Safe Road Transportation of Workers

Following recent enforcement operation conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Safe Transportation of Workers on Lorries to ensure compliance with the revised Workplace Safety and Health (General Provision) Regulations for transporting workers on lorry decks, some common unsafe work practices were identified.

Here are some of the unsafe work practices

Unsafe Work Practice 1

Equipment and materials on lorry’s rear deck were not secured, posing a safety hazard to workers on the rear deck. No proper foothold was provided for workers alighting and boarding the lorry’s rear deck.

Recommendation

Provide proper and secure footholds so that workers can enter and exit the lorry deck safely.

Unsafe Work Practice 2

No vehicle buddy was found seated in the cabin of the lorry next to the driver

Recommendation

A vehicle buddy should be seated next to the driver at all times to ensure that the driver is alert while transporting workers

Unsafe Work Practice 3

Goods and equipment were not properly secured.

Recommendation

Transported loads must be properly secured to prevent movement, especially when the vehicle is braking, to avoid injuring workers in the rear deck.

MOM urge companies to comply with the safety regulations to ensure the safe transportation of workers on lorries. Details of the revised Workplace Safety and Health (General Provision) Regulations for transporting workers on lorry decks can be found at www.go.gov.sg/wsh-safetransport