Fatalities Involving Compressed Gas Cylinders

Two workers died in separate incidents after being struck by flying compressed gas cylinders In the first half of 2025. Following which another accident occurred on 28 July 2025 involving a ruptured compressed gas cylinder caused an explosion at a workplace and fortunately no one was injured .

These accidents clearly emphasize  the risks and hazards associated with the use, handling and management of compressed gas cylinders and it is necessary to put in place the required risk control measures to ensure workers’ safety during the handling of compressed gas cylinders.

Workplace Accident  : Worker struck by flying gas cylinder

A workplace fatality was reported on 28 March 2025, involving a worker investigating into the cause of a fire alarm triggered by a newly installed fire suppression system at a worksite. After establishing it to be a false fire alarm, the worker proceeded to remove one of the pilot cylinders containing carbon dioxide. The pilot cylinder was first disconnected from its support bracket, before it was placed free-standing on the ground. But shortly after, the cylinder suddenly flew and struck another worker standing nearby. The worker who was struck died in the hospital.

Figure 1: Position of cylinder before it was 

disconnected.

Figure 2: Position where the cylinder landed 

after it flew.

Workplace Accident : Worker struck by flying fire extinguisher projectile

A workplace fatality was reported on 15 May 2025, involving an excavator ( fitted with an electromagnet) being used to transfer scrap metal, a discarded fire extinguisher cylinder (containing carbon dioxide gas) suddenly flew and struck a worker seated nearby. The worker was taken to the hospital where he later died.

The cylinder’s valve connector likely broke when the excavator’s electromagnet pressed on the scrap metal pile. This would have caused the residual gas to suddenly discharge and turn the cylinder into a projectile.

Figure 3: Scene of the accident.

What companies should do

Companies should assess and ensure that their WSH management system includes the following measures or checks:

Working with compressed gas cylinders

The sudden release of high-pressure gas from a cylinder can transform it into a projectile and severely injure workers in the vicinity. Compressed gas cylinders must be properly handled, transported and stored to prevent such a scenario. 

Companies carrying out similar work activities shall review their work procedures and implement the necessary control measures to protect workers working with compressed gas cylinders.

• Inspection of Gas cylinder : Implement regular checks on gas cylinders for physical damage (such as corrosion, cracks, or dents) and signs of leakage especially at its valve connector and any pipe/tube fittings used. Immediately removed any cylinder from service , valve connector or fittings found with a defect. Ensure all gas cylinders are periodically examined or tested by a competent person in accordance with the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations and the manufacturer's recommendations.

• Safe work procedures (SWPs): Establish and implement SWPs for the handling, transport and storage of compressed gas cylinders. This should be done in consultation with relevant stakeholders such as the gas cylinder manufacturer, gas cylinder transport service provider, gas system designer, plant manager, and process safety specialists.

Safe Work Procedures should consider the following content which is non-exhaustive:

Securing of the gas cylinder: Do not leave cylinders containing residual gas free-standing. Gas cylinders should be stored in an upright position and secured by chaining or fastening them to a wall bracket or other fixed supports.

Safe transportation of cylinder: Transport cylinders vertically or as upright as possible. Use a cylinder cart to move individual gas cylinders and chain or strap the cylinder to the cart securely. Never roll, slide or drag a gas cylinder as this may result in physical damage to the cylinder. Do not move a gas cylinder with its pressure regulator attached. The valve connector is also vulnerable if the cylinder falls; shut the valve connector, remove the regulator and protect the valve with a safety cap before moving the cylinder.

If the valve connector of a gas cylinder breaks off, the forces generated by the sudden gas expansion could propel the cylinder a few metres away from its original location. Therefore, it is important to use compatible valve connectors and protect the valve connector when the cylinder is not in use. It is safest to move gas cylinders when they are empty, where feasible to do so.

Use only Compatible valve connectors: Use only manufacturer-approved valve connectors that are compatible with the gas cylinder. Consult the cylinder manufacturer or supplier on the use of thread seal tape to prevent leaks at the cylinder-valve connection.

Labelling of the cylinder: Clearly label each cylinder as “FULL”, “IN USE” or “EMPTY” so that workers can easily determine its status. Train workers to verify the cylinder’s status onsite through other means e.g. by comparing the cylinder’s weight and/or pressure against the original readings when full and the expected readings when empty.

Proper cylinder storage: Store gas cylinders in a cool and well-ventilated area, and away from direct sunlight, sources of heat and corrosive substances.

• Competent workers: Deploy only supervisors and workers who are trained on the SWPs and have a good understanding of the possible hazards and risk control measures when working with compressed gas cylinders.

• Work supervision: Provide onsite supervision to ensure the SWPs are closely followed, and risk control measures are in place and effectively implemented.

For more information, refer to the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations, the Ministry of Manpower’s circular on Inspection and Filling of Compressed Gas Cylinders, SS 639: 2018 Code of Practice for the filling, inspection, testing and maintenance of gas cylinders for the storage and transport of compressed gases, and Chapter 3 of the WSH Council’s WSH Guidelines for Laboratories Handling Chemicals.

Disposal of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers

The handling and disposal of portable carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers poses a serious WSH concern as the residual pressure within an extinguisher is often strong enough to propel the cylinder and injure workers in the vicinity. All companies handling metal waste to review their risk assessments and implement the necessary control measures to protect their workers from harm.

• Responsible disposal: Work closely with upstream waste generators and service buyers to ensure only empty cylinders are received for metal recovery or recycling.

Portable fire extinguishers intended for disposal should be regarded as hazardous waste and not be disposed as general waste. They should not be sent directly to scrap metal yards unless the yard houses a facility to safely empty an extinguisher’s residual contents prior to metals handling/processing.

It is recommended to send fire extinguishers to a licensed hazardous waste disposal contractor or a specialised fire equipment disposal service provider who can handle non-empty cylinders safely.

• Safe work procedure (SWP): Establish and implement SWPs for the proper handling and disposal of incoming CO2 fire extinguisher cylinders. The SWP should cover the following (non-exhaustive):

• Separate CO2 fire extinguisher cylinders from other scrap metal waste.
• Inspect and segregate non-empty cylinders from empty cylinders.
• Temporarily store non-empty cylinders in a well-ventilated location and secure them in an upright position.
• Send non-empty cylinders to a depressurisation facility to safely release or recover residual gas.
• Verify empty/emptied cylinders are free of residual contents and mark or label them as “EMPTY” or “DISCHARGED”.
• Send only cylinders that have been verified empty to the scrap metal yard for metal recovery or recycling.
• • Competent workers: Deploy only workers who have been trained on the SWP for the proper handling and disposal of fire extinguisher cylinders. Communicate the possible onsite risks and the implemented risk controls to workers.
• Highlight the importance of detecting and weeding out non-empty cylinders that may be present in a scrap metal pile.

• Work supervision: Provide on-site supervision to ensure the SWPs are strictly followed.

• Safe work environment: Instruct the site supervisor and excavator operator to scan the work area to confirm that no workers are inside the scrap metal yard before starting excavator operations. This is because yard workers may be exposed to flying metal debris especially due to the presence of a strong electromagnet. Mark out the excavator work zone with suitable warning signs and/or erect barriers to prevent unauthorised entry while the excavator is in operation.

• Use of technology: Consider the use of technology (e.g. automated metal waste conveyor system, remotely-operated magnetic separator) to eliminate or reduce worker exposure to the risk of being struck by flying metal debris.

For more information, refer to the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations, Singapore Standard SS 578: 2019 + A1: 2022 Code of Practice for the Use and Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers, the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s online page on Portable Fire Extinguishers, the National Environment Agency’s Code of Practice for Licensed General Waste Collectors, and the WSH Council’s 6 Basic WSH Rules for Safe Operation of Excavator.

Under the WSH Act, first-time corporate offenders may be sentenced to the maximum fine of $500,000 whilst individuals can either be sentenced to the maximum fine of $200,000 and/or an imprisonment not exceeding 2 years. Read more on the WSH Act penalties.

Director Forged BizSAFE Certificates Charged

A director of Best Management Consultancy, was sentenced on 29 July 2025 to 14 months’ imprisonment, effective from 25 August 2025 for  the issuance of forged bizSAFE certificates to 17 companies and other unrelated cases.

The case was made known in the WSH Bulletin on 16 October 2023 to caution companies against potential forgery of bizSAFE certificates by workplace safety and health (WSH) consultants. Since then 6 other companies have subsequently came forward to report that they have also been defrauded.   

Companies are reminded to apply for bizSAFE directly through the WSH Council website, rather than rely on consultants who claim to be able to do so on their behalf to prevent similar cases from recurring in the future.

Companies are also advised to exercise judgement in the selection of such consultancy services, which are not under any form accreditation and to engage MOM-approved Auditing Organisations (AOs) directly to conduct the Risk Management Implementation Audit. Only Risk Management Audits conducted by these approved AOs are accepted for bizSAFE applications. 

If you are procuring services from bizSAFE enterprises, please check bizSAFE Self-Help on our website to verify the enterprises’ bizSAFE status and expiry date. 

The WSH Council urge all companies to exercise due diligence in ensuring the legitimacy of their bizSAFE certifications.

WSH Guidelines on Combustible Dust

What is WSH Guideline 

WSH Guidelines showcased workplace safety and health best practices and WSH program for controlling workplace hazards and improving occupational health for various industry and program 

WSH Guidelines on Combustible Dust Scope:

-provide practical guidance for identifying, assessing, and controlling the risks of fires and explosions arising from combustible dust in workplaces.

They outline regulatory obligations, offer guidance on control measures, and include case studies highlighting the consequences of dust-related incidents, underscoring the importance of proactive risk management

To learn more click WSH Guidelines on Combustible dust

NEA Mandatory Chemical Reporting Framework

All Hazardous Substances (HS) Licence and Permit Holders.

Are you aware that the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) is going to introduce a mandatory Chemical Reporting Framework for all Hazardous Substances (HS) Licence and Permit Holders.?

The objective of this framework is to track and monitor chemicals that are imported and/or manufactured in Singapore but are not currently regulated by any agencies. Through this framework, NEA can better identify chemicals that may pose environmental and public health concerns and prioritise them for potential control where necessary to safeguard both the environment and public safety.

Effective 1 Jan 2026, HS Licence and Permit Holders must carry out chemical reporting during their licence and/or permit renewals that are due on or after this implementation date. This reporting obligation will be imposed as a licensing condition and applies to companies that import and/or manufacture chemicals as the first point of entry into Singapore and meet all the following requirements:

a)The chemicals are pure substances, including individual chemical components within mixtures; and

b)The chemicals are manufactured locally and/or imported for local use (net import amount) in quantities equal to or exceeding 1 metric tonne (MT)/year; and

c)The chemicals meet at least one of the criteria below:

(i)Category 1 or 2 acute toxicity for any exposure route under Globally Harmonised System (GHS) classification

(ii)Category 1 aquatic toxicity (acute) under GHS classification

(iii)Category 1A, 1B or 2 for Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reproductive (CMR) toxicity under GHS classification

(iv)Persistent in the environment (i.e., half-life of more than 6 months in air, water, soil, or sediment)

(v)Bioaccumulative in the environment (i.e., Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) or Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) exceeding 5000)

3 For chemicals meeting the reporting criteria, companies must submit the following information during their licence and/or permit renewal period via the Chemical Reporting Form on FormSG at: https://form.gov.sg/6846325c0b06f01fa6fbdd48

a)Chemical identity

b)Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

c)Maximum annual production and/or import quantity

d)Intended / identified use(s) of the chemical

For more information on NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework, please refer to the “Industry Guidance Document for NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework”, which was developed in consultation with representatives from the Singapore Chemical Industry Council. The document is available at:https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/pollution-control/chemical-safety/hazardous-substances/management-of-hazardous-substances

If you have enquirers regarding NEA’s Chemical Reporting Framework, you may contact the following officers:

a)Mr Ray Ong at ray_ong@nea.gov.sg

b)Ms Steffi Koh at steffi_koh@nea.gov.s

Mass Fire Evacuation Drill 2025

The National Fire and Emergency Preparedness Council (NFEC) has designated September 2025 as the month for Mass Fire Evacuation Drill (MFED) for commercial and industrial premises. The  objective of of this initiative is to enhance emergency evacuation awareness of occupants in both the commercial and industrial premises as well as the public in general as well as strengthening the skills and knowledge of the emergency response teams.

All commercial and industrial premises are invited to participate in this event by conducting a fire evacuation drill during September 2025. This drill will fulfil one of the annual evacuation drill requirements mandated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. 

Upon completion, participating premises will receive a Certificate of Participation from the NFEC after September 2025. To participate in MFED 2025, please complete by scanning the QR Code below or by using the link as shown below:

FormSG link: https://go.gov.sg/nfecfireevacdrill

For any clarification, email to: secretariat.nfec@gmail.com

*Please note that representatives from NFEC and SCDF will not be observing the MFED at your premises on the date of the drill.

Phasing Out Fire Fighting Foam

Are you aware that effective from 1 Jan 2026, Singapore will be phasing out the import and use of firefighting foams containing PFOA and PFOS, including their salts and related compounds. Companies are allowed to continue using their fire-fighting foams after 1 Jan 2026 if the concentrations of the trace contaminants within the foams are below the respective threshold limits as shown.

(a) PFOA, its salts and related compounds: 25 ppb

(b) PFOS, its salts and related compounds: 10,000 ppb

(c) PFHxS, its salts and related compounds: 100 ppb

Companies storing or using fire-fighting foams containing PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, their salts and related compounds at or above their respective threshold concentrations are required to engage NEA licensed Toxic Industrial Waste Collectors (TIWCs) that are capable of collecting and disposing of such fire-fighting foams

Here is the list of NEA approved licensed toxic waste collector. 

What should l do if my company is using fire fighting foams containing PFOA and PFOS including its salts and related compounds

1)Verify that the fire fighting foam PFOA and PFOS by sending sample of your current fire fighting foam concentrate to accredited laboratory ( Eg SGS ) for analysis  with the following test parameters and specifications

(a) PFOA, its salts and related compounds: 25 ppb

(b) PFOS, its salts and related compounds: 10,000 ppb

(c) PFHxS, its salts and related compounds: 100 ppb

If your results are below NEA threshold limits, you can continue to use the foam concentrate .But you need to check with the foam concentrate supplier whether the foam concentrate will degrade to PFOA and PFOS over time. And if it does, you need to seek for alternative fluorine free foam by engaging your current fire protection equipment service provider who serviced and maintained your fire protection system.

Upon selection of the suitable foam concentrate, the fire protection service provider will need to engage their Professional Engineer (PE) to conduct the recommended foam hydraulic calculation using industry recognized software to determine the following :

1)Capacity of the bladder tank - foam concentrate storage

2)Volume of foam concentrate required

3)Number of foam generator required.

When these information are made available then you can budget in for your organization foam transition.

Here is list of HS and Product Codes of the affected materials are listed in ANNEX A. With effect from 1 Jan 2026, traders are required to use the appropriate HS and Product Codes when declaring their import and export in TradeNet® permit applications. All such TradeNet® permit applications will be subject to Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD)’s processing and approval.

For further enquiries, you may email them to Ms Nikki Lee at <Nikki_Lee@nea.gov.sg>

Safe Working on Fragile Surface

 Beware of fragile surfaces when working at height

What is fragile surface
Fragile surfaces may look like any stable, solid floor. However, they cannot hold a person’s weight and may result in a fall when stepped on unknowingly.

Examples of fragile surfaces include:

• Unreinforced fibre-cement sheets and liner panels
• •Rooflights and glass
• •Corroded metal sheets
• Wood wool and chipboards

It is essential to identify fragile surfaces and protect your employees working near them to prevent falls from height.

Be prepared. Read the Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights.

Take proper preventive measures such as having a fall prevention plan and permit-to-work system.

Alert potential hazards to your employees with warning signs.

Empower your employees with checklists on working at height or on roofs so that they know what to look out for.

Fragile surfaces are a serious work-at-height concern. Skylights, false flooring, ceiling panels, sheeted and tiled roofs are examples of fragile surfaces that may look like normal solid flooring to the untrained eye. However, they are not designed to support a person’s weight. A worker who steps on a fragile surface will face the risk of falling through it to the ground below.

The following are some control measures companies have put in place to protect workers from falling through a fragile surface. 

For more information:

WSH Legislation

WSH Act 2006

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007

WSH (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013

Singapore Standard

SS 528: Specification for Personal Fall-arrest Systems

   Part 1: Full-body harnesses

   Part 2: Lanyards and energy absorbers

   Part 3: Self-retracting lifelines

   Part 4: Vertical rails and vertical lifelines incorporating a sliding-type fall arrester

   Part 5: Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates

   Part 6: System performance tests

SS 541: 2008 Restraint belts (Incorporating Amendment No. 1, April 2012)

SS 570: 2022 Personal protective equipment for protection against falls from a height

   Part 1: Single-point anchor devices

   Part 2: Flexible horizontal lifeline systems

SS 607: 2015 Specification for Design of Active Fall-protection Systems

Ministry of Manpower

WSH National Statistics Report 2023

Workplace Safety and Health Council

Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management

Code of Practice for Working Safely at Heights

WSH Guidelines on Working Safely on Roofs

WSH Guidelines on Anchorage, Lifelines and Temporary Edge Protection Systems

WSH Guidelines on Personal Protective Equipment for Work at Heights

Work at Heights Toolkit for Supervisors

Worker’s Safety Handbook for Work at Height

ABC Checklist for Working Safely at Heights

ABC Checklist for Working on Rooftops

6 Basic WSH Rules for Working on Roofs

6 Basic WSH Rules for Working at Heights

WSH Poster: Working on Fragile Roof Surfaces

WSH Pictogram: Workers have died falling through fragile surfaces.

WSH Insights: Prevent Falls from Open Sides

WSH Insights: Prevent Falls with Travel Restraints

Presentation Slides by Roofing Association of Singapore: Working on Fragile Surfaces

UK Health and Safety Executive

Fragile roofs: Safe Working Practices

Safe Use of Combustible Dust

Measures for safe use of combustible dust

What is combustible dust?

Combustible dust is defined as any finely divided combustible particulate solid that may present a flash fire or explosion hazard when suspended in the air. You may find the list of combustible dust in the Fourth Schedule of the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations.

Effective 1 January 2025, the list of hazardous substances in the Fifth Schedule of the WSH Act will be expanded to include combustible dust. Duties of manufacturers and suppliers will also be extended to include combustible dust.

Labelling for combustible dust

All packages and containers of combustible dust in workplaces are required to be labelled to include:

• An alert of combustible dust hazard. The statement "Warning: May form explosible dust-air mixture if dispersed" needs to be explicitly stated on the label.

Precautionary measures to be taken when handling combustible dust.

For organic combustible dust such as flour, sugar, or potato starch, labelling will only be required for packages of 25kg and above.

You may refer to examples of warning labels for containers of combustible dust.

Notification to MOM on use of combustible dust

Factories that handle, sort, pack, store, process, manufacture or use combustible dust specified in the Fourth Schedule of the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations at or above the prescribed threshold quantity will be required to notify MOM and the owner of the factory such as the building owner or landlord.

Occupiers are required to:

• Notify MOM
• At least one month before starting the use of any particular combustible dust in your factory at or above the threshold quantity
• At the soonest possible before increasing the quantity of any particular combustible dust in your factory to or above the threshold quantity, if that combustible dust is currently in use
• Not later than one month after stopping the use of all combustible dust at your factory
• Notify the owner of the factory
• Before starting the use of any particular combustible dust in your factory at or above the threshold quantity
• After stopping the use of all combustible dust at your factory

This allows MOM to have oversight on factories with a combustible dust risk and for landlords to take proactive steps to avoid incompatible work among tenants.

You may refer to WSH (General Provisions) Regulations on existing control measures to prevent an explosion in the workplace arising from explosive or flammable dust.

SCDF Circular on PFM Licence

TRANSITION TO GOBUSINESS PORTAL FOR PETROLEUM AND FLAMMABLE MATERIALS (P&FM) STORAGE AND TRANSPORT LICENCES APPLICATIONS

To All Petroleum and Flammable Material Licensees

This circular informs P&FM licensees that all applications for P&FM storage and transport licences will be ported from the current LicenceOne portal to the Gobusiness (GoBiz) portal, effective from 06 December 2024. The GoBiz portal is a Whole of Government (WOG) initiative by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) which serves as a comprehensive business licensing system, enabling business and vocational licensees to conduct electronic transactions with Ministries and Statutory Boards. This includes applications for new licences, renewals, amendments, terminations, payment processing, and inquiries regarding application or licence statuses. In the next phase, the P&FM pipeline and import licences applications will also be ported to the GoBiz portal.

2. The P&FM Licence applications in the Gobiz portal will introduce new features as follows:

• Transport Licence Duration: The system will automatically provide the maximum licence duration. Applicants may choose to reduce the duration only, based on their business needs.

• Transport Chemical Declaration: Applicant will be required to select the chemical classes and chemical names.

• Transport Licence Payment: Applicant will be required to make payment immediately on SCDF website after application submission, for the licence to be processed.

• Licence Amendment: Applicant can apply for re-issuance of licence in Gobusiness with the amended administrative details.

• Licence Cancellation: Applicant can apply to terminate the licence in GoBusiness. 

MOM Adversary : Adverse Weather Conditions

Singapore is experiencing the effects of climate change together with other countries near the region. Strong winds and heavy rains lashed across Singapore saw toppling trees, snarling traffic and causing property damage.

The Ministry of Manpower and WSH Council urge workplaces to prepare for erratic and sudden changes in weather conditions, such as stronger winds, warmer temperatures, longer dry spells, increase occurrences in lightning, and flash floods.

To better prepare for erratic and adverse weather events, especially for outdoor work,

Companies are encouraged to:

• Monitor weather conditions: Use weather monitoring systems and alerts (e.g. by subscribing to the Heat Stress Level/Rainfall/Lightning/Air Quality alerts via the National Environment Agency’s myENV mobile app) to stay informed about upcoming weather conditions.
• Review risk assessments: Consider the impact of adverse weather events and implement suitable risk controls for specific work activities affected by the climate condition.
• Communicate possible hazards to workers: Train workers to recognise the hazard, and report to their supervisor and/or stop work as necessary especially in an emergency.
• Prepare a recovery plan: Check and ensure the integrity of affected structures and critical outdoor machineries and equipment after the weather event.

Recommendations on suitable risk controls include: 

For more information, refer to the WSH Council’s Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management, the Ministry of Manpower’s Heat Stress Measures for Outdoor Work, Guidelines for Employers on Protecting Employees from the Effect of Haze, and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Factsheet on Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors.

Smaller-scale Construction Works Safety

 Smaller-scale Construction Works Safety

In 2023, 11 fatalities and 100 major injuries resulting from smaller-scale construction works (e.g. addition and alteration works, renovation and facility management)  These smaller-scale works are of major concern as they caused 66% of the fatal and major injuries in the construction sector for 2023.

Common failure observed include the use of equipment in poor condition (e.g. damaged ladders, damaged hoarding supports), poor workplace housekeeping (e.g. loose electrical cables left on the ground), inadequate fall prevention/protection measures, use of improper footwear, and missing safety data sheets for chemicals used at the workplace.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be conducting inspections targeting smaller-scale construction projects (including those in commercial malls) with a contract value of less than $5 million In the upcoming months

Below are some good workplace safety and health (WSH) practices commonly adopted by companies to prevent injuries arising from hazards found in smaller-scale construction works. The WSH Council urges companies to conduct proper risk assessments and adopt the following good practices to be well prepared for MOM’s upcoming inspections.

Workplace Noise Induced Deafness Prevention

Workplace Noise-Induced Deafness Prevention

Do you know what is the leading occupational disease in Singapore? Yes your are correct, it is the Noise-induced deafness (NID) .

Workers may be exposed to excessive noise emitted by equipment, machinery or even processes at the workplace. Hearing loss is an irreversible process and can lead to communication difficulties, disruptions in job performance, and impact one’s livelihood and quality of life.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be conducting inspections on noisy work environments in the manufacturing sector In the upcoming months

Below are some of the good practices adopted by companies to protect their workers' hearing and urge more companies to do the same:

Measure workplace noise

Workplace noise monitoring determines noise levels in the work environment to assess if workers are at risk of hearing loss.

• Conduct a site walkabout to identify noisy equipment, tools and work processes. Common sources of noise at workplaces include:

Engage a competent person (i.e. a noise monitoring officer) to measure:

• Noise levels emitted by the noisy equipment, tools and work processes; and
• Noise exposure (e.g. using personal dosimetry) of any worker exposed to excessive noise.

Develop action plans based on the noise monitoring report:

• Implement noise reduction measure(s) for each identified noise source.
• Designate each identified noisy work area as a “hearing protector zone” with warning signs displayed.
• Send workers identified to be exposed to excessive noise for yearly audiometric examination.

Manage workplace noise levels

Reduce a worker’s exposure to noise and prevent NID by implementing these noise control measures:

Examples of noise reduction measures implemented by companies

Monitor workers’ hearing through audiometric examinations

Audiometric examinations are hearing tests to determine if a worker has normal hearing, early NID or advanced NID. Yearly audiometric examinations allow for early NID detection, so that immediate intervention can be carried out to prevent further hearing loss.

• Send new hires for audiometric examination before or within three months of starting employment.
• Send existing workers who are exposed to excessive noise for yearly audiometric examinations.

Confirm that the hearing tests are carried out by trained personnel in an audiometric booth. For more accurate results, limit the worker’s exposure to noise for at least 16 hours before the hearing test.

Support workers diagnosed with occupational NID:

• Provide them with suitable hearing protectors and remind them to wear them.
• Redeploy them to less noisy work activities and/or reduce their time spent in noisy work environments.
• Arrange additional follow up audiometric examinations and consultations as deemed necessary by the doctor.

Note that employers are required to submit an incident report to MOM for each worker diagnosed with occupational NID