Singapore Standard SS 586:2008 Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods

Singapore Standard SS 586:2008 Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods
Part 1: Transport and Storage of Dangerous Goods
Part 2: Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - Singapore's adaptations
Part 3: Preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The SS 586 series of standards is the result of the revision of SS 286 : 1984, ‘Caution labelling for hazardous substances’ (5 parts) and CP 98 : 2003, ‘Preparation and use of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)’.

The Specification for hazard communication for hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods comprises the following three parts, which are complementary to one another:
Part 1 : Transport and storage of dangerous goods,
Part 2 : Globally harmonised system of classification and labelling of chemicals – Singapore’s adaptations, and
Part 3 : Preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

SS 586 : Part 1 provides information and guidance on the classification of dangerous goods by the types of hazards they present. It also provides information on standard hazard communication labels. This part applies to the storage and transportation of dangerous goods by road in Singapore, which includes carriages in bulk, tank-vehicles, vehicles with demountable tanks as well as by vehicles carrying dangerous goods in packages. The transportation of dangerous goods by sea and air is subject to the requirements of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) / International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) respectively and is not covered in this standard.

SS 586 : Parts 2 and 3 provide guidance for the implementation of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and Preparation of Safety Data Sheets in Singapore.

GHS is an international system for the classification of chemicals by the types of hazards they present. It provides information on standard hazard communication elements including labels and SDS. The GHS helps to ensure that information on physical hazards, health hazards and environmental hazards from chemicals is made available, in order to enhance the protection of human health and the environment during the handling, transport, and use of these chemicals. The GHS also provides for the global harmonisation of rules and regulations on the classification, labelling and SDS of chemicals.

Time frame for SS 586 Implementation:
Manufacturers & Suppliers: 2 years for single substances till end 2010; 4 years for mixtures till end 2012
End users: 3 years for single substances till end 2011; 5 years for mixtures till end 2013
Transport Emergency Information Panels: 2 years for replacement of existing SS286 compliant transport emergency information panels till end 2010

If you want to learn more about Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), click on the link below:

http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/publi/ghs/ghs_rev02/02files_e.html

Revised WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations to effect new Factory Notification Scheme

From 1 November 2008, the new WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations 2008 will come into operation.

The new Regulations puts into effect a new factory notification scheme announced by Acting Minister for Manpower. The new scheme will replace the Factory Registration system for 66% of factories.
Two main features of the scheme are:

1. To strengthen the management of workplace risksUnder this new scheme, employers will have to declare that they have implemented Risk Management (RM) in the workplaces before they can commence work. This new declaration makes it necessary for employers to be even more actively involved in ensuring the implementation of RM.
2. To streamline the registration process to a free one-time notification effortThe registration process has been streamlined significantly. Instead of registering every one or two years, the notification will be a one-time effort which is easily done online. As a result, there are significant savings in administrative costs, which will be passed on to the industry.

Factory notification will be free of charge. Nearly 14,000 registered factories with lower risk activities will immediately benefit from the changes, with annual savings of $3.5 million.

At the moment, this scheme will not be implemented for higher risk factories. They are construction worksites, shipyards, metalworking companies, wafer fabrication, petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical plants. These higher risk factories will continue to be governed by the existing factory registration system while MOM reviews the process. Consultation with these factories on proposed changes will be carried out next year.

WSH Committee Regulations 2008

In exercise of the powers conferred by sections 29 and 65 of the Workplace Safety and Health Act, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister of State, charged with the responsibility of the Minister for Manpower, hereby makes the following Regulations:

PART I - PRELIMINARY

Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations may be cited as the WSH (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 and shall come into operation on 1st September 2008.
Definitions
2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
‘‘chairman’’ means the chairman of a workplace safety and health committee
‘‘member’’ means a member of a workplace safety and health committee and includes a chairman
‘‘secretary’’ means the secretary of a workplace safety and health committee appointed under regulation 5(2) or deemed to be appointed under regulation 5(1);
‘‘workplace safety and health committee’’, in relation to a factory, means the workplace safety and health committee appointed under regulation 4(2)(a) in respect of the factory.
Application
3. These Regulations shall apply in relation to every factory in which 50 or more persons are ordinarily at work, excluding persons who carry out any work which is of a temporary nature and is not ordinarily carried out in the factory.

PART II - FORMATION OF WSH COMMITTEE
Appointment of workplace safety and health committee and chairman
4.—(1) For the purposes of section 29(1) of the Act, a workplace safety and health committee shall be appointed in respect of every factory to which these Regulations apply.
(2) It shall be the duty of the occupier of such a factory to appoint, in respect of the factory —
(a) a workplace safety and health committee; and
(b) a person as a chairman of the workplace safety and health committee, being a person whom the occupier reasonably believes is competent to perform the functions and duties of its chairman.
Appointment of secretary
5.—(1) Where there is a person appointed as the workplace safety and health officer of a factory, he shall be deemed to be appointed as the secretary of the workplace safety and health committee of that factory.
(2) Where no person is appointed as the workplace safety and health officer of a factory, it shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory to appoint, from among the members of the workplace safety and health committee of the factory, a person to be its secretary.
Composition of workplace safety and health committee
6. It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory to ensure that —
(a) the workplace safety and health committee of the factory consists of members who are representatives of persons at work in the factory and of the management of the factory; and
(b) at all times, the number of members who are representatives of the persons at work in the factory is not less than those who are representatives of the management of the factory.

PART III - MEETINGS OF WSH COMMITTEE
Meetings
7.—(1) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that the workplace safety and health committee of the factory meets at least once a month to discuss matters relating to the safety and health of persons at work in that factory.
(2) No person shall prevent any member from attending any meeting of his workplace safety and health committee that is held during working hours.
(3) No person shall make any deduction from the salary of any member for being absent from work for the purpose of attending any meeting of his workplace safety and health committee.
Minutes of meeting
8.—(1) It shall be the duty of the secretary of the workplace safety and health committee of a factory to furnish a copy of the minutes of every meeting of the workplace safety and health committee of the factory to every member thereof and to the occupier of the factory.
(2) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory to —
(a) keep a copy of such minutes in the factory for inspection by any inspector; and
(b) furnish a copy of such minutes to the Commissioner at any time when required by the Commissioner.
Non-member may attend meetings
9. A workplace safety and health committee of a factory may invite any person employed in the factory who has suffered bodily injury as a result of any accident or dangerous occurrence which took place in the factory to attend any meeting of the committee to discuss the accident or dangerous occurrence.
Matters to be discussed at meetings
10. At any meeting of a workplace safety and health committee of a factory, only matters relating to the safety and health of persons at work in the factory shall be discussed.

PART IV - FUNCTIONS OF WSH COMMITTEE
General inspection of factory
11.—(1) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that the workplace safety and health committee of the factory inspects the factory at least once a month to see if necessary measures are taken to ensure the safety and health of persons at work in the factory.
(2) Following every inspection of the factory under paragraph (1), it shall be the duty of the chairman of the workplace safety and health committee of the factory to ensure that the workplace safety and health committee —
(a) discusses the observations of the members during the inspection at its next meeting; and
(b) records in a report —
(i) its opinion in respect of the lack of any measure, or any deficient measure, taken to ensure the safety and health of persons at work in the factory; and
(ii) its recommendations on the actions to be taken in the factory to ensure the safety and health of persons at work in the factory.
Inspection of factory after accident or dangerous occurrence
12.—(1) Where any accident or dangerous occurrence has taken place in any factory —
(a) it shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that the workplace safety and health committee of the factory immediately carries out an inspection of the factory; and
(b) it shall be the duty of the workplace safety and health officer appointed in respect of the factory (if one has been appointed) to immediately conduct an investigation into the accident or dangerous occurrence and furnish the chairman of the workplace safety and health committee of the factory with a report of the findings of his investigation.
(2) After an inspection has been carried out in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) of a factory where an accident or a dangerous occurrence has taken place, it shall be the duty of the chairman of the workplace safety and health committee of the factory to ensure that the workplace safety and health committee of the factory —
(a) holds a meeting to discuss the observations of the members during the inspection and the report of the workplace safety and health officer referred to in paragraph (1)(b), if any; and
(b) records in a report —
(i) its opinion in respect of the lack of any measure, or any deficient measure, taken to ensure the safety and health of persons at work in the factory so far associated with the condition of the factory and the cause of the accident or dangerous occurrence; and
(ii) its recommendations on the actions to be taken in the factory to ensure the safety and health of persons at work in the factory.
Action to be taken on report of workplace safety and health committee
13.—(1) It shall be the duty of the chairman to furnish every report of his workplace safety and health committee referred to in regulation 11(2)(b) or 12(2)(b) to the occupier of the factory.
(2) It shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory, as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving any report furnished under paragraph (1), to do the following:
(a) discuss the recommendations of the workplace safety and health committee with the workplace safety and health officer (if one has been appointed) or the chairman;
(b) record in the report the occupier’s decision; and
(c) direct any person at work in the factory to take such action as the occupier thinks necessary in the interests of the safety and health of persons at work in the factory.
(3) It shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory to keep a copy of every report furnished under paragraph (1) in the factory.
Workplace safety and health committee to assist in organising certain activities to promote safe conduct of work in factory
14. The workplace safety and health committee of a factory may assist in organising any contest, competition or other activity for the purpose of promoting the safe conduct of work in the factory.
Guidelines to promote safe conduct of work in factory
15.—(1) The workplace safety and health committee of a factory shall, with the approval of the occupier of the factory, issue a set of guidelines to promote the safety and health of persons at work in the factory.
(2) The guidelines may, with the approval of the occupier of the factory, be amended or revoked by the workplace safety and health committee.
(3) It shall be the duty of the occupier of the factory to publish a copy of the guidelines, and all amendments made to the guidelines, in such manner as will secure adequate publicity at the factory for the guidelines.
Basic knowledge of members of workplace safety and health committee
16. It shall be the duty of the occupier of a factory to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures to ensure that the members of the workplace safety and health committee have a basic understanding and knowledge of the functions and duties of a workplace safety and health committee under the Act.
Powers of workplace safety and health committee
17. The workplace safety and health committee of a factory shall, for the purposes of discharging its functions and duties under the Act, have the power to do all or any of the following:
(a) to enter, inspect and examine the factory at any reasonable time;
(b) to inspect and examine any machinery, equipment, plant, installation or article in the factory;
(c) to require the production of factory records, certificates, notices and documents kept or required to be kept under the Act, including any other relevant document, and to inspect
and examine any of them;
(d) to make such examination and inquiry of the factory and of any person at work in that factory as may be necessary to execute its duties;
(e) to assess the levels of noise, illumination, heat or harmful or hazardous substances in the factory and the exposure levels of persons at work therein;
(f) to investigate any accident, dangerous occurrence or occupational disease that occurred within the factory.

PART V - MISCELLANEOUS
Offences
18. Any person who contravenes regulation 4(2), 5(2), 6, 7(1), (2) or (3), 8(1) or (2), 11(1) or (2), 12(1) or (2), 13(1), (2) or (3), 15(3) or 16 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
(a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000; and
(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Revocation
19. The Factories (Safety Committees) Regulations (Cap. 104, Rg 2) are revoked.
Savings and transitional provisions
20.—(1) Every person who, immediately before 1st September 2008, is the chairman or secretary or a member of a safety committee of a factory under the revoked Factories (Safety Committees) Regulations (Cap. 104, Rg 2) shall continue in such capacity as if he were the chairman or secretary or a member, as the case may be, of a workplace safety and health committee appointed under these Regulations in respect of that factory.
(2) These Regulations shall not affect any inspection or investigation commenced or pending before 1st September 2008, and every such inspection or investigation may be continued and everything which is or is to be done pursuant to every such inspection or investigation may be done in all respects after that date as if these Regulations had not been enacted.

WSH Committee Regulations

WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (CHAPTER 354A)
WSH (WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEES) REGULATIONS 2008

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS
PART I PRELIMINARY
Regulation
1. Citation and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Application
PART II
FORMATION OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
4. Appointment of workplace safety and health committee and chairman
5. Appointment of secretary
6. Composition of workplace safety and health committee
PART III
MEETINGS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
7. Meetings
8. Minutes of meeting
9. Non-member may attend meetings
10. Matters to be discussed at meetings
PART IV
FUNCTIONS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
11. General inspection of factory
12. Inspection of factory after accident or dangerous occurrence
13. Action to be taken on report of workplace safety and health committee
14. Workplace safety and health committee to assist in organising certain activities to promote safe conduct of work in factory
15. Guidelines to promote safe conduct of work in factory
16. Basic knowledge of members of workplace safety and health committee
17. Powers of workplace safety and health committee
PART V MISCELLANEOUS
18. Offences
19. Revocation
20. Savings and transitional provisions

Workplace Safety and Health Act to Cover Six New Sectors from 1 March 2008

With effect from 1 March 2008, six new sectors will be covered under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act.
The WSH Act is targeted at cultivating good safety habits and practices in all persons at a workplace - from top management to workers. It requires every individual at workplace to take reasonable practical steps to ensure the safety and health of every person at work at the workplace. The extension will contribute to the long-term plans to raise WSH standards across all industries in Singapore.
The six new sectors are as follow:

1. Healthcare Activities
2. Veterinary Activities
3. Hotels, Food and Beverage Sectors
4. Water Supply, Sewerage and Waste Management Activities
5. Landscape Care and Maintenance Service Activities
6. Services allied to Transportation of Goods

MOM update on Tower Crane Collapse at NUS

Preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) into the crane collapse on 22 Feb 2008 revealed that the four anchors located at the base of the crane had failed structurally. This resulted in the entire structure toppling over. Preliminary findings also suggest that the crane was not lifting any load at the time of collapse.

The accident killed three workers and injured two others. While the investigation into the cause of the crane collapse is in progress, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) inspectors have started checks on similar tower cranes.
The inspectors will also conduct spot checks on other types of tower cranes.
Companies found to have contravened safety and health laws are liable to be prosecuted under the Workplace Safety and Health Act which carries a maximum fine of $500,000.
Please see this link for the MOM press release.

The tower crane involved is a saddle-jib type (hammer head) with a mast height of 37m, boom length of 60m, and having a maximum lifting capacity of 12 tons.

The Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) has issued a press release to remind all stakeholders, including employers and employees, to take all necessary measures to safeguard the lives of everyone at work. WSHAC has also introduced measures to improve crane operations.

(Extracted from OSH Alert, 28 Feb 2008)

Crane collapse kills 3 at NUS worksite

THREE construction workers died when the boom from a 72-tonne crane came crashing down at a work-site on the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus.
Two of the workers were pinned under the massive steel structure, while the third was hit on the head, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
The tragedy happened at about 2.15pm and the victims were pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived about 15 minutes later.
Two of the three were Singaporeans: 46-year- old Mohamad Homsen, believed to be the crane operator, and a 41-year-old worker whose name was not released yesterday. Rescuers, using power tools and airbags, took 45 minutes to extricate the two men’s bodies.
The third man who died was found is lying on the ground beside the crane. He was a 44-year-old China national, whose name was also not made public.
Two other workers from China were hurt while trying to escape as the 60m-high crane toppled to the ground. They suffered cuts and bruises and were taken to the National University Hospital. All five workers were employed by sub-contractors on the site.
The firms were redeveloping the area around the three storey NUS Society Kent Ridge Guild House, with work scheduled for completion in April.

(Source: The Straits Times, 23 Feb 2008)

Aerial Lifts (Cherry Pickers) - Safety Tips

Aerial lifts include boom-supported aerial platforms, such as cherry pickers or bucket trucks. The major
causes of fatalities are falls, electrocutions, and collapses or tip overs.


Safe Work Practices

• Ensure that workers who operate aerial lifts are properly trained in the safe use of the equipment.
• Maintain and operate elevating work platforms in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Never override hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical safety devices.
• Never move the equipment with workers in an elevated platform unless this is permitted by the manufacturer.
• Do not allow workers to position themselves between overhead hazards, such as joists and
  beams, and the rails of the basket. Movement of the lift could crush the worker(s).
• Maintain a minimum clearance of at least 10 feet, or 3 meters, away from the nearest overhead lines.
• Always treat powerlines, wires and other conductors as energized, even if they are down or appear to be insulated.
• Use a body harness or restraining belt with a lanyard attached to the boom or basket to prevent the worker(s) from being ejected or pulled from the basket.
• Set the brakes, and use wheel chocks when on an incline.
• Use outriggers, if provided.
• Do not exceed the load limits of the equipment. Allow for the combined weight of the worker, tools, and materials.
  
  OSHA 3267-09N-05
  U.S. Department of Labor
  www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA

WSH (Construction) Reg 2008

The WSH (CONSTRUCTION) REGULATIONS 2007 replaces the BOWEC w.e.f. 1 Jan 2008.

The contents of the regulation are as follows:

PART I - PRELIMINARY
1. Citation and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Application

PART II - SAFETY & HEALTH MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT
4. Safety and health management system
5. Site coordination meeting
6. Workplace safety and health co-ordinator
7. Duties of workplace safety and health co-ordinator
8. Powers of workplace safety and health co-ordinator
9. Safety and health training

PART III - PERMIT-TO-WORK SYSTEM
10. Application of this Part
11. Implementation of permit-to-work
12. No high-risk construction work without permit-to-work
13. Application for permit-to-work
14. Evaluation of permit-to-work
15. Issue of permit-to-work
16. Posting of permit-to-work and supervisor’s duty
17. Monitoring of work
18. Duty to report incompatible work
19. Revocation of permit-to-work

PART IV - GENERAL PROVISIONS
20. Structures and supports
21. Stability of structures
22. Falling hazards
23. Work on roofs
24. Storage and placement of materials and equipment
25. Protection against falling objects
26. Slipping hazards
27. Hazards arising from protruding objects
28. Vehicular hazards
29. Runways and ramps
30. Entry into building under construction
31. Safe means of access and egress between different working levels in building or structures
32. Lighting
33. Personal protective equipment

PART V - ELECTRICAL SAFETY
34. Electrical power circuits
35. Installation of electric wiring and power lines
36. Bare wires and exposed live conductors
37. Residual current circuit breakers and overcurrent protective devices
38. Prohibition on use of fuse
39. Welding sets
40. Industrial plug and socket-outlet
41. Distribution board and socket-outlet assembly
42. Electrical installations and equipment used underground or in confined space

PART VI - LADDERS
43. Construction
44. Resting surface and prevention against slipping
45. Landing place

PART VII - CANTILEVERED & MATERIAL PLATFORMS
46. Cantilevered and material platform
47. Guard-rails and toe-boards
48. Use of wire rope
49. Inspection by designated person

PART VIII - DISPOSAL OF MATERIALS
50. Accumulation of debris
51. Method of removal of debris, etc.
52. Floor openings for debris removal
53. Chutes
54. Construction of chutes
55. Debris collection area
56. Design of chute by professional engineer

PART IX - FORMWORK STRUCTURES
57. General duty on occupier
58. General requirement
59. Supports and shores
60. Appointment of formwork supervisor
61. Duties of formwork supervisor
62. Register
63. Design and construction of formwork structure
64. Duties of professional engineer on formwork structure
65. Concrete work
66. Dismantling
67. Steel reinforcement
68. Reshoring

PART X - DEMOLITION
69. General duty on occupier
70. Preparation of demolition work
71. Protection of adjacent structures
72. Removal of load bearing structures
73. Demolition of walls, partitions, etc.
74. Access to floor
75. Barricades, catch platforms and warning signs
76. Mechanical method of demolition

PART XI - EXCAVATION & TUNNELLING WORKS
77. General requirements on excavation work
78. Duties of professional engineers on excavation
79. Access and egress from excavation
80. General duty on occupier
81. Stability of tunnelling work
82. Ventilation
83. Illumination level
84. Access to and egress from tunnel or shafts
85. Plant and ancillary equipment
86. Means of communications
87. Tampering with fittings
88. Training
89. Rescue team
90. Fire-fighting facilities and procedure

PART XII - COMPRESSED AIR ENVIRONMENT
91. General duty on occupier
92. Safe system of work
93. Warning notices
94. Use of bulkhead
95. Plant and ancillary equipment
96. Supply of air
97. Power source
98. Temperature and humidity
99. Means of communications
100. Appointment of competent person for compressed air works
101. Identification badges
102. Conditions for person working in compressed air environment
103. Condition for multiple entries in compressed air environment
104. Prohibition on consumption of alcohol and smoking
105. Man-locks
106. Compression and decompression procedure and use of man-lock
107. Medical locks
108. Man-lock and medical lock attendants
109. Attendance at man-lock
110. Attendance at medical lock
111. Appointment of medical practitioner
112. Resting facilities and first-aid room
113. Maintenance of records
114. Training of personnel

PART XIII - EXPLOSIVES
115. General duty on employer and principal
116. Handling of explosives
117. Smoking, open lights, etc.
118. Opening packages
119. Deepening holes
120. Size of holes
121. Removing cartridge wrappers
122. Loading near other operations
123. Loading and tamping
124. Work of firing of any blast
125. Warning and retreat
126. Return to blast area
127. Misfires
128. Operations during thunderstorm

PART XIV - PILING
129. Stability of adjacent structures
130. Inspection
131. Pile driver not in use
132. Pile testing
133. Footing

PART XV - CRANES, EMPLOYEE’S LIFTS & MATERIAL HANDLING MACHINERY
134. Strength and stability
135. Capacity chart
136. Thorough examination and inspection
137. Handling of suspended loads
138. Prohibition on riding on loads
139. Cranes or machinery at rest
140. Operators of employee’s lift

PART XVI - MISCELLANEOUS
141. Offence
142. Revocation

For details, refer to the relevant regulation.