WHY A BUSINESS NEED AN OSH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ?

WHY A BUSINESS NEED AN OSH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM  ?

In business organisations, the basic difference between safety and health management and other aspect of management is that it generally does not seem to be part of organisation. People have a variety of reasons and motivations to begin and continue their business without proper consideration for safety and health. However, a well managed and successful organisation normally have a better safety and health performance and accident record. Therefore, the way safety and health is managed can be used as a yardstick of an efficient business.

Heinrich who is known as father of safety management considered accident as partial failure of the safety management. According to the DOMINO THEORY of accident causation model, Management lack of control is the main element that contribute to the domino effect in the event of an accident. Therefore preventing accident by proper management of Safety and Health will also prevent failure of the management in their duties.

In Piper Alpha Fire Tragedy, Lord Cullen stated in his report:-                               

    “ The Safety Management System should set out the safety objective….          the system by which these objectives are to be achieved, and the performance standards which are to be met and the means by which adherence to the standard is to be monitored “

The approach of Quality Management Model sometimes called “Deming Model” or “PDCA” is a complete loop system. This will ensure that the standard or quality will be achieved and the effectiveness of the management system is well monitored and improved continuously within the system.

Development Of Workplace Safety And Health Management System

The Workplace Safety and Health Management System Regulations 2009 took into effect from 1 March 2010. Under the law, it is mandatory for the following workplaces to implement Safety and Health Management Systems

-Construction worksites

-Shipyards

-Factories engaged in the manufacture of semiconductor wafers

-Factories engaged in the manufacture of fabricated metal products, machinery or equipment (with more than 100 employees)

-Factories engaged in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products or their intermediates

-Factories engaged in the processing or manufacturing of petroleum, petroleum products,
-petrochemicals or petrochemical products;

-Any factory engaged in the manufacturing of fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride or carbon
monoxide; and synthetic polymers

-Any premises where the bulk storage of toxic or flammable liquid is carried on by way of trade
or for the purpose of gain and which has a storage capacity of 5,000 or more cubic metres

Any occupier of a workplace who contravenes the regulation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000, and if the contravention in respect of  which he was so convicted continues after the conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.

Workplace Safety and Health Management System ( WSHMS)  is widely used in the shipyards, construction worksites, semiconductor wafers factories, manufacturing of petroleum ,petroleum products, petrochemical products, fabricated metal products and machinery or equipment. 

The WSHMS consists of 14 elements  as follows:-

1)Safety Policy
2)Safe work practices

3)Safety training
4)Group meetings

5)Incident investigation and analysis

6n-house safety rules & regulations

7)Safety Promotion

8)Evaluation, selection & control of contractors
9)Safety inspections

10)Maintenance Regime
11)Risk assessment

12)Control of movement & use of hazardous chemicals

13)Occupational Health Programmes

14)Emergency preparedness

Toolbox Topic :Harmful Effect Of Alcohol

Toolbox Topic :Buckle Up For Safety

Toolbox Topic :Ergonormic Hazards

Toolbox Topic :Hazards Of Shade

Toolbox Topic :Hands Arms Vibration Symptoms

Toolbox Topic :Hazardous Paint

Registration Of Lifting Equipment

The following types of lifting equipment must be registered with MOM:

• Lifts and hoists
• Lifting machines: any crane, crab, winch, teagle, runway, transporter, piling frame or piling machine and any work platform or suspended scaffold capable of being raised or lowered by climbers, winches or other powered devices
• Lifting appliances: pulley blocks, gin wheels, chain blocks or set of chain blocks
• Lifting gear: any chain, rope, chain sling, webbing sling, rope sling, ring, hook, shackle, swivel or eyebolt; and any cage or work platform used for carrying persons while suspended from a crane's load line

Lifting equipment can only be registered by Authorised Examiners, who are authorised to do the following:

• Conduct the necessary tests and examinations
• Issue the examination report
• Register the lifting equipment on their behalf

Lifting Equipment Registration Services

Register / Re-register / Transfer Lifting Equipment	Log in to iOSH
Submit Lifting Equipment Examination Report	Log in to iOSH
Submit Lifting Equipment Repairs Report	Log in to iOSH
Amend Lifting Equipment Examination Report	Log in to iOSH
View Lifting Equipment Examination Certificate	Log in to iOSH
View Registered Lifting Equipment [New]	Log in to iOSH
View List of Workplace (For AE) [New]	Log in to iOSH
Lifting Equipment eServices User Guide

Note: SingPass is required to access iOSH.

Re-registration of Lifting Equipment

Lifting equipment must be re-registered when replaced, moved from the registered location, replaced, as well as when ownership changes.
Lifting equipment can only be re-registered by Authorised Examiner

• • 

 

Licensing For Equipment -Ministry Of Manpower,Singapore

Licensing for Equipment

Lifting Equipment

Lifting equipment such as cranes, lifts, hoists, and any cage or work platform used for carrying persons must be registered with the Occupational Safety and Health Division. Registration can only be conducted by an MOM Authorised Examiner  read more 

Pressure Vessels

Pressure vessels must be registered with the Occupational Safety and Health Division. They must be examined on a periodic basis by an Authorised Examiner. 

Licensing of Equipment Operators

Crane Contractors

Under the Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations, no person shall install, repair, alter or dismantle a mobile crane or tower crane unless he is an approved crane contractor in writing by the Commissioner. 

Crane Operators

Crane operators must pass relevant courses conducted by the Accredited Training Provider (ATP) before they can be licensed to operate a crane. The licence is renewable every two years. 

Crane Erectors

Approved crane erectors are required in the installation, alteration and dismantling of cranes. Contractors must deploy teams comprising approved crane erectors and sufficient crane assistants to set up and dismantle cranes safely. 

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Driver (1st Class, 2nd Class)

Individuals must be certified by MOM before they can operate an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Driver. To qualify as a 2nd Class ICE Driver, applicant must have at least 2 years relevant working experience as ICE Driver in charge of an internal combustion engine, as well as pass an oral examination conducted by MOM. To be a 1st Class ICE Driver, applicants must have at least 18 months relevant working experience after obtaining the 2nd Class certificate.

Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Engineer (1st Grade, 2nd Grade)

To be certified as a 2nd Grade ICE Engineer, applicants must have at least 12 months relevant experience in operational charge or as an assistant in operational charge of Internal Combustion Engines. They have to attend and pass the interview by the Board of Examiners. After 12 months of obtaining his 2nd Grade ICE Engineer certificate, an individual may apply to become a 1st Grade ICE Engineer.

Steam Boiler Attendant (1st Class, 2nd Class)

Applicant must have at least 2 years relevant working experience assisting in operational charge of a steam engine/steam boiler or hold a valid equivalent Certificate of Competency (COC) issued by a recognised authority. Holders of the 2nd Class certificate may apply to become a 1st Class boiler attendant after 18 months' relevant working experience.

Steam Engineer (1st Grade, 2nd Grade)

Applicants to become a 2nd Grade Steam Engineer must have at least 12 months relevant working experience assisting in operational charge of a steam engine or steam boiler. Applicants without the Engineering Knowledge II (2nd Grade) certificate awarded by Singapore Polytechnic has to attend and pass the interview by the Board of Examiners. Steam Engineers who have 12 months' relevant working experience after obtaining their 2nd Grade certificate can apply for a 1st Grade certificate.

Factory Registration & Notification

Factory Notification & Registration

Factory Notification

Factory owners are required to either notify or register their premises with MOM before operations begin. Factories with lower risk activities requires only a one-time notification to MOM before commencing operations. This notification is inclusive of a Risk Management (RM) Declaration with the Commissioner for WSH.

Factory Registration (Group A, Group B)

Factory owners are required to either notify or register their premises with MOM before operations begin. Factories with higher-risk activities are required to register with MOM before beginning operations, subject to renewals if they fall under certain categories.

One-time Factory Registration Scheme (Group A) 

One-time Factory Registration is applicable to the following classes of factories:

• Construction worksites
• Shipbuilding and ship-repairing yards
• Pharmaceutical plants
• Wafer fabrication plants
• Metalworking factories with 100 or more persons employed

New factories under Group A

New Factories under Group A are required to perform the following:

• Submit a new One-time Factory Registration to the Commissioner
• Declare that factory has implemented Risk Management (RM) at the point of registration 
• Conduct Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) Audit within two months from the commencement of operations.
• A Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) Audit/Internal Review must be conducted and submitted to MOM via the Online Business Licensing Services (OBLS) update function within two months of the issuance of the Certificate of Registration (CR). Failing to do so may result in the revocation of your CR.

Existing factories under Group A

Existing Factories under this scheme will need to know that:

• Certificates of Registration (CR) that expired before 28 February 2010 must be renewed. CRs with expiry dates on or after 28 February 2010 will remain valid throughout the lifetime of the factory unless it is revoked.
• Companies should have received a letter from MOM in early February 2010 to inform them of the new policy changes and any actions that may be required.

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Renewable Factory Registration Scheme (Group B)

Renewable Factory Registration is applicable to the following classes of factories:

• Refineries;
• Petrochemical plants;
• Bulk storage terminals with storage capacity of 5,000 or more cubic metres of toxic or flammable liquid; and
• Chemical plants engaged in the manufacturing of fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide or synthetic polymers.

New factories under Group B

New factories under this scheme will need to:

• Submit a new Renewable Factory Registration to the Commissioner.
• Declare that factory has implemented Risk Management (RM) at the point of registration.
• Submit established Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) studies at the point of registration and Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) at least 3 months prior to registration with the Commissioner.
• Conduct Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) Audit within two months from the commencement of operations.
• A Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) Audit/Internal Review must be conducted and submitted to MOM via the Online Business Licensing Services (OBLS) update function within two months of the issuance of the Certificate of Registration (CR). Failing to do so may result in the revocation of your CR.

Existing Factories under Group B

For existing factories under the Renewable Factory Registration Scheme (Group B), existing Certificates of Registration will remain valid until the specified expiry date.

You will need to renew your Certificate of Registration after it expires. MOM will conduct checks on your factory's Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), such as the Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), when you apply for your CR renewal.

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Factory Notification

New factories that do not require Factory Registration to register with MOM are required to submit a one-time Factory Notification. This notification is inclusive of a Risk Management (RM) Declaration to the Commissioner for WSH. Factory notification applies to all factories EXCEPT:

• Construction worksites
• Shipyards
• Petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical factories
• Wafer fabrication factories
• Metalworking factories with 100 or more persons employed
• Refineries
• Petrochemical plants
• Bulk storage terminals with storage capacity of 5,000 or more cubic metres of toxic or flammable liquid; and
• Chemical plants engaged in the manufacturing of fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride, carbon monoxide or synthetic polymers 

Online Risk Management Declaration for Factories Converting to the Factory Notification Scheme

If your factory's Certification of Registration (CR) or Factory Permit (FP) expires on or after 31 Oct 08, you only need to make a Risk Management (RM) Declaration. Factories that have been informed that they fall under the Factory Notification Scheme during the scheme’s implementation on 1 November 2008 need to make a Risk Management (RM) Declaration. The unconsumed portion of your CR or FP will be refunded. You will need to have your SingPass, your organisation's ACRA Number and your Factory Number on hand.

Declaration of Risk Management for Factories (only applicable for factories that are converted from the registration scheme to the notification scheme on 1 November 2008).

Submission of Summary Report of Examinations by Designated Workplace Doctors

Submission of Summary Report of Examinations by Designated Workplace Doctors

Competent persons (Designated Workplace Doctors (DWD)) engaged by companies may submit Summary Reports of Examinations for exposure to a hazard in accordance with the Workplace Safety and Health (Medical Examinations) Regulations.

Once the examinations are completed and the relevant information is available, the DWD is required to submit the examination findings to MOM. The following information is required for submission:

1. Your ID and SingPass
2. Workplace name, Workplace number and address of the employer whose employees were examined
3. Completed Summary Report of examinations and abnormal results form (if applicable)

If there are any abnormal results, the user should complete the abnormal results section which comes after the Summary Report page.

Upon completing the submission of the Summary Report and abnormal results (if any), the user should proceed to submit the Register of workers for all hazards except Noise and Compressed air works.

During submission of the Summary Report, user is encouraged to print or save a copy of his Summary Report for record purposes.

Documents required

• Summary Report of Examinations and abnormal results (if applicable)
• Laboratory or other test results where applicable
• Register of Workers

Singapore WSH Act 2006

The Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 is an act issued by the Republic of Singapore. It addresses requirements for safety and health in workplaces in Singapore ^[1] and replaced the Factories Act as of 1 March 2006^[2].

The Occupational Safety and Health Framework

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) framework aims to cultivate good safety habits in all individuals, so as to create a strong safety culture at the workplace.

The new framework is guided by the following principles:

a) Reducing risks at the source by requiring all stakeholders to eliminate or minimise the risks they create;

b) Instilling greater ownership of safety and health outcomes within the industries; and

c) Preventing accidents through higher penalties for compromises in safety management.

The Workplace Safety and Health Act

The Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) is the key legislation affecting the principles of the OSH framework.

The WSHA emphasises the importance of managing Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) proactively, by requiring stakeholders to take reasonably practicable measures that ensure the safety and health of all individuals affected in the course of work.

The WSHA replaces the Factories Act. The key reforms under the WSHA include:

a) Allowing for a gradual increase in scope to cover all workplaces;

b) Assigning responsibilities to a range of stakeholders at the workplace along lines of control;

c) Focusing more on WSH systems and outcomes;

d) Providing for more effective enforcement through the issuance of ‘remedial orders'; and

e) Providing for higher penalties for non-compliant and risk-taking behaviour, to prevent accidents at the source.

Workplace Safety and Health Act Subsidiary Legislation

WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Officers) Regulations 2007

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations 2006

WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007

WSH (First Aid) Regulations 2006

WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations 2006

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006

WSH (Exemption) Order 2006

WSH (Composition of Offences) Regulations 2006

WSH (Transitional Provision) Regulations 2006

WSH (Offences and Penalties) (Subsidiary Legislation under Section 67(14)) Regulations 2006

WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations 2008

WSH (Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing) Regulations 2008

WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008

WSH Abrasive Blasting Regulations 2008 (Effective 1 Feb 2009)

Extension Of WSH Act

In March 2006, the decades-old Factories Act was replaced with
the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSH Act). This is a key
milestone in the overhaul of the WSH framework, in order to
achieve the target of halving the workplace fatality rate by 2015.

The initial coverage of the WSH Act was limited to the coverage
of the Factories Act because the immediate focus was on sectors
with the highest accident and fatality rates  i.e. general factories,
construction sites and shipyards.  While we continue to raise
WSH performance in such high-risk workplaces, the intention is
to ensure that workers in all workplaces are protected. Coverage
would be extended in stages over the next three to five years in
order to ensure a more sustainable build up of industry ownership.
In this regard, the Ministry decided to roll-out the next phase of
workplaces to be included under the WSH Act on 1 March 2008.

The sectors identified either have higher accident rates or where
the potential consequence of any accident can be serious. To
effect the expansion of coverage to the new workplaces, the 
WSH (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2007 was enacted 
on 23 Nov 2007.


With effect from 1 March 2008, the WSH Act would apply to other
workplaces in six key sectors identified:
 • Healthcare Activities
 • Hotels and Restaurants
 • Landscape Care and Maintenance Service Activities
 • Services Allied to Transportation of Goods
 • Veterinary Activities
 • Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Management

Review of Subsidiary Legislation under Factories Act

Review of Subsidiary Legislation under Factories Act

With the enactment of the WSH Act on 1 March 2006, subsidiary legislation made under the Factories Act continued to remain in force by virtue of the transitional provision in Section 66(14) of the new Act.

Nonetheless, a crossover of these subsidiary legislation to the WSH Act had to be undertaken
to ensure that they are in-line with the new WSH framework.  With active industry consultation,
OSHD undertook a review of the remaining subsidiary legislation, guided by the following objectives:

• Reviewing the original intent to establish whether it is still valid under the new regime;
• Updating the provisions and relevant terminologies;
• Clarifying the intended duty holder for the provision; and
• Introducing provisions for offences and penalties in case of any breach within the Regulations
Subsidiary Legislation under Review
In 2007, five  draft Regulations were put up for public consultation:
• WSH (Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing) Regulations
• WSH (Scaffolds) Regulations
• WSH (Abrasive Blasting) Regulations
• WSH (Medical Examination) Regulations
• WSH (Noise) Regulations
Subsidiary Legislation and Government Gazette Enacted in 2007
• WSH (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2007
• WSH (WSH Officers) Regulations 2007
• WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007
• WSH (Amendment of First Schedule) Order 2007

Safety & Health Management Systems The Safety and Health Management System is a systematic process for managing  workplace safety and health, providing for goal setting, planning, performance measurements, and clear management commitments and direction. Safety and Health Management Systems are mandatory for the workplaces listed below.

1. Any premises which is a worksite.
2. Any premises which is a shipyard.
3. Any factory engaged in the manufacturing of fabricated metal products,
    machinery or equipment and in which 100 or more persons are employed.
4. Any factory engaged in the processing or manufacturing of petroleum,
   petroleum products, petrochemicals or petrochemical products.
5. Any premises where the bulk storage of toxic or flammable liquid is carried
   on by way of trade or for the purpose of gain and which has a storage capacity
    of 5,000 or more cubic metres for such toxic or flammable liquid.
6. Any factory engaged in the manufacturing of —
   
   (a) fluorine, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride or carbon monoxide; and
   
   (b) synthetic polymers.
7. Any factory engaged in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products
   or their intermediates.
8. Any factory engaged in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers

                 Please refer to: 

• Singapore Standard SS506 Part 1: 2009, Occupational Safety and
  Health (OSH) Management System - Requirements
• Singapore Standard SS506 Part 3: 2006, Occupational Safety and
  Health (OSH) Management System - Requirements for the Chemical Industry
• Guidelines on the Implementation of Safety Management
  System for the Metalworking Industry

Integral to the Safety and Health Management System is risk assessment.
All workplaces must conduct risk assessments to identify the source of
risks and shall take all reasonably practicable  steps to eliminate any foreseeable
 risk to any person who may be affected by the undertaking in  the workplace.
Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, other reasonably
practicable measures must be taken to minimise the risk.

Risk assessment, together with communication of risks, review and monitoring of the risk
assessment, is part of the risk management process. 

Business Under Surveillance (BUS)

Business Under Surveillance (BUS)

The Business Under Surveillance (BUS) Programme is a systemic intervention tool to regulate poor performing companies to focus on developing and implementing a robust safety and health management system to improve their WSH performance.

This programme is divided into two phases – the Assessment and the Surveillance phase. In the Assessment phase, companies who have had fatal accidents, demonstrated poor WSH management (such as poor site conditions that result in Stop Work Orders) or have had accumulate a number of demerit points would typically be considered for entry into the BUS programme. A thorough review of the implementation of the risk assessment and the strength of the management system would be conducted. If the company fails the assessment, they will be subjected to close surveillance.

In the Surveillance phase, OSHD requires the company's management to develop and commit to a comprehensive and sustainable Action Plan. The company is held accountable to their proposed Action Plan and reports the implementation progress on a regular basis to OSHD. In addition, inspections are carried out frequently by the OSHD Surveillance Branch to verify the progress made. The company will exit from the programme upon demonstrating significant improvement in its WSH performance and management.

Asbestos Control Programme

Asbestos Control Programme

The Asbestos Control Programme aims to eliminate asbestos-related diseases over the long term through progressive elimination of asbestos use, and the minimisation of exposure during the use and removal, and management of asbestos in buildings. Target processes include work involving removal and abatement of asbestos in buildings, vessels and other premises.

The programme involves

• strengthening the legislative requirements for asbestos removal work
• introducing a licensing scheme for asbestos removal contractors
• raising awareness and capability building; engagement and enforcement

MOM works with the Building Control Authority, National Environment Agency and other relevant stakeholders in implementing the programme.

Incident Reporting

An incident report must be submitted to the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health for all accidents, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases. Employers and occupiers are required to keep a record of all incident reports for three years. It is an offence to fail to make an incident report as required by the law.

The table below shows types of workplace incidents and the responsibilities of employers and occupiers. Examples of cases that need to be reported can be found here.

Incident	Who should report	What to do
A workplace accidentthat causes the death of an employee.	The employer of the injured worker.	Notify the Commissioner immediately Submit the incident report within 10 days of the accident
A workplace accidentthat causes injury to an employee, who is then: Given more than three consecutive days of medical leave; or Hospitalised for at least 24 hours.	The employer of the injured worker.	Submit the incident report within 10 days of the accident If the employee subsequently dies from the injury, the employer must notify the Commissioner as soon as he/she knows of the employee's death.
A workplace accidentthat involves a self-employed person or member of public, causing him/her to: Die; or Sent to hospital for treatment of injury.	The workplace occupier	Notify the Commissioner immediately Submit the incident report within 10 days of the accident
A dangerous occurrence	The workplace occupier	Notify the Commissioner immediately Submit the incident report within 10 days of the incident
An occupational disease	The doctor who diagnosed the disease; and The employer of the person with the disease	Submit the incident report within 10 days of diagnosis (Doctor) Submit the incident report within 10 days of receiving the written diagnosis (Employer)

Notify the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health by calling +65 6317 1111 or sending a fax to +65 6317 1220.

Please provide the following information:

• Date and time of the incident;
• Place of the incident;
• Name and identifFor incidents that require immediate notification:
  ication number of the injured/ deceased, if any;
• Name of the employer and occupier;
• Brief description of the incident; and
• Name and contact details of the person making the notification.

Submitting the Incident Report

You are required to submit an incident report to the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health within 10 days. Only one official representative (e.g. HR or Safety Officer) from the company is required to report the incident to MOM. Incidents should be reported using the iOSH service.

Refer to the Singapore Statues Online for the latest upate.

Tower Crane Pre Start Inspection Checklist

Mobile Crawler Crane Pre Start Inspection Checklist

Crane PTW & Lifting Plan

Electric Overhead Travelling Crane Pre Start Inspection Checklist

Lorry Crane Pre Start Inspection Checklist

WSH Act Enforcement Measures

What are some of the enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the Act?

The following are some measures that may be used to ensure compliance.

Workplace Inspections
Inspectors are empowered to enter, inspect and examine any workplace at any time to ensure workplace safety. In order to do so, an inspector may:
• inspect, examine and make copies of any workplace documents;
• take samples of any material or substance found in, or being discharged from, any workplace for the purpose of analysis or test;
• take photographs or video recordings to record the conditions and the processes carried out in the workplace;
• take into custody any article in the workplace which is required for the purpose of an investigation or inquiry under the Act.

Investigations Into A Workplace Accident Or Incident
The Commissioner may order an investigation into any workplace accident or incident.  In the course of
investigations, the inspector may inspect the accident scene and workplace.  The inspector may also interview
and record statements of persons about the accident or incident.  These persons are bound to state the truth and assist in the investigations.

Suspension Of Certificates
When necessary, the Commissioner may suspend any certificate.  Examples of certificates issued under the Act include Certificates of Factory Registration and certificates issued to authorised examiners.

Remedial Orders And Stop Work Orders
The Commissioner may issue a Remedial Order to require an employer or occupier or any other person to remove any workplace risk or to comply with a safe work practice whether or not there is any immediate danger.  This will be the primary tool that the Commissioner will use to require employers to improve their management of safety and health and the quality of risk assessment.

The Commissioner may issue a Stop Work Order to require the specified work to cease until measures have been taken  to ensure that the work can be carried out safely.  A Stop Work Order will be used in instances where severe lapses in safety and health conditions may cause immediate danger to the workers.

Failure to comply with either a Remedial Order or Stop Work Order is considered an offence.

Composition Fines
Composition fines are offered for offences at the Commissioner’s discretion. Offences may be compounded
to a sum not more than half the maximum fine prescribed for the offence or $5,000, whichever is lower.

Prosecution 
Action may be taken if payment is not received within a specified period.

Prosecution
The Commissioner may prosecute any offender for violation under the Act.  If you are charged with an offence under  the Act, it is your duty to show to the courts that:
• you complied with the Act and/or its relevant subsidiary legislation;
• or you complied with the relevant approved code of practice or guidelines;
• or you took reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence where there was
no specific legislation or guidelines;
• or the offence was due to causes beyond your control, i.e. it was not reasonably practicable
to prevent the contravention or accident.

Refer to Singapore Statues Online for the latest update