First Restaurant Convicted under the WSH Act for Workplace Safety and Health Lapses - WSHC & Bulletin

9 Jul 2010

Raffles Marina Ltd was fined $80,000 today for its failure to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure workplace safety and health, thereby contributing to the death of a worker on 29 May 2009. Raffles Marina Ltd is the first restaurant to be convicted under the WSH Act since it was extended to cover restaurants from 1 March 2008

About the case

The incident happened on 29 May 2009 at Marina Bistro Coffee House located at 10 Tuas West Drive. The worker was a senior steward employed by Raffles Marina Ltd. The worker was likely to have either slipped due to the slippery floor or fallen when he stepped on one of the articles strewn on the kitchen floor of the dish washing area. He was carrying at least one plastic rack containing 25 glass wine goblets. The wine goblets shattered and cut the worker in the neck area. The worker was sent to the hospital where he died from excessive loss of blood as a result of a deep cut on the neck.

Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) showed that the employer had failed to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the workplace was safe and without risks. The employer failed to conduct risk assessment to identify and manage the hazards for the dishwashing activities. The employer also failed to ensure the kitchen was free from slipping and tripping hazards. Although the employer had issued a pair of safety boots to the worker for his use during the course of his work, it was insufficient to prevent the worker from falling.

Mr Heng Chiang Gnee, Deputy Chairman, Workplace Safety and Health Council said, “The death of a worker in the course of carrying out simple kitchen work shows that we must never take the safety at workplaces lightly. Employers must plan safe work procedures for all types of work, ensure that their workers are well briefed and implement safety measures effectively. Often, near misses during work, such as a slip at work, are not noted and no suitable immediate actions are taken to reduce risks and improve situations . To improve our safety management, there is a need to change mindset to seek out near misses and drive improvements even though near misses may not result in injuries. We should therefore all be mindful of the possible risks that our employees face everyday at work. If there are incidents or near-miss cases, measures must immediately be taken to prevent them from happening again. The Council urges all parties to pay serious attention to near-miss cases, or seemingly minor incidents, so that necessary steps can be taken to improve. With this mindset, we can then aim for safer workplaces for all our employees."

Mr Ho Siong Hin, Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, MOM added that the conviction of Raffles Marina Ltd serves as a stern warning to all workplaces to make safety and health a priority. He reminded all employers, individuals and stakeholders of the importance of ensuring and adhering to proper safety measures.

Please visit http://www.wshc.sg/ for more info.

Importance of Maintenance of MEWPs - WSHC & WSH Bulletin

7 Jul 2010

A number of workers have lost their lives in recent incidents involving the use of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWP). The workers were trapped between components of the boom lift or scissor lift and surrounding structures. Therefore, it is important to ensure the safe and proper operation of MEWP, including checking that the MEWP is functioning and properly maintained. The frequency and type of maintenance and inspections of MEWP will depend on its usage, environmental conditions and the nature of operations.

Fig 1: a boomlift

Pre-Use Checks

Before work commences, a visual and functional routine checks should be conducted on the MEWP, including checking for:

• lubrication and hydraulic oil levels


• leakages


• structural damages


• malfunction of controls and safety devices


• other functionality checks

Servicing

Besides the routine pre-use checks, the MEWP must be serviced at stipulated timeframes, such as statutory inspection at least once in 6 months, or in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. A preventive maintenance programme has to be devised by the user or owner based on his risk assessment and previous inspection/maintenance results. All inspections must be recorded and retained for inspection when the need arises.

Further Information

1. British Standards BS 8460:2005: Safe use of Mobile Elevated Work Platform.

2. British Standards BS EN 280:2001:2009: Design calculations – Stability criteria – Construction Safety – Examinations and tests

3. Statement of best practices of general training and familiarisation for aerial work platform equipment. Click HERE.

4. Safe Use of Mobile Elevated Work Platform. Click HERE.

5. The selection and management of Mobile Elevated Work Platform. Click HERE.

For more infor, please visit http://www.wshc.gov.sg

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Lessons Learnt Case Report (LLCR) – Suffocation from Air-Fed Helmet - WSH Bulletin & WSH Cou

17 Jun 2010

Incident

In this incident, a technician was deployed to carry out surface preparation work, including bead-blasting, for aircraft components. Less than an hour after he had started work in a bead-blasting chamber, he was found lying unconscious on the floor. He was in his usual protective clothing, and was wearing his air-fed helmet with the air supply still turned on. He was sent to hospital but died due to suffocation from oxygen deficiency.

Summary of Findings

Investigations revealed that some workers from another unit did not follow their operating instructions. Instead of using nitrogen gas for the control system of an autoclave for their work, they used the common compressed air supply. This caused a back-flow of higher pressured nitrogen gas into the air supply for the technician, reducing the supply of oxygen and leading to his suffocation.

For more details on safety lapses in the incident and recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening, click Here for the Lessons Learnt Case Report.

Please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010060114956 for more info.

Worker Crushed by Toppled Pipe - WSH Bulletin & WSH Council

9 Jun 2010


Incident

In this incident, a worker was using a hand held power tool to grind/polish a welded joint on Pipe A within a pipe bridge. He was working in a 300mm gap between Pipe A and Pipe B, when Pipe B suddenly rolled towards Pipe A. The toppled Pipe B crushed and killed the worker.

Both pipes were about 300mm in diameter and weighed several tonnes. Each pipe was welded with supporting shoes at interval spacing of about 6m and rested on supporting I-beams. At various shoe locations on Pipe B, two brackets were welded to the I-beam to hold the shoe in place, and restrict the lateral movement of the pipe. The shoes were not permanently fixed to the I-beams to allow for longitudinal movements due to thermal expansion and contraction. At some of the shoe locations, timber blocks were also placed between the lateral restraining brackets. As the height of the timber blocks exceeded the height of the brackets, the pipe shoes were resting on the timber blocks and not secured by the brackets.


Figure 1. Pipe B toppled and crushed the worker.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk assessment: Risk assessment must be carried out before starting any work. Through risk assessment, employers and employees can identify potential hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate or reduce the risks involved. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the employees involved. Risk assessment should also cover non-routine or emergency situations, so that measures can be planned for such situations. Potential hazards for this incident include:

- Unstable placement of pipes on timber blocks.
- Unsecured pipe that is not braced against toppling.

2. Implement Safety and Health Management System: It is important for the Management to put in place an effective workplace safety and health management programme to guide the establishment of a safety management system and proper work procedures. Some of the elements in a WSH Management Programme include:

- Risk management - As explained, proper risk assessment should be conducted to identify hazards and mitigate risks

- Safe work procedures - Establish safe work procedures for carrying out the task safely. Ensure proper supervision and implementation of the safe work procedures for the task. Supervisors should provide direct and close supervision of the tasks performed by the workers under their charge

- Safety training – All workers should be adequately trained in order for them to perform their work competently. They should also be properly briefed so that they are aware of the safety and health issues.

- Communication of safety and health issues – The safety management plans and work procedures should be clearly communicated to all supervisors and workers (e.g. at the daily toolbox meetings)

2. Secure pipes: Ensure that safety measures are in place. Pipes should be adequately secured, or restrained from uncontrolled movement, e.g. with the use of chain blocks before the start of any work.

3. Ensure effective communication channels: The occupier should put in place a good and effective communication system. This is to ensure that the different contractors are regularly updated and aware of the progress of on-going works and safety issues around the worksite, e.g. checking whether the adjacent pipes have been fully installed before commencing grinding / polishing work.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act, please click here.
2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations, please click here. 3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, please click here.
4. Workplace Safety and Health (Safety and Health Management System and Auditing) Regulations 2009
5. SS 506 : Part 1 : 2004 - Occupational safety and health (OHS) management system – Specification

*Please note that the information provided is not exhaustive and for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health so that a similar recurrence may be prevented. The information provided is not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law.

Please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010060114956 for more info.

Worker killed by Toppled Formwork - WSH Bulletin & WSH Council

4 Jun 2010

Incident

On the day of the incident, a group of workers was deployed to carry out formwork installation. The formwork was supported by out-riggers and timber props. When a section of the formwork was lifted away, the remaining formwork collapsed and toppled onto a worker. He subsequently died from his injuries.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk assessment: Prior to the commencement of work, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine the potential hazards and risks that might arise during the installation of formwork. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established to mitigate the risks, and be communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers involved.

2. Secure formwork: The Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations requires that measures to be taken to ensure the stability of any formwork structure or parts of the formwork structure. All formwork components should be properly tied, footed, braced and supported to prevent toppling whether it is during erection or when it is not in use. Where original out-riggers provided by manufacturers as part of its design is used for bracing of formwork, such props or shores shall not be replaced with other forms of support not designed for or provided by the manufacturer.

3. Cordon off work area: Workers who are not directly involved in the formwork installation should be advised to keep away from the vicinity while formwork structures are being erected, or where there are placement of concrete or lifting of formwork sections. Appropriate measures such as the erection of proper barricades and warning signs, and briefing of workers should be carried out prior to the commencement of work. Workers should also stay away from the lifting zone and from any objects that are planned to be lifted.

4. Ensure supervision: A formwork supervisor should be present to oversee the proper erection of the formwork at site. Where an unsafe condition is discovered by the supervisor, the occupier should be notified immediately to rectify the situation.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act
2. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 2006
3. Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations
4. Singapore Standard CP 23: 2000 Code of Practice for Formwork

* Please note that the information provided is intended to enhance workplace safety and health so that a similar recurrence may be prevented, and is not exhaustive. The information provided should not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law.

Please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010060114956 for more details

Assessment of heat stress level & Incident cost calculator - WSH Bulletin & WSH Council

2 Jun 2010

Some info to share...

Assessment of Heat Stress Levels
Workers who are exposed to extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. If not properly managed, heat stress can result in heat disorders such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or heat cramps. The symptoms and treatment of heat disorders and the preventive steps to minimise their occurrences were described in an earlier WSH Bulletin.
To effectively manage heat stress, it is important for employers to determine the level of thermal stresses that workers are exposed to. This Bulletin provides detailed information on the assessment of thermal stresses associated with work in a hot environment using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index.

Did you know...?

Incident Cost Calculator
You can use the Incident Cost Calculator to understand the true cost arising from a workplace incident. By fillling in the various fields, you will be presented with an estimate of the direct costs and indirect costs of injuries and incidents. For help on using the ICC, please refer to the user guide here.

Worker Crushed by Steel Frame Structure - WSH Bulletin & WSH Council

1 Jun 2010

Incident

A worker was killed when a steel frame structure weighing more than 250kg toppled and crushed him. The worker was reportedly carrying out welding works on the steel frame structure made with square hollow sections when the incident happened. To facilitate welding works, the worker, together with 3 other workers, manually tilted the frame structure to reposition it on its side. As they were doing so, the frame slipped, toppled and struck the worker. The other 3 workers were unhurt.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk assessment: Prior to the start of work, conduct a proper risk assessment to identify all potential hazards and the risks involved. Appropriate action must be taken to eliminate the hazards or to mitigate the risks. Some of the hazards relevant to this incident include:

Manual manoeuvring and handling of unsupported heavy structure
Unsafe positioning of workers while manoeuvring the structure
Castor wheels of the structure not equipped with effective locking devices, or the locking devices not properly engaged while work is being carried out.

2. Establish safe work procedures: Appropriate control measures and safe work procedures for welding operations, taking into consideration any manual manoeuvring of the structure, must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers involved. As far as is reasonably practical, eliminate the need for workers to manually handle or re-position heavy objects (e.g. employ the use of proper lifting equipment).

3. Proper lifting and supporting system: Implement a proper system to lift, support and maneuver heavy object through the use of appropriate equipment such as chain block with correct load rating or crane to prevent it from collapsing. Metal forks can also be used to prop up structures, and prevent them from toppling during manual positioning operations (see figures 1 and 2 below).

Figure 1: Use of metal fork to prop up metal structures

Figure 2: Metal fork

4. Safe positioning of workers: Workers should position themselves such that they can maintain a firm grip of the object when it is being manoeuvred. This will allow the workers to have continued control and stability when tilting the object during the lowering process. They should also not stand in the path in which the object is being maneuvered, to prevent the object from collapsing onto them.

5. Adequate training and supervision: Workers must be adequately supervised to ensure that assigned tasks are carried out in a safe manner. The responsibilities of supervisors include regular inspections to identify and manage potential hazards at the worksite. For example, for the incident described above, supervisor should ensure that the castor wheels were equipped with the appropriate locking devices and that they are properly engaged prior to moving the structure. The supervisor should also instruct the workers on safe manoeuvring technique for structures with castor wheels. Adequate training of workers is also required to ensure that they can carry out the work properly and safely.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A)2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 4. Singapore Standard CP 92: 2002 – Code of Practice for Manual Handling 5. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – Pick Up Tips on How to Lift Safely, please HERE.

* Please note that the information provided is intended to enhance workplace safety and health so that a similar recurrence may be prevented, and is not exhaustive. The information provided should not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law.

For more info, please visit WSH Alert – Worker Crushed by Steel Frame Structure

Please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010060114956 for more info.

Worker Fell from Mezzanine Floor - WSH Bulletin & WSH COuncil

26 May 2010

Incident

In this incident, a worker was found dead on the ground beside the staircase of a factory. He was alone in the premises when the incident happened. A stool was found at the mid landing of the staircase. It is suspected that the worker might have tried to access a resting area on the mezzanine floor by using the stool to climb over the handrail of the staircase. He could then have fallen from the open side of the unbarricaded mezzanine floor and landed on the ground 3m below.


Recommendations*

1. Provide safe means of access or egress: The Workplace and Safety Health Act (WSHA) stipulates that the occupier has to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure that the workplace and all means of access to or egress from the workplace are safe. For this incident, there was no safe and proper access to the mezzanine floor, except by climbing over the staircase.

2. Conduct risk assessment: Proper risk assessments should be conducted to identify all potential hazards and risks. Appropriate actions must be taken to eliminate the hazards or to mitigate the risks. Some of the hazards relevant to this case include:
a. Lack of proper and safe means of access to the resting area;b. Lack of proper and safe means of access to the stored materials (e.g. the veneer and wooden planks) at the mezzanine floor beside the resting area;c. Lack of proper handhold and barricade at the mezzanine level; and d. Improper storage of materials which could lead to them toppling.

3. Provide and maintain safe arrangements and facilities: Employers are also required under the WSHA to take reasonably practicable measures to protect the safety and health of employees. This includes maintaining the facilities and providing safe arrangements to ensure their welfare at work. In this incident, such measures could include:
a. Ensuring that the workers’ resting areas are adequate, safe and without risk (e.g. properly barricaded); and b. Ensuring that workers are not exposed to hazards from the storage of materials beside the resting area.

4. Establish safe work procedures: Appropriate control measures and safe work procedures, such as on accessing and moving materials from the storage area, must be properly established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers involved.

5. Proper storage of goods: All goods, articles and substances in a workplace should be properly stored, stack or placed:
a. in such as manner as not to obstruct the use of passageways;

b. on a firm foundation not liable to settle;

c. in such manner as not to overload the foundation or floors;

d. using appropriate supporting structures to ensure their stability; and

e. not against a wall or partition unless they are of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure.
Bound materials should also be placed on racks, and secured by stacking, blocking, or interlocking to prevent them from sliding, falling, or collapsing.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A)2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 4. OSHA’s guide on Materials Handling and Storing, please click HERE.

* Please note that the information provided is intended to enhance workplace safety and health so that a similar recurrence may be prevented, and is not exhaustive. The information provided should not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law.

For more infor, please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010052614954

Worker Fell while Plastering External Wall of Air Conditioning Ledge - WSH Bulletin & WSH Council

18 May 2010

Incident

In this incident, a worker was found dead on the ground beside a high rise building under construction. The worker was found with a restraint belt strapped around his waist.

Before the incident, the worker was carrying out plastering work on the external wall of an air conditioning ledge on the 9th floor of the building. At the other floors, the open sides of the air conditioning ledges were guarded with cable barricades. However on the 9th floor, where the deceased worker was working, no barricade was present.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct risk assessment: A risk assessment must be carried out before starting any work. Through the risk assessment, employers and workers can identify potential hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers involved. For this case, the relevant control measures include planning for safe access to the work area and preventing workers from falling while working on the air conditioning ledge.

2. Implement workplace safety and health management programme: Management must put in place an effective workplace safety and health management programme. Through this, operations within the organisation would be guided through a safety policy, establishment of a safety management system and proper work procedures. Effective implementation of established WSH procedures and systems can be done with proper supervision, effective communication and training to ensure that workers adhere to established procedures.

3. Fall prevention / protection: Work at height must be made safe through fall prevention or protection measures. Examples include installing guard rails that prevent persons from falling over open sides, as well as travel restraint, fall arrest or engineered systems with anchorage points as explained below:

Travel restraint: A travel restraint system prevents the worker from falling by restricting his movement into hazardous areas, such as open sides. For such a system, a restraint belt or a full body harness is suitable once anchored securely.

Fall Arrest: An individual fall arrest system protects the worker by stopping his fall so that he does not strike the ground. A full body harness with a self-retracting lifeline or a shock absorber and a lanyard are suitable for fall arrest once anchored securely.

Engineered Systems: Engineered systems such as horizontal lifelines should be installed according to the design by the professional engineer. Deviating from the design can result in the system not functioning as it rightfully should and can result in potentially unsafe conditions for workers.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A), please click here

2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations, please click here

3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations

4. Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations

5. Code of Practice for Working Safely at Height

* Please note that the information provided is not exhaustive and for the benefit of enhancing workplace safety and health so that a similar recurrence may be prevented. The information provided is not to be construed as implying any liability to any party nor should it be taken to encapsulate all the responsibilities and obligations of the reader of WSH Alert under the law.

Please visit https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010051814948 for more details

Safety on Lifting Operations - WSH Bulletin

10 May 2010

Ensuring Safe Lifting Operations

Lifting Operations can be Dangerous

Lifting activities are an essential part of operations at many worksites. However, lifting operations can be potentially dangerous and are considered high-risk activities. The unsafe and improper use of lifting equipment had resulted in fatalities, serious injuries, and dangerous occurrences. Crane-related incidents such as crane collapse can have severe outcomes, including damage to surrounding properties, and serious injuries to workers and the public.

Ensuring Safe Lifting Operations

To ensure safe operations, thorough risk assessment and careful planning are required prior to commencement of work. A proper lifting plan should be developed for all lifting operations, which should include (i) a proper risk assessment process, (ii) a permit-to-work system, (iii) the selection of safe and proper equipment, (iv) an appreciation of the actual ground conditions and (v) the deployment of qualified and competent personnel.

The followings are some of the safety precautions which should be exercised at all times for lifting operations:

• Site lifting machines such as cranes on firm, stable and level ground (see Figure 1) to ensure stability during lifting operations.

• Do not overload the lifting appliance, lifting gear and lifting machines

• Ascertain the weight of the load before lifting

• Develop specific risk assessment and method statement for tandem lifting operations, slope, or travelling with suspended loads

• Check that the lifting hook’s safety latch is functioning

• Inspect all lifting gears such as shackle, sling and hook for defects before use

• Prominently display all relevant test certificates of the lifting equipment and permit to lift
  

  Fig1. Photograph courtesy of Gammon Pte. Limited

  Firm and level ground for sitting of crane. The outriggers are fully extended and on proper pads.

Further Information

1. WSH (General Provisions) Regulations 2006, please click here.

2. WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007, please click here.

3. Factories (Operations of Cranes) Regulations, please click here.

4. SS536: 2008 Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Mobile Cranes

5. CP 62: 1995 Code of Practice for Safe Use of Tower Cranes

6. CP 63: 1996 Code of Practice for the Lifting of Persons in Work Platforms Suspended from Cranes

7. Technical Advisory for Safe Operation of Lifting Equipment, please click here.