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MOM & SCDF Joint Circular

Joint Circular issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) SAFE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE ...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Risk Management Checklist


Safety Checklist For Risk Management


SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR RISK MANAGEMENT

Safety Questionnaire

Benchmark using WSH (RISK MANAGEMENT) Regulations

Yes

No

Does employees knows about the WSH ( Risk Management) Regulations
To single out one employee and check his/her knowledge

Does the top management & managers knows about the risk assessment requirements
To single out one manager and check his/her knowledge on the applicability of risk assessment to which industry

Risk assessment is a high profile activity and only employees who are at least a supervisor and above should be involved. Is this statement correct?

Risk assessment focus on managing workplace risk by recommending PPE as the first line of defence. Is this statement true


All risk assessment register shall be kept in record for a period of 3 years





Risk assessment shall be review when there is change in processes or when an incident or accident occurred





Risk assessment is a process which involves
a)Risk Identification
b)Risk Control

The risk level of an activity shall be mitigated using the hierarchy of control

The last element of hierarchy of control is safety training

Are you informed of the hazards/risks associated with your work activity by the supervisors

Are you informed about the control measures to mitigate the severity of the work activity

Wearing PPE slows down my work pace and hence affect my productivity. Is this statement true

WSH regulations new framework is all about wearing PPE and workers to protect themselves only

Can l be charged by the subordinate court for failure to wear PPE when it is the job requirements and l am provided with the relevant PPE by the company

I must adhere strictly to the Safe work procedure at all times. Is this statement true

It is my duty to inform the supervisor whenever l spotted something amiss with a particular machine which l am working on

Noise monitoring by a competent person at the workplace is necessary when the workforce has more than 50 employees

Register on persons working in hazardous environment such as noisy environment, exposed to hazardous chemicals and/or radiation shall be maintained and updated. Is this statement true

An employee who work in an abrasive blasting environment shall go for regular medical check up . Is this statement true

Noise monitoring by a competent person shall be conducted once every 3 years

Forklift pre start inspection check shall be conducted and forklift inspection checklist duly completed and file. Is this statement true

We can engaged any professional PE to inspect and examine all pressure vessels, boilers and steam receiver. Is this statement true

All lifting operations, hot work, working at height above 2 meters and working in a confined space shall be control and monitor through a PTW system

All lifting gears , appliance and platform shall be examined and inspected by the authorised examiner regularly. Is this statement true or false

For any lifting operations, risk assessment is more important and hence there is no need to have a lifting plan. Is this statement true

For work in a confined space environment, as long as there is entrant and attendant deployed to work therein, it is not necessary to form a rescue team. Is this statement correct

The purpose of accident investigation is to punish the injured person .Is this statement correct

The purpose of WSH audit is to find fault to keep the audited sections busy. Is this statement correct

Can training prevent a workplace accident ?

Safety is every employees responsibility. Do you agree?

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Workplace Safety And Health Resources For Employers, Self Employed And Principles: List of Petroleum Flammable Materials

Workplace Safety And Health Resources For Employers, Self Employed And Principles: List of Petroleum Flammable Materials: List of Petroleum Flammable Materials Licensable by SCDF Petroleum storage and transportation or other related activities are considered da...

List of Petroleum Flammable Materials

List of Petroleum Flammable Materials Licensable by SCDF

Petroleum storage and transportation or other related activities are considered dangerous as they pose a threat to life and property in the event of fire. Hence application for their issuance is mandatory to achieve a safer working environment. The licensing authority is the Licensing Branch of the Central Enforcement Department of SCDF

And if you import, use and store flammable materials in your organization, you may require to apply for the Petroleum Flammable Materials Storage license if the quantity exceed the stipulated quantity specified in the

Flammable Materials listed in the Second Schedule of the Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials) Regulations 2005.

Application for licenses

a) Manual Submission (for foreign registered vehicle ONLY)

The application form should be sent to:
Licensing Branch
Central Enforcement Department
HQ Singapore Civil Defence Force
91 Ubi Avenue 4
Singapore 408827
** Click on the hyperlink to find out more on submission requirements.
1) Petroleum & Flammable Materials Import Licensing
2) Petroleum & Flammable Materials Storage Licensing
3) Petroleum & Flammable Materials Transport Licensing

b) Electronic Submission

1) Submission Requirements for Petroleum & Flammable Materials Import Licensing

  • Any person who wishes to import petroleum or flammable materials is required to obtain an import license from SCDF.
  • Applicant must possess a valid storage license. Note that the import license is essential for the online declaration via Tradenet to be successful.
  • Applicant may choose to apply for a licence validity period of 1 to 3 years.

2) Submission Requirements for Petroleum & Flammable Materials Storage Licensing

Any person who wishes to store petroleum or flammable materials in quantities exceeding that specified in the Fire Safety (Petroleum & Flammable Materials – Exemption) Order 2005 is required to obtain a storage licence from SCDF.

• Licensing For LPG Piped System / Installation

As from December 1997, all HDB coffee shops which are using LPG have to house their LPG cylinders in steel enclosures, located outside the coffee shops and piped into the individual stalls.
The LPG manifold piping systems for this purpose shall comply with relevant clauses of NFPA 54 & 58, the Fire Safety Act, relevant provisions of code of practice for Fire Precautions in building or other accepted code of practice.
The Professional engineer is required to conduct a leak free proof test and certify that the system is safe for operation before commissioning.

• Licensing For Petroleum Dispensing

As dispensing of petroleum products such as LPG requires proper provisions, installation, techniques and special equipment, approval from SCDF must be obtained.

• License Validity Period

Applicant may choose to apply for a licence validity period of 1 to 3 years.

Documents To Be Submitted

  • One copy of approved plan or certified true copy of the approved plan showing the proposed storage area;
  • One copy of site plan showing the location of the premises;
  • A copy of Registration of Business Particulars (Form B or D) or Certificate of Incorporation of Company;
  • A copy of Temporary Fire Permit or Fire Safety Certificate of the premises;
  • For bulk tanks and major piped installation, additional documents such as Manufacturer's reports and all the relevant test reports duly endorsed by a Professional Engineer are to be submitted;
  • For HDB coffee shops, additional documents such as no objection letters from Town Council, Professional Engineer's Certification of piped system including equipment and pressure test report for the piping and fittings and the supplier's letter of undertaking are to be submitted.
  • A copy of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for
  1. All premises, including eating establishment build in or under an industrial premise and with  a total LPG storage quantity not exceeding 5 metric tonnes
    Guidelines for company Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
  2. Stand-alone eating establishment (like for example HDB coffeeshop) build outside of an industrial premise with total LPG storage quantity not exceeding 5 metric tonnes
    Guidelines for Emergency Response Plan (ERP) - Eating Establishments




Refer to SCDF website for the latest update on the Petroleum and Flammable materials storage, import and transport licensing requirement.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Changes to Work Injury Compensation Act

Changes to Work Injury Compensation Act

Effective 1 June 2012

1. The Parliament has passed the amendments to the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). The changes are made based on two key principles:

  • Striking a fair balance between compensation for injured employees and the obligations placed on employers / insurers
  • Ensuring that the WICA framework remains expeditious and employees are able to receive compensation promptly
2. The changes will take effect on 1 June 2012. The key changes are as follows:

a) Updating Compensation limits
As part of MOM’s regular review of WICA compensation, the limits will be increased to account for the change in nominal median wages and healthcare costs since the limits were last set in 2008.

Limits
Existing Limit
New Limit
Death
Minimum
$47,000
$57,000
Maximum
$140,000
$170,000
Total Permanent Incapacity*
Minimum
$60,000
$73,000
Maximum
$180,000
$218,000
Medical Expenses
Up to $25,000 or 1 year from date of accident, whichever is reached first
Up to $30,000 or 1 year from date of accident, whichever is reached first

* This excludes the additional 25% compensation that is paid to workers with total permanent incapacity to offset the cost of care for the injured worker.


b) Disallowing compensation for work-related fights
The rationale for the amendment is that while work disputes may arise from time to time, employees should not resort to fights to resolve them, and employers should not have to bear the cost of injury.

As such, employers will generally not be liable under WICA to compensate workers who are injured in work-related fights, except in certain scenarios such as when the worker was a victim and did not participate in the fight, or when he was injured while exercising private defence, or instructed to break up the fight, safeguard life/property or maintain law and order.


c) Expanding scope of compensable diseases

Currently, diseases are compensable only when they are listed in the Second Schedule, for example noise-induced deafness, or as a result of a specific accident at work. With the change, diseases contracted due to work-related exposure to chemical or biological agents will be compensable. The Second Schedule will also be refined to include a new occupational disease (exposure to excessive heat), remove SARS and Avian Influenza and broaden scope of some of the existing occupational diseases.

d) Disallowing work-related exclusion clauses

Work-related exclusion clauses, except pertaining to asbestos, will be prohibited for the purpose of WIC insurance. With these changes, insurers will be liable to make payment of the compensation even if work-related exclusions exist in the policy. Insurers will continue to be able to seek contractual recovery from the employer if such recovery is allowed in the insurance policy.

e) Clarifying the liability of employer’s insurer to pay when there are multiple insurance policies

Certain industries have the practice of having multiple parties provide insurance coverage for workers. When there is an accident, the various insurers may dispute liability and compensation to the injured worker is unduly delayed. With the change, where there are multiple work injury compensation insurance policies, the employer’s insurance policy will first be used to satisfy a claim. MOM will allow third parties to pay compensation as long as they convey in writing to MOM their intent to pay compensation on behalf of the employer’s insurer, before the notice of assessment is issued.

f) Clarifying the timeframe for filing a claim if one wishes to claim under WICA after having filed a common law claim earlier

Injured employees have up to one year from the date of the accident to decide whether they wish to file a claim under WICA. Claimants who filed a common law claim but subsequently wish to file a claim under WICA have to do so within one year of accident. If the claim was made after this one year timeframe, it will not be admitted under 

Refer to Singapore Statue Online for the latest update

Approved Code of Practice

Approved Codes of Practices

What is the approved code of practices (CPs)  and how can these CPs affect your organization?

Approved code of practices are CPs which has the force of the law. Meaning strictest compliance to the affected code of practices is mandatory.

The code of practice which is relevant to the organization is very much depending on which industry the organization is from and their organization activities.

Here are a snap shot os the list of approved code of practices in Singapore for your easy refernce

Approved Codes of Practice Made Under Section 40B(3) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act

In accordance with section 40B (3) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006, the Workplace Safety and Health Council has approved 28 Codes of Practice for the purpose of providing practical guidance on safety and health to the industry. The Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) is intended to be used as a yardstick to assess whether reasonable practicable measures have been taken in regards to the upkeep of safety and health standards at the workplace. A notice of the issue of the ACOPs has been published in the government gazette

Code of Practices issued by Workplace Safety and Health Council

The Code of Practices issued by Workplace Safety and Health Council are available in WSH Council website

Code of Practices and Singapore Standards published by SPRING Singapore

The following Code of Practices and Singapore Standards can be purchased at Singapore Standards eShop.

  • CP 14: 1996
    Code of Practice for Scaffolds
  • CP 20: 1999
    Code of Practice for Suspended Scaffolds
  • CP 23: 2000
    Code of Practice for Formwork
  • CP 27: 1999
    Code of Practice for Factory Layout - Safety, Health and Welfare Considerations
  • CP 62: 1995
    Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes
  • CP 63: 1996
    Code of Practice for the Lifting of Persons in Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes
  • CP 79: 1999
    Code of Practice for Safety Management System for Construction Worksites
  • CP 84: 2000
    Code of Practice for Entry into and Safe Working in Confined Spaces
  • CP 88: Part 1: 2001
    Code of Practice for Temporary Electrical Installations
    Part 1: Construction and Building Sites
  • CP 88: Part 3: 2001
    Code of Practice for Temporary Electrical Installations
    Part 3: Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing Yards
  • CP 91: 2001
    Code of Practice for Lockout Procedure
  • SS 98: 2005
    Specification for Industrial Safety Helmets
  • CP 101: 2004
    Code of Practice for Safe Use of Powered Counterbalanced Forklifts
  • SS 473: Part 1: 1999
    Specification for Personal Eye-Protectors
    Part 1: General Requirements
  • SS 473: Part 2: 1999
    Specification for Personal Eye-Protectors
    Part 2: Selection, Use and Maintenance
  • SS 508: Part 1: 2004
    Specification for Graphical Symbols - Safety Colours and Safety Signs
    Part 1: Design Principles for Safety Signs in Workplaces and Public Areas
  • SS 508: Part 3: 2004
    Specification for Graphical Symbols - Safety Colours and Safety Signs
    Part 3: Safety Signs Used in Workplaces and Public Areas
  • SS 510: 2005 Code of Practice for Safety in Welding and Cutting
    (and Other Operations Involving the Use of Heat)
  • SS 513: Part 1: 2005
    Specification for Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear
    Part 1: Safety Footwear
  • SS 513: Part 2: 2005
    Specification for Personal Protective Equipment - Footwear
    Part 2: Test Methods for Footwear
  • SS 531: Part 1: 2006
    Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places,Indoor
  • SS 531: Part 2: 2008
    Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places,Outdoor
  • SS 531: Part 3: 2008Code of Practice for Lighting of Work Places, Lighting requirements for Safety and Security of Outdoor Workplaces
  • SS 536: 2008 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Mobile Cranes
    (Formerly CP 37: 2000)
  • SS 537: 2008Code of Practice for Safe Use of Machinery
    Part 1: General Requirements
  • SS 548: 2009
    Code of Practice for Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protective Devices
    (Formerly CP 74: 1998)
  • SS 549: 2009
    Code of Practice for Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance of Hearing Protectors
    (Formerly CP 76: 1999)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Unsafe Work Practices


Hazards is a condition ( unsafe act/unsafe condition)  with the potential to cause harm or injury and it can happen anytime and anywhere. Examples of common WSH hazards includes 

1.Falling from height hazards, 2.Struck by objects,3.Electrical Hazards
4.Machine Hazards, 5.Mechanical Hazards of tools and equipments
6.Fore & Explosion Hazards,7)Noise Hazards,8)Confined Space Hazards
9)Ergonomic Hazards,10)Chemical Hazards,11)Thermal Hazards
12)Radiation Hazards

In the photographs, it was observed that  one worker (assume the father)  was horse playing at his workplace with his 3 year old boy where the father ( the worker) was seen  guiding the 3 year old boy by holding his hands guiding him to weld on a steel structure without any personal protection equipments. The 3 year old boy was and the workers both were found bare footed and without the proper leather hand glove, safety shoes and fire retardant coverall.

The unsafe practices identified are as follows:
1)Horseplay at work with a 3 year old boy
2).Failure to make use of PPE such as leather gloves ,leather coverall, safety shoes
3) Fail to provide fire extinguisher at the welding area for fire emergency purposes

Electric Overhead Travelling Crane Checklist



Friday, December 23, 2011

Unsafe Work Practices


Hazards is a condition ( unsafe act/unsafe condition)  with the potential to cause harm or injury and it can happen anytime and anywhere. Examples of common WSH hazards includes 

1.Falling from height hazards, 2.Struck by objects,3.Electrical Hazards
4.Machine Hazards, 5.Mechanical Hazards of tools and equipments
6.Fore & Explosion Hazards,7)Noise Hazards,8)Confined Space Hazards
9)Ergonomic Hazards,10)Chemical Hazards,11)Thermal Hazards
12)Radiation Hazards

In the photographs, it was observed that workers are using  their human strength excessively to push the concrete loaded wheel barrow through and fro from the concreting site and they were also observed without wearing any eye protection

The unsafe practices identified are as follows:
1) Workers could suffered from potential body musculoskeletal stress in the long run due to excessively relying on their human strength for conveying wheel barrow loaded with concrete cement to and fro from the work site
2) )Failure to make use of eye protection personal protection equipment

Unsafe Work Practices


Hazards is a condition ( unsafe act/unsafe condition)  with the potential to cause harm or injury and it can happen anytime and anywhere. Examples of common WSH hazards includes 

1.Falling from height hazards, 2.Struck by objects,3.Electrical Hazards
4.Machine Hazards, 5.Mechanical Hazards of tools and equipments
6.Fore & Explosion Hazards,7)Noise Hazards,8)Confined Space Hazards
9)Ergonomic Hazards,10)Chemical Hazards,11)Thermal Hazards
12)Radiation Hazards

In the photographs, it was observed that workers are working underneath lifted load during lifting operation and there is no tag line to position the load.

The unsafe practices identified are as follows:
1) Workers work underneath lifted loads during a lifting operation and exposed their life to potential crushing hazards. Nothing should be underneath the lifted load during a lifting operation.
2) )Failure to make use of fall protection personal protection equipment in this case safety harness
3)Failure to provide safe means of access for working at height above 2 meter, and in this case is a safe scaffold
4)Failure to provide tag line & lifting supervisor to ensure the lifted load is guided properly for safe load positioning

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