 1). Date Time Duration CPD points Fees 1. Tuesday, 28 July 2015 to Wednesday, 29 July 2015 2. Tuesday, 20 October 2015 to Wednesday, 21 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 2 days 14 SDUs S$450.00* (SISO Member) S$490.00* (Others) *Fee includes GST, refreshments and training materials Complimentary: SS 506 – 1: 2009 guidelines will be handed out Interpreting & Implementing the Draft International Standard ISO / DIS 9001 This seminar will cover the terms and definitions of ISO/DIS 9001, as well as the major differences in terminology between ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015. Date Time Duration CPD Points Fees Friday, 10 July 2015 1.30pm – 5pm (Registration starts at 1pm) 0.5 day 3 SDUs S$60.00* (SISO Member) S$90.00* (Others) 1. Monday, 20 July 2015 to Tuesday, 21 July 2015 2. Wednesday, 21 October 2015 to Thursday, 22 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 4 days 14 SDUs (Pending) S$450.00* (SISO Member) S$490.00* (Others) 1. Wednesday, 22 July 2015 to Thursday, 23 July 2015 2. Thursday, 20 August 2015 to Friday, 21 August 2015 3. Monday, 21 September 2015 to Tuesday, 22 September 2015 4. Monday, 19 October 2015 to Tuesday, 20 October 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) 2 days 4 SDUs S$450.00* (SISO Member) S$490.00* (Others) *Fee includes GST, refreshments and training materials Workshop on Implementation of Business Continuity Management (BCM) This program will cover risk assessment and their impact on business operations. It will address the various solutions and selection of mitigating strategies to relevant stakeholders. In line with the business continuity strategies, delegates will be equipped on how to develop a Business Continuity Plan. A plan has to be tested and exercised periodically to ensure relevance and workability. In addition, participants will be provided with relevant toolkits which they may use and contextualized to the industry they come from. Date Time Thursday, 30 July, 2015 9am – 5pm (Registration starts at 8.45am) Duration CPD points Fees 1 day 7 SDUs S$275.00* (SISO Member) S$325.00* (Others) * Fee includes GST, refreshments and training materials To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States. George W Bush, 43rd President of USA *Fee includes GST, refreshment and seminar hand-outs 17 safety COURSES SAFETY MATTERS / Singapore Institution of Safety Officers Snapshots@ SISo Courses I enjoy coming to SISO for short courses to learn about the regulations, as the trainer explains and guides participants on understanding the legislation. It’s like a ‘tuition class’ where we share our knowledge and experiences of our workplace. This also provides WSH Associates a basic platform to the industry. – Nurul Hadi Bin Abd Wahab (Operations Controller) Resourceful and informative centre to get the latest WSH updates – Lim Chee Chau, Daniel (WSHE Manager, Sim Lian Construction Co (Pte) Ltd Legislation Workshop on the WSH (Work at Heights) Regu lations and the WSH (Confined Spaces) Regu lations 27 March 2015 Conducted by: Mr Lee Kah Bee Well organised and arranged. Schedule is well covered for my knowledge and skills. Trainer is well prepared and organised. – Sam Sachu Mathew (Executive Engineer, SBS Transit) Fun and learning experiences at SISO. Hope my company will send more employees to SISO. I learnt a lot during the course. aining Course ETY) Committee Tr WSH (SAF – Allan Chua Chin Siang (Technician II, The Polyolefin Company (S) Pte Ltd) 18 to 20 March 2015 nnis Tan nd Co ucted by: Mr De MEWP for Manager Course 16 April 2015 Conducted by: Mr Hansen Ng This is the first time I attended a course which is organised by SISO. It is a good experience for me to know more about specification of MEWP. – Ng Aik Tat (Trainer, Absolute Kinetics Consultancy PC) 20 WSH (SAFETY) Co mmittee Training Course 21 to 23 April 2015 Conducted by: Mr Ng iam Bo Han Wonderful experience; Knowledgeable trainer; Humorous trainer. – Yusman Bin Yusoff (STO, YTL Power Seraya Pte Ltd) COURSES SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 OHSAS 18001 & SS506 Part 1 – Internal Auditor Course 28 to 29 April 2015 Conducted by: Mr Chong Hai Soon Made a lot of friends. The staff are friendly so are my classmates and lecturer. It is an enjoyable experience during my course at SISO. – Sim Kian Kok Develop a Business Case for WSH 27 to 28 April 2015 Conducted by: Mr Leonard Tay The courses modules are comprehensive and detailed. Very much similar to my daily job scope except that, after attending the course, I know how to convince my boss on future business case proposal. – Alan Teo (Assistant EHS Manager, Carrier Transicold Pte Ltd) Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Observation and Feedback 23 to 24 April 2015 Conducted by: Mr Edmund Tai The BBS Level 1 course was a good starting platform for the few of us who are learning how to implement a BBS program. The trainer also delved into the psychology aspect of behaviour rather than focusing on the methodology which was very helpful. Design and Implement Behavioural Safety Programme Workshop 14 to 15 May 2015 Conducted by: Mr S Damodaran Very professional, knowledgeable and assertive. Thank you. – Susan B. Chitranggi (EHS Engineering Coordinator, HP) – Rebecca Toh (EHS Engineer, Global Foundries Singapore Pte Ltd) Enhanced Risk Management Code of Practice (RMCP) 14 to 15 May 2015 Conducted by: Ms Soh Guat Hiong Experienced and knowledgeable trainer to share their own experiences and ideas. Comprehensive training material and friendly staff to attend our queries. – Ramasamy Anand (Project Manager, SR Engineering Pte Ltd) Develop a WSH Culture Workshop 12 to 13 May 2015 Conducted by: Mr Dennis Tan I had a better understanding of cultivating a safe working environment at workplace and how to tackle individuals even top management on safety issues. – Andy Masagus (QA & EHS Coordinator Lead, Multiheight Scaffolding Pte Ltd) 21 ADVERTORIAL SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 3M Anti-Fatigue Mats: An Ergonomic Solution in the Workplace You may already know that the No. 2 leading occupational disease (oD) within Singapore is Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs), but do you know which simple ergonomic measures can significantly reduce the occurrence of WRMSDs? Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and ergonomics are not one and the same. MSDs are the result of incompatibilities between the work conditions, work demands and the worker capabilities. Ergonomics is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of workers. In other words, MSDs are often the result of poor ergonomics, whereas good ergonomics is the solution to reducing WRMSDs. Research organizations, such as Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute, National Institute of occupational Safety and Health (NIoSH), Institutes of Higher Learnings (IHL) and 3M are independently researching possible solutions to these disorders, which have consequences that extend far beyond a missed workday for an injured worker. The Enemy: Musculoskeletal Disorders As defined in the WSH Guidelines published in January 2014, MSDs are muscle, tendon or nerve disorders caused by repetitive exertions, rapid motions, awkward postures, high force contact stresses, vibrations, and/ or low temperatures. WRMSDs are also referred to as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive strain injuries, or repetitive motion illnesses. These disorders are characterized by discomfort, impairment, disability, or persistent pains in joints, muscles, tendons or other soft tissues. The severity of MSDs can range from mild periodic symptoms to severe chronic and debilitating injuries or conditions. WRMSDs can affect the lower body and extremities, causing backache, slipped discs, osteoarthritis and venous pooling – the last being a symptom commonly experienced by employees who are required to stand for long periods of time. Think of the last time you stood in a long line waiting. Did your feet, legs and back have pain or discomfort? How long did it take to become uncomfortable: 10, 20 or 30 minutes? Now think of jobs that require standing for eight hours a day and how uncomfortable those workers are. A Historical Perspective (United States of America) • Ramazzini,anItalianphysicianin the 1700s, lists diseases of the hands, arms, legs and feet according to occupations (baker’s hands, gamekeeper’s thumbs and others), which are examples of MSDs. • Inthelate1910sandearly1920s, many articles and books were written discussing the pain, suffering and deaths of the American worker caused by the poor and unsafe working conditions. References on how people tried to change their work were included. • Workers’compensationlawscameinto effect in the United States in 1923. • Earlyinterventionswereavariety of materials that “softened” the area where workers had to stand. Cardboard, carpet and wood were commonly used. • Earlycommercialproducts(1950s) were called “industrial mats”, which evolved into “anti-fatigue mats”. • Intheearly1960s,themilitarylooked into ways to reduce standing fatigue, with the Navy contracting a company to build Watch Mats. • Inthemid-to-late1980s,anti-fatigue mats are referred to as a type of “engineering control” by OSHA, when used to alleviate MSDs in the workplace for jobs requiring prolonged standing. Risks to Industry and to Workers’ Health Workers who suffer from WRMSDs experience not only pain and discomfort, but also a decrease in their productivity and their quality of work. It can also impact their everyday lives adversely, compromising their ability to perform everyday tasks, exercise, and even sleep. For employers, WRMSDs would likely reduce productivity, reduce product quality, increase worker absenteeism, and in turn lead to increased costs in production and worker compensation or medical insurance premiums. In 2014, there were 992 confirmed cases of ODs within Singapore, reflecting an incidence rate of 29.5 per 100,000 employed persons. Among these cases, the second leading OD WRMSDs accounted for 32% of the total 992 confirmed cases. More worryingly, such incidents had increased by 33% compared to 2013. In Singapore, ergonomic health issues were found to cost the republic a mammoth SGD$3.5 billion a year. But industry workers aren’t the only victims of WRMSDs, and Singapore, a country whose service sector drives its economy, is a good example to illustrate this point. A recent study conducted by the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) with a sample of 324 office workers found that 73.4% reported experiencing pain in at least one area of their bodies with neck (46%), shoulder (42%) and lower back (42%) pain being the leading ailments. (continued on page 25) 23 feature article 24 SAFETY MATTERS / Singapore Institution of Safety Officers ADVERTORIAL 3M Anti-Fatigue Mats: An Ergonomic Solution in THe Workplace (continued from page 23) The study also revealed that there was a higher occurrence of MSDs among females (78.8%) compared to males (63.9%). Several workplace risk factors such as force, cold temperatures, repetition, contact stress, vibration and, more notably, static or awkward postures have been identified by OSHA to cause WRMSDs. At the same time, the group also learnt that good ergonomics is a vital solution to reducing cases of WRMSDs among workers. ODs such as WRMSDs can be mitigated by implementing simple ergonomic measures in the workplace. An Ergonomic Solution: 3M Anti-Fatigue Mats While providing employees with shoes with well-cushioned insteps and insoles is one way of reducing the frequency of ODs, 3M has found that the use of antifatigue matting within office and industry environments offers a more ergonomic and safe alternative. 3M Anti-Fatigue Mats enable workers to stand comfortably for long periods while minimizing fatigue associated with working while standing. These mats are based on two technologies: The first technology utilizes a “coiled spring” polymeric construction that compresses uniformly and continually to provide greater comfort and less fatigue for workers who must walk as well as stand while performing their duties. Such a design results in a stable surface that gently responds to surface activity. Coil-spring antifatigue mats are ideal for light industrial and light-to-medium commercial applications. The second technology utilizes an integrated “Z” polymeric closed cell foam design. It provides independent support across the bottom of the foot to keep the foot cushioned and stabilized while standing. This phenomenon is similar to air-filled tires and independent suspension on automobiles that provide a cushioned yet stable ride. These mats are ideal for damp areas such as kitchens or cleaning areas as its design allows liquids to pass through easily. In a physiological study that required 10 healthy subjects to stand for up to four hours, both versions of the 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mats reduced overall fatigue and extended their SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 duration of standing by 40% to 85% as compared to standing on hard floor. The test subjects also enjoyed better retention of ability to perform routine computer scanning tasks for longer periods of time. Altogether, both versions of 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mats offered a secure, stable footing and a more comfortable physical and mental working experience. Standing on Hard Floor Standing on 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mat This provides increased traction in wet areas. Be it industrial or office environments, there are various applications for 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mats. They include dry work areas where workers at assembly lines, packing areas, security posts and front desk are typically required to stand for prolonged periods of time. Anti-Fatigue Mats are also ideal in bakeries, pantries, restaurant kitchens, bathrooms and swimming pools in which its sold grease and oil resistant vinyl Z-web construction allows ease of maintenance and provides an anti-slip benefit, on top of reduced fatigue. The Benefits On top of reduced fatigue, 3M™ AntiFatigue Mats also feature a range of benefits that include: Impact absorption: Whether on the factory floor or in the office, the human body is consistently subject to impact from walking or carrying loads. These forces of impact lead to cartilage damage in joints and over time, result in degenerative joint disease. Fortunately, lab tests have proven that 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mats addresses these workplace risk factors by distributing and reducing pressure from standing by 60%. The mat’s softness also promotes walking stability and conserves energy, as it cushions impact while walking and returns energy to the foot while striding. An ‘egg drop’ test was conducted at hip height to demonstrate the mat’s ability to absorb the impact of the drop, and spring the egg back up intact. This also means that the mat is able to reduce damage to falling goods. Durable cushioning: The 3M™ AntiFatigue Mats are also able to retain their strength and cushioning properties after extended use. Over a course of two years, the tensile strength and compression displacement of the mat experienced only a 6% and 3% reduction respectively. Reducing incidents of slips, trips and falls: 3M™ Anti-Fatigue Mats feature excellent slip resistance and was awarded an ASTM D-1894 standard, a standard issued by ASTM International that measures the frictional properties of a material. Additionally, mats that utilize the integrated “Z” polymeric closed cell foam design allow liquids and small debris to fall and flow through. 3M™ Safety-Walk™ Cushion Matting 3270 Textured solid top surface, anti-fatigue cushion mat. 3M™ Safety-Walk™ Cushion Matting 5100 Unbacked, vinyl Z web cushion mat. In summary, workers have known for years that their workplace is a source of risk to injury and they have also known their workplace can hold the key to reducing that risk. Employers need to respond to their workers’ concerns, but also be proactive and reduce the risks of WRMSDs before it becomes a source of injury. Government, independent researchers and 3M all agree: Musculoskeletal disorders’ impact doesn’t end with the worker; the impact is felt on the employer’s bottom line, and is reflected in billions of dollars of workers’ compensation costs for the country as a whole. With the development and implementation of WSH guidelines and ergonomics standards, workers and employers all serve to benefit by addressing MSDs proactively. (Footnotes) 1 CDC/NIOSH Ergonomics and MSS Fact Sheet 1997 2 WSH Guidelines_Improving Ergonomics in the Workplace January 2014 3 The Biomechanical Basis of Ergonomics, E.R. Ticjauer, Wiley-Interscience, New York 1978 4 WSH Institute, Workplace Safety and Health Report 2014 5http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news singapore/story/ergonomics-problems-cost- singapore- 35-billion-year-20140327?itemid=969 6http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/ HealthatWork/Pages/Musculoskeletal-Disorders- Body-Aches-and-Pains-Common-in-Office-Workers. aspx 25 REPORTS SAFETY MATTERS / Singapore Institution of Safety Officers NETS’ Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has developed a comprehensive guide to road safety for employers with large or small fleets and new, developing, or advanced road safety programmes in US. Companies and organisations interested to learn the road safety programmes for their operations may refer to this guide as an additional resource. NETS categorises road-safety management requirements into four areas: (i) road-safety management system (ii) driver and passenger requirements (iii) journey management requirements, and (iv) vehicle requirements. The guide provides a template covering elements in the four areas that are critical in developing, implementing and sustaining a road safety initiative, and includes references to model policies, best practices and implementation tips which can be adapted for use. Additionally, it can be used as an audit and benchmarking tool to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement to advance road safety. Register for Learning & Sharing Session: “Role of Human Error in Process Safety” In this session, participants will have an understanding on how human error leads to accidents through learning from real case studies in the chemical industry. Date: 28 July 2015 (Tuesday) Time: 2.30pm – 5.00pm Venue: Singapore Chemical Industry Council 8 Jurong Town Hall Road #25-04, The JTC Summit Singapore 609434 To register or for more information, please visit www.wshc.sg For more information, please visit www.wshc.sg SISo’s Participation at the U SAFE Awards 2015 Michael Teo Administrator [email protected] The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) and Devan Nair Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), in partnership with the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, organised the inaugural U SAFE Award on 28 April 2015 for unionised companies and individuals who have contributed towards achieving excellence in workplace safety and health. Through this award, the Labour Movement hopes to encourage more organisations to take on initiatives in heightening the importance of workplace safety and health practices within the organisation, and empowering workers with the skills and knowledge to initiate and implement good practices in their areas of work. Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO) participated in the U Safe Awards Exhibition Area with the aim of recruiting new SISO members as well as to support NTUC’s efforts in promoting workplace safety and health. 28 We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following Individual Star Award winners and the eight corporate Sparks Awards winners: Commendation Award (Cluster) Oil, Petrochemical, Energy and Chemical (OPEC) cluster Spark Award (Corporate) 1. ABB Pte Ltd 2. Damen Shipyards Singapore Pte Ltd 3. Keppel DHCS Pte Ltd 4. Makino Asia Pte Ltd 5. MediaCorp Pte Ltd 6. Natsteel Holdings Pte Ltd 7. Sembwaste Pte Ltd 8. Senoko Energy Pte Ltd Star Award (Individual) 1. Mr Chan Hien Wah, Group Director, Housing Management Group Housing Development Board 2. Mr Goh Lai Leong, Operations Manager, Ramky Cleantech Services Pte Ltd 3. Mr Lim Chee Khian, Supervisor, DDW Paxocean Shipyard 4. Mr Mohd Ismail Bin Meerasah, Senior Technician, Panasonic Industrial Devices Materials Singapore Pte Ltd 5. Ms Thanakodi d/o Gangatharan, Branch Chairperson, TCG Rengo (S) Ltd Attendees enjoying their networking lunch at the exhibition Mr Chan Chun Sing with the award recipients FEATURE ARTICLE SAFETY MATTERS / Issue 02/2015 WICA Clinic T he Work Injury Compensation department assesses claims for compensation to employees who have suffered work-related injury, death or occupational disease under the Work Injury Compensation Act. Among other things, it also administers the incident reporting system, dispute resolution for injured employees and employers and carries out outreach activities to promote awareness of work injury compensation rights and responsibilities. In this 2nd instalment of our four-part Q&A series to address commonly encountered queries on work injury compensation issues, you will learn which party bears the burden of proof to show injury is work-related, the differences between WICA and common law, and work injury compensation insurance (WICI). 1. An employee returns to work on Monday morning and reports that he injured his left toe last Friday before the shift ended. He claims that he thought that it was fine and did not take off his shoes to examine the toe, and also did not report to his supervisor immediately. • Theemployeevisitedadoctoron Saturday and was given 2 days medical leave plus 2 more days on Monday. • Investigationscouldnotconfirmthatthe employee was injured at the workplace or that there was a witness. • Theemployeewasawarethatany accident must be reported to his supervisor immediately, but did not do so as he claimed that it was at the end of the shift and he did not want to miss the company bus. Who is responsible to prove that the accident occurred in the course of work? If the employer disputes the accident was work-related, does he still have to submit incident report to MoM? The worker is responsible to prove that his injury was caused by a work-related accident. If the employer disputes the accident, the employer should inform the employee to submit report online. The employer can follow up with a letter / email to MOM at [email protected] to explain why it is not making the iReport. At the same time, it should inform its insurer(s) about this matter, via the insurers’ own notification mechanism, not through our iReport. The Ministry will then carry out the necessary investigations. 2. Can an injured employee file a claim under the WICA and at the same time sue his employer under Common Law for compensation or damages arising from the injury? An injured employee can claim from either WICA or common law but not both. The timeline to file a claim under WICA is one year from the date of accident. If an employee wishes to claim compensation under WICA, he only needs to show that his injury arose out of and in the course of employment. His employer (or employer’s insurer) is liable to pay the compensation regardless of who caused the accident / disease, and even after the employee has left the company. Alternatively, an employee may file a civil suit under common law for damages. To succeed, he will need to prove that there is negligence by the employer or a third party. The compensation amount is not fixed but he will also have to justify the amount of damages before the Courts. 3. Who are required to be insured under the Act? Every employer must purchase insurance to cover his liabilities under WICA for his employees who are (i) doing manual work, regardless of salary; or (ii) doing non-manual work earning $1,600 or less per month. It is not mandatory for employers to maintain insurance for non-manual employees earning more than $1,600 a month. Nonetheless, employers will be required to pay compensation in the event of a valid claim, even if they do not buy insurance. As such, employers can decide whether or not to buy insurance for this Source: Ministry of Manpower Workwise Website. group of employees, after weighing their risks with the cost of insurance premiums. 4. An employee is injured at work. What is the liability of the employer’s insurer when there are multiple insurance policies? When there are multiple WIC insurance policies in place, the employer’s insurance policy will first be used to satisfy a claim. This helps ensure timely receipt of compensation by the injured employee. A third party’s insurance policy can be allowed to pay the compensation if they convey in writing to MOM its intent to pay compensation on behalf of the employer’s insurer, before the notice of assessment is issued. 5. Incident Reporting is required for work-related traffic accidents. Should the insurance claim fall under Work Injury Compensation Insurance or one’s personal motor insurance? The injured employee can seek reimbursement for his medical expenses once. No double claim is allowed. He can consider the different benefits under the different insurance policies and seek his insurance agent or legal advice before making an informed decision. For more information on WICA, please visit our website at http://www.mom.gov.sg/wic. 31 REPORTS SAFETY MATTERS / Singapore Institution of Safety Officers Construction Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Leadership Summit 2015: SISo is one of ten Construction Industry Association Leaders at the Summit Michael Teo Administrator [email protected] The Construction Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Leadership Summit 2015 was held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on 7 July 2015. More than 300 participants involved with the Construction industry attended the Summit. As one of the highlights of the Summit, 10 Construction industry association leaders, including Mr Seet Choh San, President of SISO, gathered on stage and reaffirmed their commitment to reduce the workplace fatality rate in the industry to less than 1.8 per 100,000 workers by 2018. This requires a reduction of the workplace fatality rate by 25% every year for next three years. To achieve Vision Zero, the industry has put together a set of WSH action plans towards achieving better WSH performance in the Built Environment. The action plans will focus on six areas spanning the life cycle of construction projects, namely leadership, procurement, Design for Safety (DfS), training, WSH culture, and WSH practices. be mandatory for projects of contract value of SG$10 million and above. Second, to support the implementation of DfS, MOM will work with the industry to train 1,000 DfS professionals by 2018 and review existing DfS courses. Third, MOM will be piloting the Developer & Designer Early Engagement (D2E2) programme on engaging developers and designers earlier to achieve better WSH outcomes. Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower emphasised that Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be supporting the action plans with initiatives to help the industry. First, the WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations will be gazetted by August 2015 and will come into effect a year later. The Regulations will outline the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved in construction projects and will MEMBERSHIP Welcome New Members PROFESSIONAL Quek Qiuhui APAC EHS Manager CapRock Communications Pte Ltd Subramanian Pasupathi Training Manager Active Synergy Training & Consultancy Pte Ltd Jeyavarthna S/o Subramaniam Senior EHS Engineer GE Healthcare Bioproduction Pte Ltd ong Zi Xin Safety Manager To Reach Enterprises Pte Ltd Gopal Subramanian Sr. QEHS Consultant Greensafe International Pte Ltd Tan Ah Hin Thomas Deputy Site Manager Mun Siong Enginerring Limited See Chiau Khean HSE Officer Keppel Fels Limited Razak Bin Alias WSHO Safety@Work Consultancy Pte Ltd Murgeiyah S/o Subramaniam NSH Safety Officer Newcon Builders Pte Ltd ASSOCIATE Ting Yin Yih Manager Changi Airport Group (S) Pte Ltd Tai Yee Fong Safety Manager (Innovation) Alexandra Health 32 UPGRADE TO PROFESSIONAL Jayavarma S/o Subramaniam Senior EHS Engineer STATSCHIPPAC Ltd Lim Choon Meng HSEQ Manager Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide Veeramuthu Balakrishnan WSH Coordinator Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd Navaneetha Krishnan Rammohan Associate Director Beca Carter Holdings & Ferner Ltd Maasi Chandrasekar HSSE Advisor Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd COMPANY Vanathaiyan Charles Lee Mun Ching Daniel Operations Manager Maintenance Greenmark Construction Executive Pte Ltd Dorma Far East Pte Ltd Maasi Chandrasekar HSSE Advisor Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd Nagarajan Senguttuvan HSE-Head Siemens Pte Ltd UVEX Safety Singapore Pte Ltd Swift Logistics & Heavy Vehicles Pte Ltd NTUC Learninghub Pte Ltd Flexi Industrial Safety Training Pte Ltd