Construction Site Fatal Accident

 Worker dies after steel bars fell on him at RTS Link station worksite

SINGAPORE: Construction site workplace fatal accident involving a construction worker died and another was injured after an incident at the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link station worksite on Thursday (Jun 27).

Both workers were struck by steel bars when performing steel reinforcement works for a pilecap at the RTS Link Woodlands North station worksite, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) told CNA on Friday.

The pilecap is part of the foundation system supporting the station. 

At around 9.30am, the steel bars "swayed and fell onto two workers", said LTA.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force and the police said in response to CNA's queries that they received a call for assistance at about 9.50am.

The 48-year-old Bangladeshi worker was brought to Woodlands Health Campus Hospital unconscious, where he subsequently died.

His 49-year-old co-worker, who was conveyed conscious to the same hospital, sustained minor injuries and has been discharged

A safety time-out has been called to review and further enhance the safety process, said LTA.

The authority added that it is assisting the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the police with their investigations.

LTA is also working with the main contractor and sub-contractor involved to assist the family of the deceased.

Penta-Ocean Construction Company is the occupier and main contractor of the worksite and it engaged Interno Engineering as a sub-contractor to perform the work, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in response to CNA's query on Friday.

The employer of the deceased is Maranatha Contractors and the developer for the project is LTA.

"As a general safety measure, a suitable propping system should be designed and installed to support steel reinforcements for tall structures," said MOM.

"The required sequence of propping should be briefed and followed by all workers involved," it added.

MOM has instructed Penta-Ocean Construction to stop all steel reinforcement works in the worksite while investigations are ongoing.

Penta-Ocean was awarded a contract worth S$932.8 million (US$687.7 million) in 2020 for the construction of the RTS Link Woodlands North station, tunnels and the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) building in Singapore.

WSH Excellence Through Maximum Fines

Entrenching WSH Excellence with Increase in Maximum Fines and Mandatory Video Surveillance

To maintain the workplace fatal and major injury rates in 2023 (excluding 2020 when COVID-19 disrupted work) and entrench a culture of workplace safety and health (WSH) excellence, the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce earlier announced two significant measures that will be implemented from 1 June 2024 onwards which include :

• Increase in maximum fines for safety breaches under the WSH Act’s Subsidiary Legislation, and 
• Mandatory installation of Video Surveillance System (VSS) at construction sites with a contract sum of $5 million and above. 

Increase in maximum fines for safety breaches

2 The Ministry of Manpower will be increasing the maximum fines from $20,000 to $50,000 as a stronger deterrence against breaches of the WSH Act Subsidiary Legislation that could result in death, serious bodily injury or dangerous occurrence (i.e. serious harm). The maximum fines are reviewed based on principles such as severity of the offence i.e. whether it was a major cause or contributing factor of serious harm. The increase in maximum fines is a proactive step towards strengthening ownership and accountability of WSH, particularly among senior company leadership who are responsible for shaping the safety culture at the workplace. More details on the increase in maximum fines can be found in Annex A. 

Mandatory installation of Video Surveillance System (VSS)

3The Construction sector remained a top contributor of fatal and major injuries across sectors in 2023, although there were improvements over the previous year. To push for further improvements in the sector, all construction sites with a contract sum of $5 million and above will be required to install the VSS at worksite locations where high-risk work activities are conducted. By enabling remote monitoring and video capture, the VSS acts as a deterrent for unsafe workplace behaviours, provides valuable training resources for companies, and offers insights for investigations of safety incidents and near-misses. This will foster a proactive approach to WSH management, and promote a culture of incident prevention in workplaces. 

4WSH is a collective responsibility, and all stakeholders must continue playing an active role in building a culture of WSH excellence in Singapore for workers and workplaces to thrive.

Annex A

MOM reviewed the provisions across 21 WSH Act Subsidiary Legislation, based on the following principles to determine the proposed maximum penalties for the first conviction:

Workplace Safety and Health Advisory

 WSH Advisory for Fatal Accidents in Second Half of 2023

The Ministry of Manpower has released the WSH statistics for 2023. Singapore’s workplace fatality rate for 2023 has reduced to a record low of 0.99 per 100,000 workers, and we need all stakeholders to remain committed and unwavering in our efforts to sustain our low fatality rate.  

In the spirit of prevention, the WSH Council has prepared a WSH Advisory based on the fatalities occurred in the second half of 2023. In this Advisory, we have grouped the fatalities based on incident types (e.g. fall from height). The recommendations within the Advisory are also tailored to address the incident types. 

We want employers, supervisors and workers to learn from these past incidents and adopt the recommendations to prevent the next incident from occurring.

To learn more of the following workplace categories and its associated recommendation and corrective click on the respective accident category

Electrocution 

Fall from height

Environmental Factors

Forklift Related

Lifting related

Struck by Object

Vehicular Related

Heat Stress Management

Managing heat stress as Singapore gets warmer

2023 was Singapore’s fourth-hottest year1, with a sweltering high of 37°C in May 2023. In the Third National Climate Change Study2, Singapore’s climate is projected to become warmer, with very hot days becoming more frequent by the end of this century.

The rise in temperatures put workers, especially those working outdoors, at an increased risk of heat stress. For work to continue in a safe manner, employers will need to do more to protect outdoor workers.

In the upcoming months, the Ministry of Manpower will be conducting workplace inspections in the construction, shipyards and process industries, to check the effectiveness of heat stress measures for outdoor work.

Figure 1: Workers at a construction site working under direct sun.

Implementing an Effective Heat Stress Management Programme

To protect workers and increase resilience to rising temperatures, employers are required to implement enhanced heat stress measures for outdoor work3. Workplaces are to ensure effective implementation of the following protective measures: 

Figure 2: Example of a portable WBGT monitor.

Other Heat Stress Protective Measures

• Adequate ventilation: Cool rest and work areas with fans or air coolers.

• Light-coloured clothes: Provide breathable, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing for outdoor workers to wear.

• Work rescheduling: Carry out physical work during cooler parts of the day.

• Mechanical assistance: Reduce physical exertion with mechanical aids, like manual handling equipment and powered tools.

Early recognition of signs and symptoms: Implement a buddy system to aid early recognition of heat-related signs, symptoms and illnesses (e.g. fainting spells, disoriented behaviours) for prompt interventions.

Heat-related illnesses may affect workplace safety or lead to a workplace accident. The WSH Council urges employers to partner workers and manage heat stress effectively, for a safe and healthy workplace.

1 The Straits Times (29 Jan 2024): 2023 was Singapore’s 4th hottest year, based on records kept from 1929 onwards.

2 Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s Joint Media Release on Singapore’s Third National Climate Change Study (5 Jan 2024).

3 Ministry of Manpower’s Press Release on Enhanced Measures to Reduce Heat Stress for Outdoor Workers (Oct 2023).

4 Workers who are vulnerable to heat stress includes those who are newly assigned to outdoor work; unacclimatised to working in hot environments (e.g. new or returning from countries with a cold climate); returning from long leave of more than a week; recovering from prolonged illness; and have personal factors (e.g. chronic diseases, medication use, history of heat injury or pregnant).

5 Refer to Page 17 of WSH Guidelines on Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace for an example of how to gradually increase a worker’s daily heat exposure.

For more information: 

Ministry of Manpower

Enhanced Heat Stress Measures for Outdoor Work

FAQs on Heat Stress Measures for Outdoor Work

National Environment Agency

Heat Stress Advisory

Workplace Safety and Health Institute

OWLinks Issue 79 – Heat Stress in the Workplace

Workplace Safety and Health Council

WSH Guidelines on Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace

Heat Stress Management Compliance Checklist

Specifications for WBGT Meters for Workplace Measurement

Monitor and Manage Heat Stress Poster

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 SUBSTANCES

Background

1 On 7 March 2023, an explosion followed by a fire occurred in a room that served a motor workshop, causing parts of the building’s walls to collapse. Investigations revealed that the fire was likely due to the ignition of accumulated flammable vapours from a waste oil collection tank within the room.

2 Days later, another fire incident occurred on 13 March 2023. The fire engulfed an industrial building and caused minor injuries to two workers. Investigations indicated that uncontrolled electrostatic discharge had ignited flammable vapours generated during a dispensing process. Both incidents were dangerous occurrences that could have caused fatalities.

Storage of Flammable Liquids

3 To prevent similar fires, occupiers shall ensure that flammable liquids are kept away from all sources of heat or ignition such as hot surfaces, open flames and even equipment that are not suitably enclosed to prevent internal sparks from igniting any flammables in the surrounding (see Annex A for examples); and stored in containers made of non-combustible materials of sound integrity, labelled, and covered to prevent accidental spills and accumulation of flammable vapours in the workplace (see Annex B for examples).

4 Effective controls shall also be implemented to mitigate electrostatic discharge. This includes the installation of grounding and bonding systems as well as the conduct of annual continuity tests, both by competent persons1

 1 Such as licensed electrical workers (LEWs).

Management of Flammable Wastes

5 Flammable liquid wastes, such as petrol collected from vehicle repair/servicing activities, can cause fires and explosions. Motor workshop operators, for example, shall identify and ensure that liquid wastes containing such flammable liquids are stored separately from non-flammable liquid wastes, before collection by licenced toxic industrial waste collectors (TIWCs). Mixtures of flammable liquid waste and liquids shall be treated as flammable liquids unless they have been laboratory-tested as non-flammable and may therefore be subjected to licensing requirements by the SCDF

6 TIWCs licensed by National Environment Agency shall be engaged to dispose flammable liquid waste or mixtures. A list of TIWCs can be found here or via the QR code.

Other Control Measures to Prevent Fires and Explosions

7 There are other control measures for flammable substances that are required to prevent fires and explosions in the workplace. Occupiers can refer to the resources listed below, for information and practical guidance. Occupiers can also refer to SCDF’s website on Information of Petroleum and Flammable Material (P&FM) Storage Licence

Resources

o WSH Guidelines on Flammable Materials, published by the WSH Council

o Environment Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations

o Fire Safety Act and Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations

o WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

o SS 532: Code of Practice for the Storage of Flammable Liquids

o SS 586-1: Specification for Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous

Goods – Part 1: Transport and Storage of Dangerous Goods

o SS 586-2: Specification for Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous

Goods – Part 2: Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

o SS 603: Code of Practice for Hazardous Waste Management

Annex A – Store Flammables away from Heat and Ignition Sources

The lack of an effective bonding and grounding system can lead to unintended discharge of accumulated electrostatic charges during the transfer of flammable liquids.

Unsealed containers holding flammable liquids are capable of emitting flammable vapours into the work environment

When flammable vapours meet heat or ignition sources, fires and explosions can occur. Some heat or ignition sources include:

• Open flames, such as welding, candles;

• Sparks and excessive heat from machinery moving parts;

• Overloaded power sockets, exposed electrical wires and circuitry.

Annex B – Suitable Storage for Flammable Liquids

Cabinets for flammable substances

Sealed metal drums

Metal jerry cans

Safe Storage and Handling of Flammable

Joint Circular issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)

SAFE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

Background

1 On 7 March 2023, an explosion followed by a fire occurred in a room that served a motor workshop, causing parts of the building’s walls to collapse. Investigations revealed that the fire was likely due to the ignition of accumulated flammable vapours from a waste oil collection tank within the room.

2 Days later, another fire incident occurred on 13 March 2023. The fire engulfed an industrial building and caused minor injuries to two workers. Investigations indicated that uncontrolled electrostatic discharge had ignited flammable vapours generated during a dispensing process. Both incidents were dangerous occurrences that could have caused fatalities.

Storage of Flammable Liquids

3 To prevent similar fires, occupiers shall ensure that flammable liquids are kept away from all sources of heat or ignition such as hot surfaces, open flames and even equipment that are not suitably enclosed to prevent internal sparks from igniting any flammables in the surrounding (see Annex A for examples); and stored in containers made of non-combustible materials of sound integrity, labelled, and covered to prevent accidental spills and accumulation of flammable vapours in the workplace (see Annex B for examples).

4 Effective controls shall also be implemented to mitigate electrostatic discharge. This includes the installation of grounding and bonding systems as well as the conduct of annual continuity tests, both by competent persons.

Management of Flammable Wastes

5 Flammable liquid wastes, such as petrol collected from vehicle repair/servicing activities, can cause fires and explosions. Motor workshop operators, for example, shall identify and ensure that liquid wastes containing such flammable liquids are stored separately from non-flammable liquid wastes, before collection by licenced toxic industrial waste collectors (TIWCs). Mixtures of flammable liquid waste and liquids shall be treated as flammable liquids unless they have been laboratory-tested as non-flammable and may therefore be subjected to licensing requirements by the SCDF

6 TIWCs licensed by National Environment Agency shall be engaged to dispose flammable liquid waste or mixtures. A list of TIWCs can be found here or via the QR code.

Other Control Measures to Prevent Fires and Explosions

7 There are other control measures for flammable substances that are required to prevent fires and explosions in the workplace. Occupiers can refer to the resources listed below, for information and practical guidance. Occupiers can also refer to SCDF’s website on Information of Petroleum and Flammable Material (P&FM) Storage Licence.

Resources

WSH Guidelines on Flammable Materials, published by the WSH Council

Environment Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations

Fire Safety Act and Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

SS 532: Code of Practice for the Storage of Flammable Liquids

SS 586-1: Specification for Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous .Goods – Part 1: Transport and Storage of Dangerous Goods

SS 586-2: Specification for Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous.Goods – Part 2: Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals

SS 603: Code of Practice for Hazardous Waste Management

Construction Work Permit Requirement

Construction sector: Work Permit requirements

To employ migrant workers for the construction sector, you will have to meet specific requirements for worker's source country or region, quota and levy.

These requirements are additional and specific to the construction sector. You should also refer to the general Work Permit conditions and requirements.

Migrant worker eligibility

You can only hire migrant workers who satisfy the conditions for source countries or regions, age when applying and maximum period of employment.

Successful workers will also need to meet vaccination requirements to get their pass issued.

Source countries or regions

You can employ migrant workers from these countries or regions:

• Malaysia
• People’s Republic of China (PRC)
• Non-traditional sources (NTS):
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Bangladesh
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• North Asian sources (NAS):
• Hong Kong (HKSAR passport)
• Macau
• South Korea
• Taiwan

Age when applying

The minimum age for all non-domestic migrant workers is 18 years old.

When applying for a Work Permit:

Malaysian workers must be below 58 years old.

Non-Malaysian workers must be below 50 years old.

Maximum period of employment

For the construction sector, the maximum number of years a worker can work in Singapore on a Work Permit is as follows:

Note: All workers can only work up to 60 years of age.

Quota and levy

Companies with project contracts that were awarded or had the tender called on or before 18 February 2022 may use the awarded man-year entitlement (MYE) quotas to hire NTS or PRC workers till 31 December 2024 or the project completion date (whichever is earlier).

For companies with contracts that were awarded or had tender called after 18 February 2022, they do not need MYEs or prior approvals (PAs) to hire NTS or PRC workers. Companies can hire NTS or PRC workers as long as it is within their quota.

The number of Work Permit holders that you can hire is limited by quota (or dependency ratio ceiling) and subject to a levy.

Under the construction sector quota, you can employ 5 Work Permit holders for every local employee who earns the Local Qualifying Salary.

From 1 January 2024, the levy rate is as follows:

Companies with project contracts that were awarded or had the tender called on or before 18 February 2022, may use the awarded MYE quotas to hire NTS workers at a lower levy rate. The levy rates for these NTS workers are as follows:

To learn more click MOM Construction Sector Work Permit Requirement

Prevent Falls from Open Sides Guide

Open sides without proper barricades and lack of safe access are common safety lapses leading to fall-from-height incidents, where workers have suffered serious injuries or even lost their lives.

In the upcoming months, the Ministry of Manpower will be conducting inspections targeting work-at-height infringements in the construction, marine, and transport and storage industries.

Protect your workers from falling over open sides by including the following measures adopted by many companies, into your fall prevention plan: 

• Conduct a toolbox briefing before starting work. Alert workers to onsite risks and remind them how they can work safely at heights. New workers are to complete work-at-height training and a site orientation before being deployed to work at height.
• Close off all open sides. Install guardrails and/or barricades along the perimeter of open sides. The edge protection must be able to withstand a weight of 100kg applied in any direction. Refer to Figure 1 for the required dimensions for edge protection.

Figure 1:  Required dimensions for edge protection. 

• Install a travel-restraint system. This restricts the movement of workers and keeps them at a safe distance from any open sides if edge protection is not feasible.

• Equip workers with fall-arrest equipment. If a travel restraint system is not feasible, each worker must wear a full-body harness with connecting lanyards OR a self-retracting lifeline.

• Secure anchor points. Identify and/or provide suitable anchor points for each worker to hook their lanyards on to while they work at height. Never deploy workers to work at height at sites where there are no suitable anchor points. Refer to Figures 2, 3 and 4 on the various types of secure anchor points.

Figure 2:  Bolt anchor point. 

Figure 3:  Horizontal lifeline

Figure 4:  Anchor sling around a structural element.

• Ensure 100% tie-off. Provide workers with a twin-tailed double lanyard (refer to Figure 5) and train workers how to use the double lanyard such that they are hooked to at least one anchor point or lifeline at any time.

Figure 5: Twin-tailed double lanyard. 

• Maintain good workplace housekeeping. Ensure work areas and designated walkways are clear of obstructions. Store loose tools and materials away from open sides as these can fall and strike persons below, or cause workers working near an open side to trip and fall.

Figure 6: Keep area near open sides clear. 

• Implement a permit-to-work (PTW) system. Implement a PTW for work-at-height activities where a worker could fall more than three metres. This ensures onsite checks are carried out to confirm risk controls are in place and effective before the work is authorised to proceed.

ISOtank Container Safety Requirement Training

The Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) will be organising a one-and-a-half-day Training Course on “Regulatory, Technical & Safety Requirements of ISO Tank Containers”. Over the years, ISO Tank Containers have become a more prominent packaging mode for the bulk liquid product distribution process. In the Chemical Industry, most of the products transported are hazardous by nature. Hence, it is important to have prior training and knowledge of this technical equipment before personnel are put to take charge of the operational activities.

This course provides a foundation in the use and operation of this highly specialised equipment, introducing the regulatory framework and various technical aspects of operating tank containers. It includes safety and testing requirements, operational issues such as capacity, loading and unloading methods, and cleanliness. The participants will have an opportunity to inspect an actual tank container during the practical session.

1. Course Aims & Objectives

2. Description of a tank container

•Equipment Attributes: Tank designs; standard liquid tank container

•Construction: Pressure vessel, insulation, and steam heating system

•Specials: Gases, electrical heating and cooling, others

3. Standardisation

•ISO standards for tank containers

•New mandatory size and type code per Convention for Safe Containers

•Mandatory operational markings and transport approvals

•UN marking requirements

4. New Tank Test Requirements

•Overview of manufacturing process

•Prototype Tests

5. Tank Components, Function, and Maintenance Considerations

6. Operating Safely

•Common hazards of operating tank containers

•Identifying Hazards: Classes, proper description, packing groups, etc.

•Descriptive marking and warning labelling

•IMDG danger warning requirements and variation

7. Tank Filling: Critical to Safety

• Related to tank capacity

• Safe minimum and maximum load

• 80/20 Rule

• Baffle Tanks

•Compulsory Container Weighing (VGM)

8. Loading & Unloading Tanks

•Basic methods

• Use of nitrogen

9. Maintenance Criteria

•International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) Industry Standard

•Acceptable Container Condition (ACC)

•Priorities for operating tank containers

•Repairs and Repair Estimating: Standards

10. Regulations

•Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods / UN Model Regulations

•International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) Amendment 40-20

•Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)

•IMO and UN Tanks: continued use of 1st generation IMO tank containers

•ADR and UN Tanks: Dual approval systems

•USA 49 CFR Tanks: Authorized tanks for hazardous material in the USA

11. Compatibility

•Assessing compatibility of products with tank containers

•Product list suitable for carriage mentioned in factory specifications

•Safety Data Sheets main source of evaluation other resources

12. Issues in the Transportation of Chemical Products in Stainless Steel Tanks

•Stainless Steel Properties: ‘Non-corroding’ and ‘non-contaminating’ metal

•316L dominant grade; grades

•Surface Finish: Important to corrosion resistance and cleanliness

•Corrosion Prevention: Drivers of corrosion

13. Cleanliness

•“What is clean?”

•Discolouration, stains, and colours: cosmetic or concern?

•Cleaning cargoes: Process and procedures; the most dangerous activity of tank operation

•Cleanliness Certificate: An acceptable warranty?

14. Testing Tanks & Legal Requirements

•Purpose

•Original Test

•Scope of Inspections: 2.5 and 5 year inspection and test, new requirement delayed tests

•Legal Exemptions

TRAINING PROGRAMME

Day 1- Theory session

9 am to 5 pm - Lecture

Day 2 – Practical session

9 am to 12 pm - Visit ISO Tank Depot

**The bus will depart at 8.30 am

ABOUT THE TRAINER

Paul Sireci is an expert in the handling and transportation of a wide range of commodities from food and raw materials to chemicals. He has over 30 years of experience running technical operations and inspection businesses for international companies. He has managed maintenance and repairs for ocean carriers including refrigerated and bulk liquid cargo services. He established tank cleaning operations and managed tank cleaning and repair depots in Australia and the US. He has continued to work with primary industries and commodity shippers on food transportation and safety and managing hazardous materials. He has previously held senior management positions in international inspection companies. He’s the Senior Consultant for Training and Business Development with SEA Train Advisors, a global consultancy based in Singapore.

Paul Sireci has also developed and conducted training courses and seminars on specialized equipment inspection, maintenance and operation in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, The Netherlands, Singapore, and the USA. He developed the Certified Tank Container Inspector training program for Unicon International

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Operational staff members from chemical companies and chemical logistics service providers, especially those associated with the transport logistics and handling of dangerous goods in ISO Tank Containers.

Workshop Details

Date : 03-04 April 2024, Wednesday and Thursday

Time : 9 am to 5 pm (Day 1) & 8.30 am to 2 pm (Day 2)

Venue : SCIC Training Room, Level 25

8 Jurong Town Hall Road, The JTC Summit

#25-05, Singapore 609434

Registration Fee

(Inclusive of GST) : S$708.50 for SCIC Members & S$872 for non-members

For Day-1: Training materials, lunch and 2 tea breaks will be provided

For Day-2: On lunch provided

Bus service will be chartered to bring the participants to the ISO tank depot for their practical session on day 2.

E-certificate of Completion

An e-certificate of completion will be issued within 2-3 weeks to the candidates who have attended the course.

How to Register

All participants are requested to complete the online registration form at www.scic.sg. An invoice will be sent to you upon receiving your registration form.

A confirmation email will be sent to you upon receiving your registration. Should you require further details, please do not hesitate to contact the SCIC Secretariat Office at 6267 8891 or email us at secretariat1@scic.sg

Schedule for Day 2 - Visit to Depot

Dress code

Gentlemen - Comfortable wear, covered shoes.

Ladies – jeans/pants, covered shoes, and heels are not allowed.

Programme

8.20 am – Participants assemble at JTC Summit Lobby

8.30 am (sharp) – Depart JTC Summit to the depot 9.00am - Participants arrive at the depot 9.05am to 11.55 am – Practical Session 12.00pm - Participants depart depot back to JTC Summit for lunch and wrap-up.

Control of Chemicals and Mercury Added Products

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is seeking feedback on the proposed control of 2 groups of chemicals and 9 mercury-added products as hazardous substances (HS) under the Second Schedule of the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Schedule of the (EPM (HS) Regulations)1. This consultation will last 4 weeks from 18 Jan 2024 to 15 Feb 2024.

Background

2 Singapore is party to the Stockholm Convention (SC), which aims to eliminate and restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants, and the Minamata Convention (MC), which aims to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. NEA, as the Competent Authority for the SC and the MC, controls chemicals listed under the respective Conventions to ensure that the international obligations are complied with. 

Proposed Control on 2 Groups of Chemicals

3 The following 2 groups of chemicals have several industrial usages and have been assessed by the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) of SC to be highly toxic, persistent and can bio-accumulate to cause long lasting harmful effect in the environment:

a. Medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) i.e. Chlorinated paraffins with carbon chain lengths in the range C14–17 and chlorination levels at or exceeding 45 per cent chlorine by weight

b. Long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCAs) with carbon lengths of 9 to 21, their salts and related compounds

4 In anticipation that POPRC is likely to recommend for their adoption into Annex A of the SC for elimination at the 12th Conference of Parties (COP) held in 2025. NEA intends to pre-emptively impose regulatory controls over the import, export, manufacture, offer for sale, transport, purchase, storage and/or use of these chemicals to ensure the environmentally sound management of these chemicals. Prior to the ban of LC-PFCAs and MCCPs under SC, companies will be allowed to import, export, manufacture or sell these chemicals with a valid HS Licence from NEA, or store or use these chemicals with a valid HS Permit from NEA. The POPRC is also conducting further assessment on the usage of MCCPs and LC-PFCAs and may recommend limited exemptions for certain uses that do not have viable alternatives.  

Proposed Control on 9 Mercury-Added Products

5 In addition, Parties to the MC have agreed to list 9 mercury-added products under Annex A of the MC, which are listed below, for them to be phased out by end 2024.  These mercury-added products can release mercury, which is highly toxic, persistent, and can also bio-accumulate to cause long lasting harmful effects to the environment. As such, NEA intends to control these 9 mercury-added products as HS and to phase them out by end 2024.  Therefore, the manufacture, import and export of the 9 mercury-added products will not be allowed from 1 Jan 2025.

a. Compact fluorescent lamps with an integrated ballast (CFL.i) for general lighting purposes that are ≤ 30 watts with a mercury content not exceeding 5 mg per lamp burner 

b. Cold cathode fluorescent lamps and external electrode fluorescent lamps of all lengths for electronic displays

c. Strain gauges to be used in plethysmographs

d. The following electrical and electronic measuring devices except those installed in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercury free alternative is available:

•Melt pressure transducers, melt pressure transmitters and melt pressure sensors

e. Mercury vacuum pumps

f. Tyre balancers and wheel weights

g. Photographic film and paper

h. Propellant for satellites and spacecraft i. Very high accuracy capacitance and loss measurement bridges and high frequency radio frequency switches and relays in monitoring and control instruments with a maximum mercury content of 20 mg per bridge switch or relay [except those used for research and development purposes]

6 NEA intends to gazette the regulatory changes by Jun 2024. This would be followed by a six-month transitional period before the changes come into force by Jan 2025.

Request for Feedback

7 This proposal is released for the purpose of consultation. Comments received during the consultation exercise will be reviewed and may be considered in developing the final measures. Parties wishing to provide feedback may do so at https://form.gov.sg/65a634b2f2138c00121a161f or send an email to Primus_ONG@nea.gov.sg and Nikki_LEE@nea.gov.sg by 15 Feb 2024.

8 In order to ensure that the consultation is productive and focused, respondents are requested to adhere to the following guidelines when providing their feedback:

a. Identify yourself as well as the organisation you represent (if any) so that NEA may follow up with you to clarify on any issue where necessary.

b. Be clear and concise in your comments.

c. Focus your comments on the proposal and how it can be improved.

d. Substantiate your points with illustrations, examples, data or alternative suggestions.

1 More information on the licensing regime under EPMA and EPM(HS) Regs can be found at https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/pollution-control/chemical-safety/hazardous-substances/management-of-hazardous-substances

Newly Published Singapore Standards

Check Out Newly Published Singapore Standards:

Biomedical and Health

SS ISO 24442:2023 Cosmetics – Sun protection test methods - In vivo determination of sunscreen UVA protection

SS ISO 24443:2023 Cosmetics – Determination of sunscreen UVA photoprotection in vitro

SS ISO 11930:2023 Cosmetics – Microbiology – Evaluation of the antimicrobial protection of a cosmetic product

Building and Construction

SS EN 1993-1-6:2011+A1:2023 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-6: Strength and stability of shell structures

SS EN 1993-1-6 Amd 1:2023 Amendment No. 1 to Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-6: Strength and stability of shell structures

SS EN 1993-1-5:2009+A1:2023 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-5: Plated structural elements

SS EN 1993-1-5 Amd 1:2023 Amendment No. 1 to Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-5: Plated structural elements

NA to SS EN 1993-1-5:2009+A1:2023 Singapore National Annex to Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-5: Plated structural elements

NA to SS EN 1993-1-5 Amd 1:2023 Singapore National Annex to Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures – Part 1-5: Plated structural elements

Electrical and Electronic

SS IEC 61701:2023 Salt mist corrosion testing of photovoltaic (PV) modules

SS IEC 61730-1:2023 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 1: Requirements for construction

SS IEC 61730-2:2023 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification – Part 2: Requirements for testing

SS IEC 63294:2023 Test methods for electric cables with rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V

Safety and Quality

SS ISO 22341:2023 Security and resilience – Protective security – Guidelines for crime prevention through environmental design

SS ISO 22003-1:2023 Food safety – Part 1: Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of food safety management systems

SS ISO 22003-2:2023 Food safety – Part 2: Requirements for bodies providing evaluation and certification of products, processes and services, including an audit of the food safety system

SS ISO 10017:2023 Quality management – Guidance on statistical techniques for SS ISO 9001:2015

SS ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Conformity assessment – General requirements for the competence of proficiency testing providers

Transportation

TR 113:2023 Mass rapid transit and light rail transit operations – Terminology for railway operations

As of December 2023, a total of 331 ISO and IEC standards have been identically adopted as Singapore Standards. Such Singapore versions have the same contents as the ISO and IEC standards and are priced affordably.

View ISO standards identically adopted as Singapore Standards.

View IEC standards identically adopted as Singapore Standards.

Solar Panel Installation Safety

 Good WSH Practice In Protecting Solar Panel Installers from Electrocution

The Singapore Green Plan 2030 aims to deploy enough solar energy to power 350,000 households annually by 2030. To support this goal, more solar panels will be installed and workers must be kept safe while doing such works. Along with falling from height risks, electrocution is a major workplace safety and health (WSH) concern during solar panel installation and maintenance.

There are several good practices companies can adopt to protect workers from solar panel-related electrocution risks:

Install solar panels as per design, e.g. a photovoltaic (PV) single line diagram.

Figure 1: Example of a PV single line diagram.

Place and secure an opaque cover over each solar panel to prevent the panel being energised while not plugged in.

Cover all exposed electrical parts such as cables and connectors with an insulated cap to isolate the wire ends/terminals. Workers have been electrocuted even when solar panels were not plugged in, due to exposed cables.

Figure 2: Example of a connector with insulated end cap.

Secure loose cables and connector ends away from the conducting medium (such as metal or water), e.g. by securing them under the solar panel

Figure 3: Example of cables secured under a solar panel.

Provide workers with electrical-resistant personal protective equipment, such as arc-rated protective clothing, insulated gloves and rubber-soled shoes.

Report any PV system breakdown or abnormality, or damaged cables/connector to the licensed electrical worker immediately.

For more information: 

Singapore Standard

SS 601-1: 2020 Photovoltaic (PV) systems – Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance – Part 1: Grid connected systems – Documentation, commissioning tests and inspection

Ministry of Manpower

Circular on Safe Installation of Photovoltaic (PV) System

Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Energy Market Authority

Handbook for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

Workplace Safety and Health Council

Article on Addressing WSH Risks for Safe Installation of Solar Photovoltaic Systems