WSH Case Studies- For WSH Professionals

What is WSH Case Studies

WSH Case Studies is a free resources for various groups from management and safety professionals to supervisors and workers for improving WSH practices .

It offers insights to past  accidents that have taken place in Singapore. The case studies not only provide lessons learnt for the industry, but more importantly, they remind us to actively review our current practices and continually find ways to make our workplaces safer. Readers are encouraged to carefully think through each case, review its relevancy and context to specific workplace situations, and incorporate the lessons learnt where appropriate.

Here are some workplace accidents case studies for your review 

1)WSH Case Studies - Chemical Industry

This booklet is divided into various sections according to type of incident for easy reference. The 5M (Mission, Man, Machine and Management, Medium) Model (see Appendix B) is used to analyse the contributing factors of each case. At the end of the booklet is a section on occupational health hazards. Unlike safety hazards, consequences posed by occupational health hazards may not be as obvious and immediate. Adverse health effects may be chronic in nature and can take a long time for the occupational disease to manifest. This section will show innovative approaches used in addressing exposure to occupational health hazards involving noise, ergonomics and chemicals. 

2)WSH Case Studies -Accident Involving Working At Heights

Case Studies of Accidents Involving Working at Heights is the result of collective efforts of Ministry of Manpower and National WAH Safety Taskforce. Past concluded fatal accidents were compiled and categorised according to incident types for ease of reference. Through root cause analysis of these accidents, causes were examined and key learning points shared. The lessons and recommendations within will help you in implementing appropriate WSH measures at your workplaces to prevent work at heights injuries 

3)WSH Case Studies -Working in and around Water

This case studies booklet aims to raise WSH awareness and reiterate the importance of strengthening WSH ownership at all levels. It was developed by the Ministry of Manpower and the WSH Council, with feedback solicited from members of the WSH Council (Marine Industries) Committee, National Maritime Safety at Sea Council, and the MPA-Harbour Craft Safety Working Group. The ten case studies include scenarios like transfer to and from vessels, transport via barges, mooring and diving operations. Each incident will be accompanied by lessons learnt and recommendations.

4)WSH Case Studies -Wood Working

This case studies showcased 3 workplace accident associated with fingers severed by both table saw and circular saw in the Wood Working Industry

5)WSH Case Studies -Fatal Fire in LPG Filling Facility

Workplaces handling LPG and other flammable substances, are reminded to take heed of the learning points and implement effective risk control measures to prevent any similar recurrences.

In summary, the four learning points from the incident are:

1) Protect small-bore pipelines from accidental impact;
2) Provide a master shutdown button for safe and coordinated stoppage of gas filling;
3) Provide fire retardant clothing (FRC) to workers working with flammable substances; and
4) Plan and implement an effective emergency response

6)WSH Case Studies - Fatal Accident Involving Failure of a Tower Crane

This case studies showcased Learning Report involving Failure of Luffing Jib Tower Crane at Kajima Overseas Asia (Singapore) Pte Ltd’s Worksite Located at Tan Tock Seng Link.In summary, the two key learning points from this incident are:

1) Eliminate Risk of Entanglement between Erection Ropes and other Structures; and

2) Ensure Erection Ropes return to their Resting Position.

7)WSH Case Studies - Construction Industry

This compilation of case studies on fatalities in the construction industry depicts how the accidents occurred and provides valuable learning points on how they could have been prevented.

1. Falls from Height

2. Worker Struck by Fall

3. Electrocution

4. Worker Struck by/against Objects/Machines

8)WSH Case Studies - Marine Industry

Every year, more than 300 injuries befall our workers in the marine industry. Some workers who are severely injured face long roads to recovery or suffer from permanent incapacity. Some may never return home to their loved ones. It is our belief that no one should be injured at work. Everyone should go home safely every day, free from harm.

The Committee, comprising of business leaders from the marine sector, has put in a lot of effort to safeguard the workers. Although we have reduced the number of fatalities over the years, such incidents still happen, and sadly, some of these incidents are very similar in nature. Hence, the lessons drawn from these incidents are key to us in preventing the next incident from recurring. That is why we have pooled together our WSH expertise from various companies to compile these case studies.

This booklet is divided into various sections according to incident type for easy reference. The underlying causes of these accidents are carefully examined through root cause analysis. Make full use of this compilation, to share these cases at your company’s training or toolbox meetings on a regular basis and undertake study through each case, review its relevancy and context to specific workplace situations, and incorporate the lessons learnt where appropriate. 

9)WSH Case Studies - Logistics & Transport Industry

FALLS FROM HEIGHT

Case 1 Fall from the top of a stack of steel pipes 

Case 2 Fall from height 

Case 3 Fall from skyloader 

CAUGHT IN BETWEEN OBJECTS

Case 4 Caught between the mast section and cabin of forklift 

Case 5 Crushed in between metal racks 

Case 6 Crushed between prime mover and container 

Case 7 Hand crushed by winding rope 

Case 8 Finger severed by swiftly curling tow line 

STRUCK BY MACHINES

Case 9 Finger severed by closing panel cover 

Case 10 Fingers amputated by bandsaw 

STRUCK BY FALLING OBJECTS

Case 11 Struck by falling metal beams 

STRUCK BY MOVING VEHICLES

Case 12 Pinned to ground by toppling forklift 

Case 13 Struck by side loader 

Case 14 Thrown out of vehicle upon collision 

Case 15 Hit by side loader 

ELECTROCUTION

Case 16 Electrocution 

WORK-RELATED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Case 17 Collision between motor bus and motorcycle 

Case 18 Collision between prime mover and motorcycle

10)WSH Case Studies - Metal Working Industry

Machine Operation

Case 1 Aluminium strip pierces a worker’s neck 

Case 2 Worker’s palm gets crushed 

Case 3 Worker’s thumb gets severed 

Machine Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Case 4 Worker pinned by a steel object 

Case 5 Worker gets killed by a steel mesh machine 

Case 6 Worker falls through an opening 

Case 7 Worker’s two fingers get severed 

Case 8 Worker’s two fingers get crushed 

Material Handling

Case 9 Worker killed by a toppling object 

Case 10 Worker’s ring finger gets severed 

Forklift Operation

Case 11 Worker gets pinned under an overturned forklift 

Case 12 Supervisor killed by falling angle bars 

Case 13 Supervisor killed by a collapsing shelter 

Lifting Operation

Case 14 Lorry crane driver gets pinned under H-piles 

Case 15 Worker is pinned between a gantry crane and a building column

Case 16 Worker gets killed by toppled scaffold frames 

Case 17 Worker falls and gets crushed by an electrical distribution box

Case 18 Worker’s fourth finger gets partially amputated 

Case 19 Worker’s middle finger gets partially amputated 

Case 20 Worker loses his left little finger 

Material Storage

Case 21 Store assistant falls off a cantilever rack 

Case 22 Worker is crushed by toppling steel beams 

Case 23 Worker falls from a stack of platform beam trusses 

Other Cases

Case 24 Worker falls from a stepladder 

Case 25 Worker killed by a ruptured pressure receiver 

Case 26 Worker gets electrocuted while removing an extension cord

Case 27 Worker crushed by a toppling stiffener plate 

Case 28 Worker is pinned under a toppled I-beam 

11)WSH Case Studies - Food Manufacturing Industry

Case 1 Worker Found Dead Inside Mixing Tank 

Case 2 Worker Killed during Machine Cleaning 

Case 3 Worker Loses Finger when Working with Band Saw 

Case 4 Worker Struck by Fallen Window Sash 

Case 5 Worker Died after Slip and Fall at Bread Factory 

Case 6 Worker’s Hand Caught in Meat Mincer