WSH Alert – Worker Falling from Height during Lifting Process - WSH Bulletin

18 Dec 2009

A construction worker died after falling off a building under construction while erecting a formwork.

On the incident night, at around 9.40pm, the worker was stationed at the fourth level of a building under construction. An inner formwork was lifted to the same floor by a crawler crane and bolted to the floor slab. The worker then climbed onto the platform of the formwork to remove the 2 attachments for lifting the formwork. After removing them, the worker re-attached the lifting attachments onto the crane slings and the signalman gave the go-ahead for the crane to hoist the slings away. However, one of the lifting attachments caught the rebar cage beside the formwork. The rebar cage was pulled out of its position by the crane and toppled 20m to the ground below. The worker who had earlier anchored his safety harness to the rebar cage fell together with it.

Recommendations* For crane operators: 1. Prevent Entanglement of Load Line: Crane operators need to be alert throughout the entire lifting process. Before moving the crane’s load line, the crane operator must ensure that there is no entanglement of load line or slings with objects nearby. If the operator does not have a clear view of the lifting operations, he should adhere closely to the instructions of the signalman. In this incident, the slings (with the attachments) should have been raised sufficiently above the height of the rebar cage before slewing them over the cage. 2. Stop Slewing if movement is not smooth: The crane operator should avoid sudden movements of the load line at high speed. Start any lifting process slowly so that any abnormalities can be detected. If the operator feels abnormal resistance to the crane’s movement, he should halt the process and check (with the aid of the signalman) for possible entanglement. For lifting crew: 3. Lifting Signalman: Lifting signalman must stay alert throughout the lifting operation, particularly during slewing of the load line. He must halt the lifting process immediately in the event of a load line entanglement. 4. Effective Communication: A system must be in place to ensure effective communication between lifting personnel, particularly between the operator and signalman. This could be done through: • Hand signals if the signalman is in clear sight of the crane operator • Suitable communication equipment such as walkie talkies. It is important that the operator and signalman can speak and understand a common language. General recommendations: 5. Conduct Risk Assessment: Prior to the start of work, conduct an adequate risk assessment to identify all potential hazards and the risks involved. Appropriate control measures and safe work procedures must be established and implemented. For this case, some of the potential hazards include: • Possible entanglement of load line with surrounding structures • Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting • Ineffective communications between signalman and crane operator 6. Safe Lifting Procedure: Companies should put in place procedures to mitigate the risk of load line getting entangled with the surrounding structures. These could include ensuring that: • Lifting signalman have clear sight of the lifting process at all time • Lifting signalman give clear instructions to crane operator • There is sufficient lighting to ensure good visibility of the lifting process, especially if the work is carried out at night 7. Safe working at height: Companies involved in works carried out at height must implement appropriate fall protection measures for workers. When fall arrest systems are utilised, proper anchorage points or anchorage systems must be made available. In addition, if works are to be carried out at night, sufficient lighting must be provided. Further Information 1) Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations 2) Singapore Standard CP 37: 2000 – Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Mobile Cranes

Launch of WSH Manual for the Marine Industries - WSH Bulletin

9 Dec 2009

WSH Regulations require the occupier of a shipyard to implement and maintain an adequate safety and health management system to ensure the safety and health of every person in the shipyard. To help the Marine Industries, especially the small and medium sized shipyards, comply with the law and achieve good WSH standards, the WSHC (Marine Industries) Committee in collaboration with the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI), has published the WSH Manual for Marine Industries. The Manual lays out basic WSH principles, as well as provides guidance on good practices with regard to the implementation of safety management systems.

You can download the Manual from the WSHC website here.

Newly-Formed National Work at Height Safety Taskforce Releases Three-Pronged Plan to Prevent Falls At Work - WSH Bulletin

2 Dec 2009

The National Work at Height (WAH) Safety Taskforce, formed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, has announced a three-pronged plan to improve the safety of work conducted at heights across workplaces.

The Taskforce, led by Mr Wong Weng Sun, President and CEO, Sembcorp Marine Ltd, outlined several targets, including:

• Halving current WAH fatality and injury rates by 2013 and further reduction by 2018
• Implementing Fall Protection Plans in all construction worksites and shipyards by 2012 and at all workplaces by 2015.

Together with WSH Council and MOM, the National WAH Safety Taskforce has analysed the contributing factors for past WAH incidents, and published the findings in a Safety Analysis and Recommendation Report on Work at Height. The Report highlighted seven contributing factors to WAH incidents including the lack of safe work procedures, and inadequate fall prevention or protection systems. (Click here to read the Report) To address these factors, the National WAH Safety Taskforce made three key recommendations:

Recommendation 1 - Building strong capabilities

The Taskforce recommends the implemention of Fall Protection Plans to manage WAH at a systemic level. The Taskforce and the WSH Council have introduced a new Code of Practice (CP) for Working Safely at Height (more details below) and a new WAH Kit for supervisors and workers. The Taskforce will also develop national WAH competency standards.

Recommendation 2: Promoting the benefits of WAH safety

The Taskforce will collaborate with relevant industry associations and partners to reach out to a wider audience, and promote the adoption of best practices. The Taskforce will develop a new FALLPROTECT Certification/Recognition Scheme to certify the Fall Protection Plan of companies, and recognise their commitment to safety. The WSH Council will develop a dedicated webpage to provide a one-stop resource for WAH information.

Recommendation 3: Enhancing the Intervention Framework for WAH

The Taskforce will work with various industry associations to introduce an “industry self-assessment” element. It will provide feedback to MOM on the review of existing legislation on WAH safety. MOM will also be looking at ways to extend enforcement reach to more workplaces.

Click here to read the media release and Report.

Code of Practice on Working Safely at Height

The new Code of Practice (CP) for Working Safely at Height issued by WSH Council describes a variety of fall prevention measures and devices that reduce the risk of falling from height. The CP highlights the Fall Protection Plan (FPP), which provides a systematic approach to eliminate or mitigate the risk of falling by ensuring that all reasonable fall protection measures and methods have been taken prior to the commencement of the work.

The CP for Working Safely at Height is available for download at the WSH Council’s website, HERE.

Possible Case of Electrocution - WSH Bulletin

23 Nov 09 In a recent incident, a worker was deployed to rectify a fault reported during the operation of a tower crane boom. The crane operator was in his cabin waiting for the repair work to be completed. When the cabin fan stopped unexpectedly, the operator looked out and saw the worker lying motionless on the platform in front of the control panel box. Investigations showed that the worker was probably trying to measure or check the electrical installation inside the control panel box using multi-meter probes (an electrical measurement tool). The burnt marks and strands of hair found stuck on two of the connectors inside the control panel box suggest that he could have been electrocuted and died on the spot.

Fig. 1 Tower crane under repair

Recommendations* 1. Conduct risk assessment: Prior to the start of any work, risk assessment must be carried out by employers and workers to identify potential hazards. Appropriate actions should then be taken 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. Some of the hazards relevant to this incident include: a. Exposed wires/connectors/terminals that are still energized and “live” b. Working at height while troubleshooting the fault 2. Live testing precautions: Before performing any electrical work, one should ensure that the work can be done without the system being energised. Work on or near live conductors should be avoided. Should live testing be necessary to trace a malfunction of the equipment, suitable safety precautions should be taken, including putting temporary insulating neoprene or polythene sheets over live components and/or applying insulation to parts that are at earth potential. These temporary insulating sheets can also help to prevent the risk of accidental short circuit from tools, components and conductors. 3. Use of dry rubber insulating mat: Where there is the possibility of electrocution, workers should be asked to use dry rubber insulating mats. The rubber mat insulates the floor on which the person stands, reducing the risk of the flow of electrical current through the person. Other electrical insulation methods such as rubber blankets, gloves, sleeves, properly designed and rubber-soled boots may also be used. 4. Provision of adequate training: All workers should be adequately trained in the identification and control of hazards in their workplace. Specialized electrical safety training must be provided to those who may need to work with or around exposed components of electric circuits. The training should include, but not be limited to, basic electrical theory, proper safe work procedures, hazard awareness and identification, proper use of personal protective equipment, proper lockout/ tagout procedures, first aid including CPR, and proper rescue procedures. Provisions should also be made for periodic re-training. 5. Buddy system: For certain electrical works, it is recommended to implement a buddy system. In an emergency, the buddy (i.e. a co-worker) could switch off the electrical supply immediately and render assistance on site. 6. Lock-out procedures: Lock out procedures must be established and implemented for the inspection, repair and maintenance of any machinery or equipment. All energy sources to the relevant machinery or equipment should be isolated, disconnected or discharged to prevent any part of the machinery or equipment from being inadvertently activated or energised. 7. Personal protective equipment: Those who are potentially exposed to live components should be provided with appropriate protective clothing and equipment, such as electrical protective resistance glove for measurement and testing work. Such equipment should be inspected regularly by a competent person. Those working at height (e.g. on platform) must also be provided with a proper fall protection system, incorporating safety harness and secured anchor points to reduce the risk of falling. Further Information 1. Workplace Safety and Health Act 2. Electricity Act (Cap. 89A) 3. Electricity (Electrical Workers) Regulations 4. Electricity (Electrical Installations) Regulations * 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.

Fatigue Attributed to the Death of a Prime Mover Driver - WSH Bulletin

16 Nov 2009

Incident In this incident, a Terminal Prime Mover (TPM-2) in a container port swerved and collided onto the rear of another TPM (TPM-1) travelling in the opposite direction (Figure 1). As a result of the collision, the driver of TPM-2 was thrown out of the cabin and subsequently died in hospital.

Summary of Findings Investigation revealed that the incident occurred primarily due to Man (driver of TPM-2), with Management as a contributory factor. The driver did not take care of his own safety and health by adhering to the “Compulsory Short Break” (CSB) as required by the Management. He also did not fasten his seat belt, and the fatigue arising from long hours of work might have caused him to lose control of his TPM, and prevent him from applying the emergency brake in time. Management contributed to the incident by not having a well designed work schedule for the drivers. Although Management instituted a good concept in CSB, it was inadequate for the drivers to recuperate sufficiently. For more details and information, click Here for the Lessons Learnt Case Report which describes the incident details, and highlights recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening.

WSH Alert – Fall from Height - WSH Bulletin

11 Nov 09

Incident In a recent accident, a worker fell to his death while climbing the turntable ladder to the crane cabin of a tower crane. The lifeline was terminated at the top mast, and the worker had removed his safety harness when climbing from the turntable to the cabin. While he was ascending the turntable ladder, the worker slipped and fell onto the mast platform 6 m below.

Fig 1: Height of worker’s fall Fig 2. The turntable ladder to the cabin

Recommendations* 1. Conduct risk assessment before starting any work: Identify potential hazards and take appropriate actions to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. For this incident, the hazards include the failure to don proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). The risk assessment should also include non-routine or emergency situations so that measures can be adopted to minimise the risks for such situations. 2. Put in place an effective workplace safety and health management programme: Employers should establish and implement a Safety and Health policy, and safety management system with proper control measures and safe work procedures. This includes a fall protection plan for any work that may involve workers falling from a height. The safety and health programme must be clearly communicated to all levels of personnel, such as through refresher courses or daily tool box meetings. 3. Safe access on tower cranes: To prevent falls, employers must provide safe access for crane operators and other persons who need to carry out inspection and maintenance work on a tower crane. Safe access (ladders with hoop guards) to the operator’s cabin should include rest-landings at every interval not exceeding nine metres of the mast. If a mast has a continuous vertical ladder for access, an effective fall-arrest system that does not require the person to constantly hook on and off must be provided. 4. Issue appropriate PPE: Workers must be issued the appropriate PPE, such as full body harness that is securely anchored (through lanyard, shock absorbers and hook) at all times to protect against accidental falls. Additional lifeline should be employed specifically for the turntable to prevent falls. The workers must be trained on the safe and proper use of the PPE. 5. Ensure proper supervision: Employers should ensure that workers adhere to the established safe work procedures, e.g. by ensuring that workers follow the fall protection plan when working at height and disciplining workers who exhibit unsafe acts and do not comply with the safe work procedures. Further Information 1. Workplace Safety and Health Act, please click here. 2. Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations. 3. Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations, please click here. 4. Singapore Standard CP 62 – Safe Use of Tower Cranes. 5. Singapore Standard SS 528 – 1: 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Full-body harnesses. 6. Singapore Standard SS 528 – 2: 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Lanyards and energy absorbers. 7. Singapore Standard SS 528 – 3: 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Self-retracting lifelines. 8. Singapore Standard SS 528 – 5: 2006 Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Connectors with self-closing and self-locking gates. 9. ProBE Technical Advisory on Working At Height, 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.

Difference between working in different industries

After working as a Safety Officer for 3 years at 3 different industries, I would like to share on my personal views on the pros & cons of these 3 workplace. Shipyard, Metalworking & Electronic industries.

Shipyard

Pros: You will get strong support from your top management in getting safety requirement (getting RA written, getting people to be responsible for first aid, essential safety training) implemented/conducted as required by the legislation. Cooperation from subcontractor can be positive. Mainly on enforcement & inspection.

Cons: Be prepared to be working everyday & working at the highest risk working environment. Sun, rain, sweat, dirt, pollutant, they are your best friend. You'll need good physical stamina. Chances of having a critical accident is high.

Metalworking

Pros: You might get good support from top management due to OHSAS 18001 &/or moderate accident rate. You might face some glitches when getting employee to do safety requirement. The level of difficulty shall depends on the level of support you received from your top management. Chances of having personal time & 5 Days job schedule is high.

Cons: Dust, coolant, high level of first aid cases. Majority from Hand Injury. Plenty of audits to handle. More of paperwork stress. Chances of having a critical accident is moderate.

Electronics

Pros: You might not have a single severe accident even if you have worked there for 5 years! Very low risk & clean working environment. Mainly 5 days schedule.

Cons: You will not get sufficient support from top management as Safety is an oblivion issue to them due to extreme low accident rate. In an electronic company, production is top priority to the whole company. So getting employee to participate in Safety requirement is near to but not impossible. Employees will tell you they are very very busy & they have no time for Safety meeting & attend training. You may be sitting in the training room for the whole day with no participant. Even if you report to your top management, little will be done. You will get the feeling of unable to discharge your reasonably responsibility as a Safety Officer.

Currently, I'm facing extreme negative Safety attitude in my current company. I guess this is expected in a Manufacturing Company. I will aim to explore into new industry to gain more understanding on the Best Safety Working Industry to work in ..... but not so soon...

Dust Control at Demolition Sites - WSH Bulletin

4 Nov 2009

Demolition work involves hacking, crushing, and cutting, which can generate large amount of dust and debris. If poorly managed, the clouds of dust can contain particulate emissions that may be hazardous to human health. They may also reduce visibility, delay demolition activities and cause property damage.

To help contractors better control these hazards, we have provided important learning points in this WSH Bulletin, including enclosure of work areas, proper ventilation systems, workers’ training and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment. A good practice example is also included. Ginlee Construction Pte Ltd, a bizSAFE3 contractor, explains how it planned the demolition works at Changi Airport Terminal 1 while the terminal continued to be in operation. Read the full article here.

Technical Advisory for Working Safely in Confined Spaces - WSH Bulletin

2 Nov 2009

Work in confined spaces can be highly hazardous and can affect large groups of workers in one single incident. In 2008, 10% of workplace fatalities were attributed to confined space incidents. Confined space work was identified by the Ministry of Manpower and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council as a Programme-based Engagement (ProBE) area for 2009.

As of 1 November 2009, a new Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations came into effect. To help industry comply with the new Regulations, the WSH Council has engaged industry stakeholders through a WSHC Forum in September, and provided materials for the industry’s use. These are available on the WSHC website at this link.

Further to these initiatives, the WSHC has also developed a Technical Advisory (TA) for working safely in confined spaces. The TA will provide more information on how to manage confined spaces related hazards as well as emergency and rescue procedures for the rescue team. Read the Technical Advisory on Working Safely in Confined Spaces here.

Workers Burnt in Sewage Chamber Explosion - WSH Bulletin

Incident

On 21 October 2009, six workers were tasked to seal two sewer pipes inside an unused sewage chamber at the junction of Macpherson Road and Aljunied Road by filling the two pipes up with a cement compound. When they were preparing the worksite for this work, an explosion followed by a fire occurred in the sewage chamber. All six workers were injured. Preliminary findings revealed the presence of flammable gases in the sewage chamber. Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion, the source of the gases and the possible source of ignition.
Recommendations*
1. Conduct Risk Assessment: Adequate risk assessments must be conducted before starting any work. Through risk assessment, all potential hazards can be identified and appropriate actions taken to eliminate these hazards or reduce the risks involved. One possible hazard in this incident was the presence of a hazardous atmosphere in the sewage chamber.

2. Entry Permit and Permit-To-Work: The supervisor of the person who is to enter or work in the confined space must apply for an entry permit. The entry permit must be approved by the authorised manager, and should be validated on a daily basis if work in the confined space needs to be continued. Additionally, a Permit-to-Work system must be put in place implemented to ensure that hazardous works such as hot works are properly assessed for safe execution.

3. Continuous Monitoring of Atmosphere: A competent person such as the confined space safety assessor must test the atmosphere of a confined space for oxygen, flammable and toxic gases or vapour, and certify that the space is safe for entry before work commences. The atmosphere needs to be monitored constantly to ensure it remains within the safe limits to carry out the work. Among other criteria, the confined space should only be certified safe for entry if:
• The oxygen level is within 19.5% to 23.5% by volume.• The level of flammable gas is less than 10% of its Lower Explosive Limit (LEL).• The level of toxic substances is less than the Permissible Exposure Levels (PEL).

4. Provide Adequate Ventilation: Suitable and adequate ventilation should be provided at all times. It is important to provide fresh air and/or to dilute and remove any contaminants to a safe level. A combination of forced or supplied and exhaust ventilation can be used to ensure adequate ventilation of the space.

5. Emergency Response Plan: For work involving confined spaces, an emergency response plan (ERP), including rescue equipment, has to be put in place. Among other requirements, the plan should include the following:
• Ensure line of communications is available at all times during the work.• Ensure quick means of escape that are suitable for use by every person who enters the confined space.• Make retrieval devices and “breathing apparatus” (BA) sets readily available for use in case of an emergency. • Remind workers that they must follow the ERP and not rush in to rescue co-workers as by doing so, they might endanger their own lives.• Train supervisors, workers and other personnel on the actions to be taken during an emergency.

Further Information

1. Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006, please click here.
2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 2006, please click here.
3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 2006.
4. Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009, please click here.
5. Risk Assessment Guidelines.
6. Approved Code of Practice for Entry into and Safe Working in Confined Spaces [CP 84 : 2000]
7. Technical Advisory for Confined Spaces, 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.

Plan to get some award to showcase your company's safety?

Safety@Work Creative Awards

Join the Safety@Work Creative Awards 2010.

Jointly organised by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) in collaboration with Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Safety@Work Creative Awards showcases local students’ creative talents in advocating the importance of safety at the workplace.

Accidents at work (especially in factories and heavy industries) affect not only workers, but their families, employers and society at large. Yet, with good safety habits, work-related accidents can be avoided. This competition aims to promote safety at work among the employees, general public and encourage everyone to adopt a safety mindset.

The theme for next year’s competition is Safety@Work, with specific focus on Working with Machines. Working with Machines can be translated into potential hazards encountered while handling cranes, forklifts and logistic transport vehicles such as prime movers (exclude transport of workers). The students’ creative can leverage on prevention or safety in this area such as:

• Hazards from crane operation involve falling of objects, struck by moving objects and toppling of crane due to overloading

• Hazards from forklift operation involve overloading of goods resulting in toppling of goods or forklift, speeding, using forklift as the incorrect equipment to reach high areas, workers crushed in-between objects, fatigue from driving long hours and failure to belt up

• Hazards from driving logistics vehicles involve speeding, falling objects from vehicles, overloading of goods, fatigue from driving long hours, workers crushed in-between vehicles and failure to belt up

To help the participants better understand the theme, the following are some examples of working with machines for your reference.

Caught between the mast section and cabin of forklift
>> Case 1: A service technician was assigned to repair a forklift on the owner’s premises. He was required to replace the seals for the hydraulic cylinders of the mast section of the forklift to prevent oil leakage. About an hour into the repair work, he was found trapped, with his neck caught between the mast section and the roof of the operator’s cabin. He died of brain damage due to suffocation. The battery cable was connected and the engine was running when the worker was found trapped in the forklift.

Struck by a falling crane boom
>> Case 2: A crawler crane operated by a worker was lifting a bundle of rebars from the ground floor to the second storey of an uncompleted building. When the bundle of rebars was about to be unloaded, the crane boom suddenly collapsed. Two workers were killed and another injured as a result of the collapsed boom.

The competition opens NOW. Competition closes on Monday, 15 March 2010.

For more information, please contact:
Mark Han
Tel: 6324 7202
Fax: 6324 7578
Email: mark_eugene_han@wshc.gov.sg

Disclaimer: The organisers will not be liable for any entries that are lost when sent by post. Upon submission, the entries will become property of the organisers and therefore will not be returned.

ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to all full-time students currently enrolled in tertiary institutes in Singapore, including the ITEs, polytechnics, universities, as well as art academies, colleges and institutes. Secondary schools and junior colleges are welcomed to submit their entries. Entries must consist of original ideas produced wholly by the respective participant(s).

Entries which are deemed by the judges to be direct adaptations or plagiarisms of existing material will be disqualified.

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CATEGORIES
The Safety@Work Creative Awards comprise two categories: Digital Animation and Poster Design. Photography and 3D treatment can be used for the poster design. For each category, there is also a Judges’ Choice where the winners will win a two-month internship with a reputable design or animation agency as well as a cash prize.

For both categories, participants are strongly encouraged to adopt a celebratory, witty and/or positive treatment of the theme. Winning entries will be reproduced for displays at industry premises and facilities for safety training purposes.

Digital Animation Entries can be submitted individually or in groups of not more than five persons. Participating teams may comprise individuals from varying age groups. The duration of all entries must be between 30 to 60 seconds. They can be presented as an original short story or advertisement. Entries that copy or spoof existing local or foreign stories or advertisements will not be accepted. The animation must relate to the theme of the competition. Entries can be created with any 3D/2D animation software (such as 3D Studio Max, Maya, Macromedia Flash, Adobe After Effects) available in the market but must be playable on PC/Mac DVD-ROM drives or consumer DVD players. Software used must not be unlicensed or illegally obtained. All entries must be saved in MPEG2 format and submitted in a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM. The resolution of the files must be set at 720 x 576 pixels, with a playback rate of 25 fps (frames per second). All entries must be accompanied with a screen shot of the animation in JPG. Each entry must be accompanied by an official entry form which is found on the contest website. Entry forms must be endorsed with the faculty supervisor’s signature and the official institution stamp, and affixed to the DVD box in the submission. Logos and credits are NOT required. Download entry form

Poster Design All poster design entries must be submitted individually. All submitted entries must be in A3 size and mounted on card or foam boards with a border of 2.5 cm all around. The poster must be original in design. Entries that copy or spoof existing local or foreign poster design works will not be accepted. The poster design must relate to the theme of the competition. Poster design entries may be created with any image design software (such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw, Macromedia FreeHand) available in the market. Software used must not be unlicensed or illegally obtained. All poster design submissions must include a short write-up of not more than 100 words describing the rationale of the design. This write-up must be pasted on the back of the board at the bottom left corner. All entries must be accompanied by soft copies of the final artwork in high resolution PDF and a working file in A3 size in a CD-ROM. All text must be converted to paths or created outlines. All image links have to be included in the CD-ROM in RGB colours. The resolution for the files should be a minimum of 300 dpi. The CD-ROM should be enclosed in an envelope or case and affixed at the back of the board. Each entry must be accompanied by an official entry form which is found on the contest website. Entry forms must be endorsed with the faculty supervisor’s signature and the official institution stamp, and affixed at the back of the board at the top right corner. Logos are NOT required. Download entry form

COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES
The use of copyrighted material, sounds, music, unlicensed or illegal software, as well as libelous, offensive, or defamatory content is not permitted. Entries must not include any trademarked material without the written permission from the owners of these material. Pictures, photographs, sound and/or music that have been taken from other sources must also be accompanied by written permission from the relevant sources for their use. Such written permission must be submitted together with the entries. The participants will be held responsible for any infringement of copyright of material used in their entries.

All submitted entries may be used for the purposes of marketing and promotions by the WSH Council and ST Engineering in connection with or without relation to their products and services as well as events organised or sponsored by them, including but not limited to the competition. The WSH Council and ST Engineering may, in their absolute discretion and in such manner as they deem fit, use the entries or parts of the entries for the said purposes without any reference to or acknowledgement of the participants.

PRIZES AND AWARDS

Digital Animation
1st prize	S$5,000
2nd prize	S$3,500
3rd prize	S$2,000
3 commendation prizes	S$1,000 each
Judges’ Choice Award	Two-month internship with Infinite Frameworks + S$1,000
Poster Design
1st prize	S$2,500
2nd prize	S$1,500
3rd prize	S$1,000
3 commendation prizes	S$500 each
Judges’ Choice Award	Two-month internship with JWT International + S$500

In addition to the cash prizes, all winners will also be presented with certificates at a prize-giving ceremony. Winning teams and individuals may be required to present their entries to the press or media representatives, and their entries may be used in posters, CD-ROMs and other publicity materials. Winners may also be required to convert their animations into other formats or to scale their poster designs to A2 size for the purpose of publicity.

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JUDGING CRITERIA
Entries in both categories will be judged based on the following criteria:

Concept	[40%]
Relevance of the entry to the central theme of Safety@Work and the efficiency in communicating the message.
Design	[30%]
Originality, creativity and aesthetics.
Technical Execution	[30%]
Proficiency in technical skills, such as camera angles, motion realism, editing, etc. for Digital Animation, and photography, illustration, etc. for Poster Design. Based on the above criteria, each entry will be reviewed and scored by an expert panel of judges. Winners will be notified via email and phone in April 2010. The decision of the judges will be final. No further correspondence will be entertained. The organisers also reserve the right to: remove and disqualify, at their discretion, any entry deemed offensive or an infringement of any rules revise the rules and regulations at any time, and not award any of the prizes, if entries fail to meet the standards of the judges

Working Safely with Electrical Equipment - WSH Bulletin

21 Oct 09

Electricity is part and parcel of our daily lives, but it can cause significant danger or harm if mishandled. Accidents can be caused by electrical hazards such as defective equipment, damaged electrical cords, exposed wires, overloaded circuits and wet conditions. It is therefore important for all staff working at or near electrical equipment to understand basic electrical safety and adopt the necessary precautionary measures.

The factsheet on electrical safety provides recommendations on precautionary measures for working safely with electrical equipment. The following case studies illustrating the dangers of working with electrical equipment are highlighted in the factsheet.

Case study 1: A worker received a fatal electric shock while attempting to operate an electric stirrer at a construction worksite.

Case study 2: A worker received a fatal electric shock while carrying out arc welding work on a metal structure in a factory.

Flash Fire in Confined Space - WSH Bulletin

15 Oct 2009

Incident

In this incident, a team of 6 workers was doing roller painting in a confined space when a flash fire occurred. All the workers managed to climb out of the confined space. 4 of the workers sustained burns while 2 others were unhurt. One of the injured workers died later due to complications arising from inhalation injury and extensive burns.

Summary of Findings

Investigations revealed that the flash fire was caused by the accumulation of flammable vapours and the use of poorly maintained non-flame proof lighting in the confined space. The preparation of the paint mixture in the confined space had accelerated the accumulation of flammable vapours, which could not be effectively diluted by the forced ventilation provided. There were no established procedures for eliminating the risk of vapour accumulation, and for the continuous monitoring of flammable vapour levels. Properly maintained flame proof lighting was also not provided.

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

Release of the WSH Statistics Report (Jan – Jun 2009) - From WSH Bulletin

14 Oct 09

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council have released the latest WSH Statistics Report for January to June 2009. The report shows a drop in the overall number of work injuries, including temporary disablements, as well as occupational diseases. However, the number of fatalities and permanent disablements has increased. The increase in fatalities is seen across various sectors especially the construction, marine and manufacturing industries. The top three causes of fatalities are falls from height, collapse/toppling of structure or equipment and struck by objects falling from height.

Chairman of the WSH Council Mr Lee Tzu Yang urged each industry stakeholder to look seriously at all the WSH concerns in their workplaces and take active steps to address them. He added that the Council is developing a structured culture-building programme and a culture index that will raise safety standards in workplaces across Singapore.

To address the increase in number of fatalities and areas of concern highlighted in the Report, MOM and WSH Council have outlined several initiatives such as industry-led taskforces and sector-specific approaches.

Click HERE for the media release.

Lead Poisoning - WSH Bulletin

13 Oct 09

Lead is a poisonous substance that affects many parts of the body, particularly the nervous system such as the brain and nerves, as well as the blood system and kidneys. Lead poisoning occurs when too much lead enters the body. A person’s body absorbs lead when the person breathes in lead dust, fume or vapour. Eating with bare hands and environmental exposure can contribute to excessive lead absorption. Organic lead compounds can also be absorbed through the skin.

Lead poisoning is an occupational disease that adversely affects workers’ health. In 2008, of the 8 cases of workplace chemical poisoning, 2 cases were related to excessive absorption of lead.

For more information on preventive and control measures of lead poisoning, please click HERE.

Three recent accidents involving unsafe operation of MEWPs - WSH Bulletin

7 Oct 2009

There were 3 fatalities in the past 3 months where workers were killed while carrying out work activities using mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs). They were crushed between the structures (such as ceiling beams) and the MEWPs they were operating. Investigations revealed several underlying factors that may have contributed to the accidents. It is important that steps be taken to address such factors to prevent further occurrences.

For more details and the recommendations on working safely on MEWPs, please click here.

New Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009 - WSH Bulletin

2 Oct 2009



To ensure safe working conditions in confined spaces in workplaces, the Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009 was gazetted on 2 October 2009 and will take effect on 1 November 2009. The key provisions in the new Regulations are:


(a) Keeping a record of confined spaces – A register or record of all fixed and stationary confined spaces must be kept;

(b) Instituting requirements for confined space entry permit – Entry into a confined space should be controlled through the implementation of a systematic confined space entry permit system, conduct of periodic atmospheric testing, and display of entry permit and identification badges at the entrance to the confined space;

(c) Display of warning signs – Warning signs must be displayed at the entrance to the confined space to warn persons of the hazards of the confined space;

(d) Appointment of confined space attendant – A specific provision mandates the appointment of a confined space attendant whenever entry into or work is to be carried out in confined space. The regulation also prescribes specific duties for the attendant such as monitoring persons entering and working in the confined space, as well as alerting rescue personnel during emergencies;

(e) Training of workers, supervisors and rescue personnel – Workers and supervisors should be trained to ensure effective conduct and oversight of work performed in confined spaces. Training requirements are also specified for rescue personnel to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out rescue operation properly and safely in the event of an accident in confined spaces; and

(f) Establishment of emergency and rescue plan – Emergency and rescue plans as well as provision of rescue equipment should be established to ensure prompt and safe recovery of workers during accidents, to minimise the severity of injuries sustained. The Workplace Safety and Health (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2009 can be viewed at the Ministry of Manpower website here.

A Forum on Working Safely in Confined Spaces - by WSH Bulletin

1st Oct 2009

In Singapore, about 10 per cent of workplace fatalities are due to work-related accidents in confined spaces. In 2008, there were three confined spaces accidents that claimed seven lives. Hence work in confined spaces has been identified as one of the priority areas for ProBE 2009.

To address the gaps in working safely in confined spaces, a Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council forum was held on 24 September 2009 at the DBS Auditorium. Speakers from the Ministry of Manpower and the WSH Council shared with over 400 participants on the new WSH confined space regulations, the confined space technical advisory as well as accident case studies. Mr P K Raveendran, Chief HSE Manager at Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd, also gave a presentation on good industry practices for working safely in confined spaces.

A confined space kit was also distributed at the event, which included a poster, 3 stickers, a safety plan checklist, a confined space safety guidebook and a DVD containing confined space safety-related videos.

Click here to view the kit in full, and here to download the presentations from the forum.

Another fatal in construction site - Staying in the container office doesn't make your safe

Sep 30, 2009 Wednesday


Falling mast section kills engineer
500kg metal structure crashes into container office; co-worker injured
By Teh Joo Lin


The roof of the container office where the metal structure - a mast section - crashed into.The structure plummeted 30m when the wire rope of a tower crane hoisting it snapped. The incident happened at the construction site of an upcoming condominium, the Sui Generis, in Balmoral Road off Bukit Timah Road. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
AN ENGINEER was killed and another worker seriously injured after a 500kg metal structure plummeted 30m and crashed into a container office that they were in yesterday.

This happened when the wire rope of a tower crane, hoisting the 6m-long structure, snapped. Mr Lim Boon Tiong, a 40-year-old engineering consultant with Meinhardt Singapore, was trapped in the container office. He suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His co-worker, a 41-year-old quality control consultant, was found seated nearby. His right forearm was crushed by debris and he had two deep cuts to his head. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he is believed to be in a stable condition. The incident happened at about 11.30am at the construction site of an upcoming condominium, the Sui Generis, in Balmoral Road off Bukit Timah Road. Both were part of a group of nine attending a meeting inside the container office. The seven others emerged from the container shocked but otherwise unscathed.

A spokesman for the project said the site is under investigation following the incident. 'We are not in a position to release any information,' she said. The Straits Times understands that the accident happened while work was being done to elevate a mast erected alongside one of the half-built blocks. This mast allows a temporary workers' lift to go up and down the block. The structure that fell about eight storeys onto the container office was an additional section to make the mast taller. Safety experts said a crane's hoisting wires can snap for reasons that include overloading or the corrosion of the rope's inner core. The accident at Sui Generis comes at a time when the authorities are trying to improve crane safety at construction sites.

Last year, there were 162 crane- related accidents, which resulted in the deaths of five people and left 139 injured. In 2007, four men died and 107 were injured.
Following yesterday's incident, the Manpower Ministry issued a stop work order to Chiu Teng Enterprise, the main contractor at the site.

joolin@sph.com.sg

New WSQ Forklift Operator Course - source from WSH Bulletin

New WSQ Forklift Operator Course from 1 Oct 2009

Currently, any person who operates a forklift is required to complete the Forklift Driver's Training Course which at present is accredited by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). From 1 October 2009, the WSQ 'Operate Forklift' Competency Standard will replace the Forklift Driver's Training Course, which will cease to run wef 30 September 2009.

The new WSQ Operate Forklift Competency Standard was developed by the the industry and facilitated by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Council. This industry-endorsed standard provides a competency-based approach to training forklift operators. Trainees have to demonstrate their skills and knowledge proficiency before they are considered as qualified forklift operators.

Accreditation is put in place to ensure that the course is delivered by quality training organisations using qualified trainers and assessors. It also ensures that the approved course satisfies the competency requirements of the WSQ system and appropriate delivery modes are used. Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) are also required to continuously improve the quality of the design and delivery.

The new WSQ 'Operate Forklift' course will be offered by ATOs accredited by WDA. Existing forklift operators who have already completed the Forklift Driver's Training Course accredited by MOM will continue to be considered as qualified forklift operators.

For more information on the WSQ Operate Forklift Competency Standard, please click link.

HSE alert for shipyard - The Straits Times, 28 Sep 2009

Occupational Health Safety & Environment position

Vacancies - dated 19 Sep 09, source "Recruit Straits Times"

Electronic industries
1. System on Silicon Manufacturing Co. Pte Ltd
Position: EHS Snr Enginner or EHS Engineer
Apply online: http://www.ssmc.com/joinus

Facility
2. Keppel FMO (Middle East Position)
Position: Snr Manager QEHS
Apply email: connie.leo@kie.com

Construction
3. Woh Hup Pte Ltd
Position: WSHO cum ECO
Apply email: hr@wohhup.com

4. Soilbuild Group Holding
Position: WSHO
Apply email: recruit@soilbuild.com

5. CHC Construction Company
Position: WSHO
Apply email: hr@chccpl.com.sg

Another fatal accident in Singapore - Marina Bay Sands IR

Self explanatory, another tragic happened in construction site.

What is the average wages for a Workplace Safety & Health Officer?

A junior came to me today... asking on the salary 1st thing before asking me on the degree of responsibility as a Safety Officer. Yakking that a lot of friends are earning screaming high salary & he envy them... and here's the reason for the beginning of today's blog...

I guess after reading so much on Safety regulations, job descriptions & other information, the ultimate questions everyone should be concerned now is, how much am I being paid for taking up heavy responsibilities & putting my neck on the chopping board? Well, I seriously can't give you a definite answer now. Why? First of all, the salary scale can behave very erratically, very much depend on which industry you plan to work for. For example, if you prefer to work at a regular fixed time-in time-out work patterns, work 5 days a week, you gotta lower your scale in your expectation. I know, your peers would be telling you that they earn $XXXX amount, excluding OT, transport allowance & other incentives. Yes, they are earning big bucks but do you see the other side? Most top earners are usually from high risk industry like construction & shipyard. Of course their wages are very high because their risk is very high as well. You can't be expecting a very safe industry to pay you rocket high rite? Notwithstanding, you also need to consider the years of experience in Safety that you earned as well. Simply said, the longer your experiences, the more you get paid. Savvy? You will also need to take into consideration on the additional roles (e.g. FSM, ECO,...) as taking up additional roles do help in giving you more bucks.

I fully understand each and everyone feelings when the HR is hagging on your wages & you are lost. My advice to you is this, if they are paying you an unbelievable amount, sometimes it may not be that attractive as seems to be. Do not expect an easy job from a high paying job. You need to weigh the risk & wages & decide if it's worth it. There are many WSHOs who start off their career in a construction site today & tendered their resignation just 3 days later...

Work safe Be safe

What to do after completing your WSHO certification?

We all know that learning never stops, not even when we'd been working for decades. It would be a norm to feel that you need to upgrade your knowledge to either improve your efficiency or to open the path for promotion in your organization. Although experience is an requirement, to be qualified as a Safety Manager, you need the qualifications as well. So, how do we go about it?

1. Taking a Degree on Occupational Health & Safety.
As far as I know, the PSB academy do have a joint program with the University of Newcastle in giving a Bachelor in Environment and Occupational Health & Safety course. It's a 2 years program & if you had attended some safety training, you might be exempted from some subjects. Damage: up to $22,256

2. Taking a Certification by NEBOSH
This certification (NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety) is very professional. I'd not taken this course yet but if I had the money & time, I would. Why? This certification get recognized globally. :-) Damage: $4,066 (you can get SDF subsidy)

3. Taking a Lead Auditor Course
You can choose to take a Lead Auditor course for either ISO 14001 or OHSAS 18001 or both. Having these 2 certificates can assist in helping your company to achieve the Certification or maintain the Certification. However, please note that you are unable to conduct certification for your employer / company as it will be a conflict of interest. There are many institutions that are giving this course, hence happy google. These course are not as expensive as the above.

4. Take up courses to be a qualified trainer
This route can serve as a part-time job to provide training to newbies. You can get yourself qualified by going thru the courses proved from the Institution of Adult Learning. Visit the website to learn out more.

Well, that's all that I can share. Please continue to support me!

Work safe, Be safe

Another fatal accident in Sentosa IR

HSE Committee Meeting - What are the requirements?

Under the Workplace Safety & Health (Workplace Safety & Health Committees) Regulations 2008, factories with 50 or more persons (excluding persons who carry out any work which is of a temporary nature & is not ordinarily carried out in the factory) is required to establish a Workplace Safety & Health Committee in the company.

Chairman
The occupier is responsible to set up this committee & appoint a competent person as a chairman.

Secretary
The occupier is also responsible to either appoint the WSH officer as the secretary or if no WSH Officer employed, a competent person from the committee shall be appointed.

Committee Members
The committee members shall consist of employees who are representatives of person at work in the factory & of the management of the factory.

Frequency of the meeting
The Meeting shall be conducted not less than once every month. It shall be conducted during working hours.

Matter to be discussed at meeting
Only matters relating to the safety & health of a person at work in the factory shall be discussed.

Functions of the committee meeting

1. To conduct a general inspection of factory & discussed in the meeting.
2. To report all findings in the report & rectify the matters before the next meeting.
3. To conduct inspection of factory after accident or dangerous occurrence.
4. Assist in organizing safety promotions.

Minutes of the meeting

The minutes of the meeting shall be furnished to the occupier & to all committee members. The minutes shall be kept for a period of 3 years & shall be produced whenever the Commissioner request.

Powers of the WSH Committee

The WSH Committee have the power to do all or any of the following;

1. Enter, inspect & examine the factory at any reasonable time;
2. Inspect & examine any machinery, equipment, plant, installations or article in the factory
3. To inspect on the factory records, certificates, notices & documents kept or required under the Act, including other relevant document and to inspect & examine any of them.
4. To examine & inquire of the factory or any person at work in that factory as may be necessary to execute its duties.
5. To access the level of noise, illumination, heat or harmful or hazardous substances in the factory and the exposure levels of person at work.

Offence

Anyone who contravenes the regulations shall be fine not exceeding $10,000 for a first offence & not exceeding $20,00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both for 2nd & subsequent offender.