Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2020

Spill Response Training | 7 Steps to Spill Cleanup

How to Operate Fire Extinguisher - Fire Safety Training

Safety Time Out

Safety Time Out (STO) is a planned event where companies take time off from their routine operations to take stock and review particular work activity or system to ensure safe operations. STO can be coordinated nation-wide or sector specific in response to an emerging trend or spate of accidents.

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Announcement by WSH Council!

Safety Time-Out (April 2016)

 

There has been a spate of fatal accidents since the start of the year resulting in 22 fatalities as of 2 April 2016. The Construction sector contributed to the majority with 10 cases, followed by 7 from other sectors and 5 from the Marine sector. If this trend continues, we will see even more workplace deaths, resulting in more workers, their families and their companies being affected.

 

The WSH Council is very concerned with the situation and urges the industry to review their WSH procedures and take immediate actions to ensure that all control measures are in place. 

 

In view of the serious situation, all occupiers, contractors, subcontractors and workers must work together to ensure that all work procedures are safely executed. All industries are encouraged to conduct a Safety Time-Out in April 2016 to review all work procedures undertaken by their companies, contractors and subcontractors. Workers should be briefed and trained to ensure that they understand their work and how it should be performed safely. Only with all industry stakeholders working together, can we ensure that all accidents and ill-health be prevented and that the workplaces are safe for all the workers. 

 

To assist the industry, the WSH Council has developed the following Safety Time-Out checklists for their use:

1.  Working at Heights Checklist

2.  Tower Crane Checklist 

3.  Mobile/ Crawler Crane Checklist 

4.  Lifting Plan Checklist 

5.  Formwork Checklist 

6.  Workplace Housekeeping Checklist 

7.  Workplace Traffic Checklist 

8.  Vehicle Pre-Operational Checklist 

9.  Forklift Pre-Operational Checklist 

10.WSH Management System Checklist 

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Demerit points system for construction sector

Contractors in the construction sector can be given demerit points for breaching the Workplace Safety and Health Act. The number of demerit points awarded depends on the severity of the breach.

All main and sub-contractors in the construction sector accumulate demerit points for breaches of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act.

Each demerit point lasts for 12 months.

A contractor that gets more than 18 demerit points within a 12-month period will receive a formal warning from MOM. If they continue to accumulate demerit points, they face stricter the penalties.

To learn more on:

How demerit points are given
Penalty escalation for main contractors

Visit MOM webpage

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Bukit Ho Swee Fire

--> Telecast on Channel News Asia:

As Singapore's greatest ever fire engulfs Bukit Ho Swee in 1961, it sends thousands fleeing. Its terrifying path of destruction is recreated through eyewitness stories and stunning visual effects.

 

Spyros Explosion

Telecast on Channel News Asia:

12 October 1978, oil tanker ST Spyros exploded with more than a hundred workers onboard. It was an unprecedented crisis, and rescue services fought to save the stricken workers. In its aftermath, investigators uncovered how the fire started and why – and they would find shocking revelations.

Work at Height

--> Below is an example of where the contractor provides a proper lifeline, but the worker just could not be bothered to secure his harness to the lifeline. One positive example, and one negative example.

Lifeline is provided for working at height, and worker secured his harness to the lifeline
 

This clip shows worker not securing his harness to the lifeline

Road roller on fire

--> A road roller was on fire at a construction site near Causeway point. The workers just standing around. This shows the importance of having trainer fire fighters on site. You never know when you need them.