Confined Spaces Safe Work Practices

Confined Spaces Safe Work Practices

Working inside a confined spaces can be hazardous due to the possibility of explosions, fires, poisonous fumes, or oxygen shortages. Three workplace deaths occurred between 2021 and 2023 as a result of working in confined spaces. And 2 workers lost their lives in the first half of 2024 as a result of being overexposed to hydrogen sulfide after entering a service tunnel to do tank cleaning tasks.

The WSH Council has compiled the following good practices for confined space work. Companies are reminded to implement these practices to protect their workers from confined space hazards.

Construction Site Workplace Fatality

SINGAPORE – Construction site workplace fatality involving a local site engineer and a Bangladeshi construction worker. Both died on Sept 17 after they were struck by heavy machinery at a worksite in Lentor Avenue for the upcoming North-South Corridor.

Singapore Civil Defence Force paramedic pronounced the Bangladeshi worker,39 dead at the scene while the engineer, 38, was unconscious when taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where he died due to his injuries.

Two other workers, aged 32 and 47, were also taken to the same hospital after the accident, which happened at about 1.20pm.

According to LTA the four were assembling a winch drum that was resting on two concrete blocks when the winch, which is typically used in the lifting of heavy materials, slid off the blocks and struck them

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that as a general safety measure, heavy machinery or structures must be secured in a stable manner to reduce the risk of slipping or toppling

**Cause of Accident**: 

The winch drum, used for lifting heavy materials, slid off its concrete supports while the workers were assembling it

**Ongoing Investigation**: 

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) are investigating the incident, and LTA has paused work to review safety protocols. 5. **Previous Safety Incidents**: This is the second fatal accident at a North-South Corridor construction site in a year. At this point in time, the root causes are not yet known as the investigation is still ongoing

MOM Revised Heat Stress Framework

REVISED FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE EMPLOYERS AND PROTECT OUTDOOR WORKERS AGAINST HEAT STRESS

With global warming, rising temperatures in Singapore will place workers, especially outdoor workers, at an increased risk of heat stress. Unlike the general population, outdoor workers have less discretion over their work activities, and may be more vulnerable to heat stress. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), in consultation with the industry and tripartite partners, has reviewed our heat stress management measures to ensure outdoor workers are adequately protected at varying temperatures, while allowing flexibility for employers to adjust and implement measures based on their localised conditions. 

The framework for outdoor workers has been aligned with the three-tier Heat Stress Advisory for the general population, which is based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)[1]. The framework includes required measures that are critical in mitigating the risk of heat stress, such as heat acclimatisation, regular hydration, monitoring of WBGT and provision of adequate rest breaks under shade, that must be implemented. There are also recommended practices, such as close monitoring of worker’s health condition and provision of ventilation, for employers to consider at the different WBGT bands. The framework is appended in the Annex.

MOM will conduct inspections at workplaces to ensure that required measures under the framework are implemented. More information on the framework can be found at go.gov.sg/heatstress-outdoorwork

Annex

Note: Bold items are required measures that must be implemented at the respective WBGT bands.

* Workers vulnerable to heat stress include:  

· Older workers above 65 years old of age  

· Pregnant workers  

· Overweight or obese workers  

· Newly assigned to outdoor work 

· Unacclimatised to working in hot environments such as new or returning from countries with cold climate 

· Returning from long leave of more than 1 week 

· Currently unwell or recovering from illness 

· With personal risk factors such as chronic diseases, medication use, or history of heat injury

Note: 

This list is not exhaustive and neither covers all individual variabilities nor all conditions. 

Workers should consult a medical doctor if they have any of the above health related conditions and wish to be certified fit to work outdoors. 

Workers with other medical conditions or who are uncertain should consult a medical doctor.

Employers who wish to deploy vulnerable workers have a duty to ensure they are fit for outdoor work. They should seek the worker’s consent and make provisions for the worker to consult a medical doctor. 

Hazards of Overfilling Skid Bin

 Advisory to Waste Generators and General Waste Collectors (GWCs)

SINGAPORE : Joint circular from WSH Council , LTA and NEA seek the cooperation of waste generators and other users of OTCs such as companies and Town Councils to help ensure that the OTCs are not overfilled at their premises.

Exceeding the Maximum Laden Weight of vehicles attracts a fine

Overfilled OTCs that exceed the maximum laden weight (MLW)1 is a hazard to both drivers and other road users. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act for vehicles that exceed the MLW to be used on the road; and vehicles found in violation of load limits may face fines of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 months for first-time offenders, and doubled for repeat offenders.

Overfilled OTCs Should Not Be Hauled for Safety Reasons

Under the licensing conditions, the GWCs are required to ensure that the OTCs are not overly filled with waste and that waste must be securely covered during transportation. Failure to do so could pose safety hazards to other road users, e.g. waste could drop off on the road. Similarly, this would compromise the safety of the drivers and staff of the disposal facilities. 

Hence, OTCs should only be filled up to their brim, which also makes it easier for the OTCs to be securely covered for transportation.

GWCs have the rights to reject collection of overfilled OTCs if waste generators do not cooperate and ensure no overfilling of OTCs. Errant GWCs found hauling overfilled OTCs may

be subject to enforcement action.

Negative examples of overfilling the open top containers

Positive examples of filling up an open top container