Work at Heights Symposium 2023

Held on 21 February 2023, the Work at Heights Symposium 2023 highlighted best practices and emerging trends affecting the future of work at height.  Participants also learnt how to mitigate work at height risks through process improvement and technology adoption.

In his opening address, Mr Abu Bakar Mohd Nor, Chairman of the WSH Council (National Work at Heights Safety) Taskforce, shared on Singapore’s work at height performance. He expressed grave concern over falls from ladders and falls from roofs – the former having been consistently one of the top contributors to fatal falls over the years, and the latter having new cases last year when there were none from 2019 to 2021. 

Amongst the new initiatives announced by Mr Abu Bakar were the formation of a Ladder Safety Work Group to look into the safe use of ladders at workplaces, and the release of a new set of roof safety infokit to guide workers on working safely on roofs.

The Symposium also showcased various exhibits for participants to gain insights on good practices, such as the correct usage of portable ladders and tips for inspecting ladders. Other exhibits included virtual reality technology used in training for workers to better understand work at height safety, a display of roofing systems and work at height personal protective equipment, fall protection, and fall prevention systems. 

Find out more about work at height resources below:

1)Roof Safety Kit

2)Animated Video on Worker Falling Through Skylight

3)Work at height resources for Managers, Supervisors & WSHOs

4)Work at height resources for Workers

Ubi Audi Service Centre Explosion

SINGAPORE: A person was taken to hospital and about 100 people were evacuated after an explosion at the Audi service centre in Ubi on Tuesday (Mar 7).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force was called to 55 Ubi Road 1 at about 8.55am after the explosion caused a section of the wall at the side of the building to collapse. A person was taken to Raffles Hospital after sustaining a fall in the area, and there were no other reported injuries.

An Audi spokesperson said that the building has been closed off to facilitate ongoing investigations.

The service centre will also remain shut until further notice.

"Audi Singapore is working with the relevant authorities to identify the cause," added the spokesperson.

Workers’ Dormitory Application Approval

Safety Considerations for Workers’ Dormitories

For companies planning to handle/store hazardous substances and flammable materials, agencies (SCDF, NEA) may require a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) study to be carried out. Based on the QRA study, Health & Safety (H&S) buffer may be generated based on the projected consequence of potential fire, explosion and/or release of toxic gases from the said company.

 

Due to safety reasons, agencies (SCDF, NEA, MOM, JTC, URA) do not allow workers’ dormitories to be sited within existing H&S buffer because workers may not be in a state of alertness at night (e.g. sleeping) to carry out the necessary protective actions such as evacuation or In-Place-Protection (IPP), when a major incident occurs.

 

For applications that are not supported due to H&S buffer, applicant is advised to look for alternative accommodation for your workers at other locations. You may refer to MOM’s website on Housing for Foreign Workers for more information on the various types of housing available such as secondary Factory Converted Dormitories (FCDs) and Purpose Built Dormitories (PBDs).

 

SCDF’s Application Flow Chart for Workers’ Dormitory

 

 

To seek SCDF’s approval on the Health & Safety (H&S) buffer, please email to SCDF_Landuse@scdf.gov.sg

 

Click on the links to find out more on SCDF’s Plan Approval and Fire Safety Certificate.

Various types of housing and their specific requirements

There are various types of housing that your foreign employees can live in, each with its own set of requirements. Employers must carry out due diligence to ensure these requirements are met. Employers who fail to do so may be prosecuted, and disallowed to hire foreign employees.

Announcement of New Dormitory Standards

The new dormitory standards aim to strengthen resilience against future pandemics and improve living conditions of migrant workers.

• It applies to all new dormitories, including:
• Purpose-Built Dormitories (PBDs)
• Factory-Converted Dormitories (FCDs)
• Construction Temporary Quarters (CTQs)
• Temporary Occupation Licence Quarters (TOLQs)

Which dormitories must comply with the new dormitory standards?

For	The dormitory
Existing or upcoming dormitories approved before 18 September 2021	Can continue to operate based on past approved standards until further plans are announced by MOM. We are also working with various stakeholders to review the improvements that are feasible within current built infrastructure constraints. To convert to the new dormitory standards, you can apply to relevant agencies to seek approval. Dormitories must meet all requirements under the new dormitory standards to be granted approval for the conversion.
New dormitories that have applied to relevant agencies for approval on or after 18 Sep 2021	Must comply with the new dormitory standards.

Purpose-Built Dormitories (PBDs)

What are PBDs	PBDs are specially designed and built with features to meet the needs of foreign employees: Amenities, e.g. minimarts, dedicated cooking areas, etc. Services, e.g. laundry, remittance, etc. Recreational facilities, e.g. gym, outdoor games courts, etc.
Allowed to house	All foreign employees.

We highly recommend you to:

• Sign a written tenancy agreement with the dormitory operator.
• Provide ways for employees to highlight problems with the housing to the dormitory operator, and work with the dormitory operator to rectify them.

Factory-Converted Dormitories (FCDs)

What are FCDs	Industrial or warehouse developments which have been partially converted to dormitories.
Types of FCDs allowed	Ancillary FCDs: Houses workers employed by the owner or lessee of the factory or sub-contractors’ workers (whether workers are working on site at the factory or off-site) or workers who work on site at the factory. Single employer-operated secondary FCDs (i.e. new secondary FCDs set up on 22 Jun 2020 or later): Houses employer’s own workers or sub-contractors’ workers (whether workers are working on site at the factory or off-site). The employer should not be the owner or lessee of the factory.
Maximum permissible occupancy	300 Appeals for higher permissible occupancy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To appeal, provide these information: Need for higher permissible occupancy. Alternative housing types have been considered. Mitigating measures that will be implemented to ensure workers’ security and provision of adequate on-site amenities.

Construction Temporary Quarters (CTQ). Standalone Temporary Quarter

What are Standalone Temporary Quarters	Any structure used for housing employees within a construction site that will eventually be demolished or removed.
Allowed to house	Construction sector foreign employees working at that particular construction project
Maximum permissible occupancy	300 Appeals for higher permissible occupancy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To appeal, provide these information: Need for higher permissible occupancy. Alternative housing types have been considered. Mitigating measures that will be implemented to ensure workers’ security and provision of adequate on-site amenities.

CTQs already in operation before 22 June 2020 can retain your existing occupancy load (including those exceeding 300 workers) until further notice

Construction Temporary Quarters (CTQ). Quarters in Uncompleted Permanent Building

What are quarters in uncompleted permanent building	They are parts of buildings still under construction that are used for employees’ quarters.
Allowed to house	Construction sector foreign employees working at that particular construction project.
Maximum permissible occupancy	300 Up to 6 persons in residential units under construction. Appeals for higher permissible occupancy will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To appeal, provide these information: Need for higher permissible occupancy. Alternative housing types have been considered. Mitigating measures that will be implemented to ensure workers’ security and provision of adequate on-site amenities.

CTQs already in operation before 22 June 2020 can retain your existing occupancy load (including those exceeding 300 workers) until further notice

To learn more on MOM various types of housing and their specific requirements , click here

To download URA Revised Guidelines for temporary worker's dormitories within industrial or warehouse developments, click here

Singapore Coid19 Control Order Extension

Singapore extends COVID-19 control order laws for a year to combat possible new variants

The Ministry of Health is reviewing the Infectious Diseases Act and aims to table amendments to it in the second half of this year.

SINGAPORE: Control orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were extended for a year for the final time on Monday (Mar 6), allowing the authorities to react quickly to new and dangerous variants if they emerge.

Parliament passed amendments to the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 in order to extend the validity of Part 7 of the Act, which gives the Government powers to make regulations in order to prevent, protect against, delay, or otherwise control the coronavirus here.

This includes movement restrictions such as the “circuit breaker” that was in place from April to June 2020.

On Monday, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary told the House that while Singapore now treats the coronavirus as endemic, people “must not take the current situation as a given or be complacent”.

Last month, the nation stepped down its disease alert to the lowest level since the pandemic started and lifted the final legal requirements for COVID-19 community measures - namely, the wearing of face masks on public transport as well as in indoor healthcare and residential care settings.

Dr Janil cautioned: “There is still uncertainty as to how COVID-19 will develop globally. The virus continues to circulate and will continue to mutate.

“We cannot rule out the possible emergence of new variants that can cause infection waves and strain our healthcare resources.”

He noted that the health ministry is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation and the evolution of the virus through its international networks and local surveillance, in order to pick up early signals of new variants that could be more transmissible or cause more severe disease.

Should such variants pop up, Singapore must continue having the necessary tools to take appropriate prevention and control measures, Dr Janil added.

“We should therefore continue to provide in our statutes the ability to implement measures used during the pandemic,” he said.

“This extension will continue to allow targeted public health measures to be implemented for the purposes of preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19, so that we can react swiftly to new and dangerous COVID-19 variants should they emerge.”

Dr Janil added that the Ministry of Health had begun a review to enhance the Infectious Diseases Act (IDA) - Singapore’s main legislation to control and prevent infectious diseases - and aims to table amendments to it in the second half of this year.

The ministry’s review includes incorporating provisions under Part 7 of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act into the IDA, so that the latter legislation “is more robust and affords us the agility to be able to cater to different situations”.

Dr Janil said: “Now that we are heading into an endemic COVID-19 new normal and are at DORSCON Green, we should work towards stepping down Part 7 … and rely on the IDA to manage new variants of concern or new pandemics."

If amendments to the IDA are passed, Part 7 of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act will be revoked.

Misuse of Antibiotics -Health Risks

Misuse of Antibiotics puts you at risk.

When used inappropriately, it can result in serious infections, longer recovery time, and loss of effectiveness for future treatments, due to infections becoming antibiotic-resistant. Follow your doctor's advice.

Antibiotics are used to prevent or treat bacterial infections only. They DO NOT work on viral infections such as flu or the common cold.

When are antibiotics required?

What you should do:

Common side effects of antibiotics

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi) found in people, animals, food and the environment develop resistance and no longer respond to medication designed to kill them.

As a result, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, making infections

increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

AMR is one of the world’s most urgent public health problems, as it can affect people at any stage of life, as well as the healthcare, veterinary, and agriculture industries.

How does AMR spread?

Learn how you can protect yourself and your loved ones against AMR here

Preventing antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance

To learn more check out Singapore Health Promotion Board Website for more.

Logistics Industry Transformation Map

About

Aligned to the Logistics Industry Transformation Map (ITM), the Logistics Industry Digital Plan (IDP) is part of the SMEs Go Digital programme which aims to make going digital simple for SMEs. The Logistics IDP provides an step-by-step guide on the digital solutions SMEs can adopt at each stage of their growth. The first Logistics IDP was launched in 2017.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), in partnership with Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the industry, has jointly refreshed the Logistics IDP, to introduce new solutions that meet the current and anticipated future needs of companies in the Logistics industry. A new Digital Training Roadmap helps SMEs identify relevant training programmes to upskill their workers as their businesses transform digitally. The IDP will continue to be updated over time as the industry progresses and newer, more relevant technologies are introduced.

Who is it for
Local SMEs within the Logistics industry, as well as SMEs providing support services in the Air Transport industry.

Benefits

The IDP provides a step-by-step guide on the digital solutions to adopt at each stage of your growth. For a start, you can use the IDP to find out if your business is digital-ready.

Digital Roadmap
You can refer to the Digital Roadmap of the IDP, as a guide to assess your digital readiness and identify opportunities for going digital and training to raise employees’ digital skills.

Download

Logistics IDP (3.89MB)

Logistics IDP Factsheet (367.51KB)

Understand Your Digital Readiness

Digital and Business Consultancy

• Digital Consultants

Use the Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service to request for digital consultancy and project management services. Check your digital readiness and receive recommendations on digital solutions that best meet your business needs.

• Business Advisors

Book an appointment with the SME Centre if you require business advice.

Pre-approved Solutions with Grant Support

The Logistics IDP outlines the digital solutions that companies can adopt at each stage of their growth to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive business growth.

Eligible SMEs can receive funding support from the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) or other relevant grants on the Business Grants Portal to implement digital solutions in the Logistics IDP.

Feedback
Send us your feedback on the IDPs, in this form (270.54KB) (best viewed in Microsoft Word) to info@imda.gov.sg.

First Half 2022 National WSH Statistics

 1) Higher workplace fatality rate in first half 2022, but with reduction in major and minor injury rate

• In the first half of 2022 (1H 2022), there were 28 workplace fatalities, bringing the 6-month fatality rate per 100,000 workers to 0.8. This was higher than in 2H 2021 (0.4) and 1H 2021 (0.7). 

• The 6-month major injury rate in 1H 2022 was 8.7 per 100,000 workers, lower than that in 2H 2021 (8.9) and 1H 2021 (9.6). Nonetheless, when annualised, the rate for 1H 2022 was 17.4, which is still significantly higher than the target of less than 12.0 to be achieved by 2028. 

• Similarly, the 6-month minor injury rate in 1H 2022 was 296 per 100,000 workers – a decline from that in 2H 2021 (322) and 1H 2021 (331).

• To arrest the spate of fatalities, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) introduced a series of new and targeted measures and called for a six-month period of Heightened Safety from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023.

2) Construction was the biggest contributor for both fatalities and major injuries

• The construction industry saw 10 fatalities and 84 major injuries in 1H 2022, accounting for more than a third of fatalities (36%) and more than a quarter of major injuries (28%) in 1H 2022.

• MOM has stepped up enforcement efforts in the construction industry. From January 2022 to mid-September 2022, 63 Stop Work Orders were issued to worksites in the construction industry with unsafe conditions and practices that posed imminent danger to the workers.

• To further raise safety standards, MOM has also announced the introduction of harmonised disqualification criteria across public sector construction tenders from 1 October 2022. Additionally, MOM will impose demerit points more readily on companies with Workplace Safety and Health Act breaches.

3) Worrying rise in vehicular-related fatal accidents 

• The number of vehicular-related fatal accidents has been rising over the last one and a half years. There were 7 in 1H 2022, 5 in 2H 2021, and 6 in 1H 2021.

• The recent mandatory Safety Time-Out from 1 to 15 September 2022 focused on industries with a higher number of fatalities (Construction, Manufacturing, Marine, Process and Transport & Storage) as well as companies in other industries that use heavy or industrial vehicles. They were required to review their safety procedures, or face debarment from employing new foreign employees for one month if found to be non-compliant. 

4) Number of Dangerous Occurrences Rose

• The number of dangerous occurrences, which are incidents with a high potential for multiple casualties, more than doubled from 6 in 2H 2021 to 13 in 1H 2022, the highest in the past three years. 

• Of the 13 cases in 1H 2022, 9 occurrences were due to collapse or failure of structures and equipment, mostly from the construction industry.

5) Building Safer Workplaces is a Shared Responsibility

• The WSH Council and MOM urge all employers and supervisors to take safety leadership and prioritise the safety of their workers. All workers must follow safe work procedures, watch out for unsafe workplace practices, and alert their supervisors or the MOM to such safety lapses. 

Singapore 6th Workplace Fatality 2023

Construction worker dies after falling from roof; 6th workplace fatality this year

SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old construction worker died after falling from a height of 4m while conducting waterproofing work on a roof, making him the sixth workplace fatality reported this year.

The accident occurred at about 9am at 2 Marsiling Lane on Feb 26, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Friday (Mar 3). 

The man was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. 

MOM said it is investigating the accident and has issued a full stop-work order on the worker's employer Guan Teck Construction 2000, which is also the occupier of the building. 

Lapses in the company's safety practices were also found. 

"The company will be debarred from hiring new foreign workers for three months, and its management and safety personnel will have to personally account for the accident to MOM," the ministry said.  

MOM added further action may be taken depending on the conclusion of the full investigation. 

"We will continue to take strong action against companies who fail to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the safety of their workers," said MOM. 

When working at height, companies must ensure that adequate fall prevention measures are implemented. Workers must also be provided with adequate training and proper instructions, as well as equipped with appropriate equipment to prevent falls, the Manpower Ministry said. 

Last month, MOM extended the heightened safety period imposed on companies in higher-risk industries by three months from Mar 1 until the end of May, with additional measures such as higher penalties for workplace safety breaches. 

The heightened safety period was introduced in September 2022 for six months to address the "concerning rise" in workplace fatalities.

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FINED S$200,000

Another construction company was fined S$200,000 on Feb 24 under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), said MOM in a separate statement on Friday. 

The company, Startly Construction, had failed to ensure safe work procedures to mitigate risks for workers using a scaffold, which led to the death of one worker. 

The worker, Mr Macha Duang, and his colleague were performing patching works inside a circular drainage pipe 6.5m below ground on Jul 23, 2019. 

The two workers had to manoeuvre a 600kg mobile tower scaffold inside the drain, including across areas where the floor level was uneven. 

"As proper ramps were not provided, Duang and his co-worker used an improvised ramp," said the Manpower Ministry. 

The two men decided to push the scaffold on their own in a breadthwise direction, which carried the risk of the structure toppling towards them. 

MOM said while the workers were aware that the safer method was to move the structure in a lengthwise direction, with at least five employees involved in the process, this method was neither written down nor enforced by Startly Construction. 

While the scaffold was being pushed by the two workers, it toppled backwards and collapsed on Mr Duang, who was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic. His colleague managed to move away.

MOM's investigations found that the company had failed to properly consider the risks from the use of the scaffold by its employees to carry out work at heights. 

It also failed to provide a suitable ramp to move the scaffold up the steps, as well as develop and implement safe work procedures for employees moving the scaffold, said the ministry. 

"Under the WSHA, employers are required to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety and health of their employees at work."

This means that the employer must assess the risks associated with the work, establish safe work procedures, and communicate them to workers so that they are aware of the risks and the precautions to guard against those risks, MOM added. 

"In this case, Startly Construction had failed to establish safe work procedures to mitigate risks, which led to tragic consequences." 

The Manpower Ministry said it will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant employers for safety lapses. Employers and responsible persons will also be prosecuted if wrongdoing is found

Laws Administered by the NEA

Legislation on this website is reproduced in accordance with permission granted by the Government of Singapore. Acts of Parliament are available without charge, and updated monthly, at the Singapore Statutes Online Website.

The Government of Singapore and NEA hereby disclaim responsibility for the accuracy or currency of the materials contained in these documents. No claim for damages, actual anticipated or consequential, economic or otherwise, will be entertained.

The legally qualified user should not rely on this legislation to render legal advice. The non-legally qualified user should seek qualified legal advice if he has a specific matter which requires interpretation of this legislation.

• Carbon Pricing Act 2018

• Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998

• Energy Conservation Act 2012

• Environmental Protection and Management Act 1999 

• Environmental Public Health Act 1987

• Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act 1997

• Hydrogen Cyanide (Fumigation) Act 1947 

• Infectious Diseases Act 1976 (Part V)

• National Environment Agency Act 2002

• Radiation Protection Act 2007

• Resource Sustainability Act 2019

• Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act 1992

• Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014

Prescribed Notice To Attend Court Forms

Control of Vectors And Pesticides (Prescribed Form) Regulations

• Form A
• Form B
• Form C

Environmental Public Health (Notice To Attend Court) Regulations

• Form A
  
• Form B
  
• Form C

Useful Links

• Singapore Statutes Online
• Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)