Two men die after industrial accident on Jurong Island - CNA/ms

24 Jan 2010

Two men die after industrial accident on Jurong Island

SINGAPORE : Two men have died after an industrial accident at Chemicals Specialities on Jurong Island on Saturday.

The incident happened at about 11am.

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel said the roof of a cylindrical tank had blown off as a result of the accident.

The cylindrical tank contained chemicals used in the manufacturing of brake fluids.

The Manpower Ministry said its preliminary findings reveal that the Malaysian workers were installing piping to various tanks when one of the tanks exploded.

The Ministry has instructed Chemical Specialties to stop all installation works on the plant.

Investigations by the Manpower Ministry and SCDF are ongoing. — CNA/ms

Safety Starts With Me Competition 2010 & Fire Safety Seminar - WSH Bulletin

18 Jan 2010

Safety Starts With Me Competition 2010

The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower has launched the Safety Starts With Me Competition 2010. Through this competition we aim to spread the awareness of workplace safety and health issues to everyone as well as promote the 'Safety Starts With Me' theme. The tagline for this year is Work safety. Our lives. Our responsibility. Paint it. Film it. Snap it. Tell us what workplace safety means to you and take part in WSH Council’s second workplace safety and health competition. The competition ends on 31 March 2010. For details, you can visit our website HERE. Exciting Cash Prizes Cash prizes of up to $5000 will be awarded to winning entries. The winning entries will also be showcased during the National Workplace Safety and Health Campaign from April to July 2010.

NSCS – Seminar on “Fire Safety and Fire Hazards in Industries” The National Safety Council of Singapore (NSCS) will be organising a half day seminar on “Fire Safety and Fire Hazards in Industries”. Case studies of fire/explosion incidents in the workplace will be shared at the seminar. Participants will also learn about Fire Risk Assessment, proper usage of fire extinguisher, importance of fire drills and escape plan, and fire alarm systems and their maintenance. The seminar details are as follows: Date: 19 January 2010 (Tuesday) Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Venue: NSCS Training Room, 315 Outram Road, #10-09A Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169074 Points awarded: 4 SDU points, 3 SCDF CPD points NSCS also has a series of seminars planned for the year 2010. Please click HERE for more information.

Lifting Supervisor Jailed Four Weeks for Fatal Accident - WSH Bulletin

Some lessons which we can learn from...

15 Jan 2010

On 14 January 2010, a site supervisor was jailed 4 weeks for performing a reckless act that resulted in the death of one worker in a lifting accident on 12 October 2007.

The site supervisor was directly in charge of 20 workers who were involved in demolition and structural works. At the time of the accident, he instructed 2 other workers, including the deceased, to help in the lifting of a timber formwork using a mobile crane. During the lifting, the wire rope used in the lifting gave way. The formwork fell about 9 metres and hit one of the workers.

Investigations found that the trained lifting supervisor failed to ensure that the two workers involved were trained riggers and were properly briefed to perform the lifting activity. He also endangered the workers’ safety by exposing them to falling object hazard during the lifting activity.

The Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, Ho Siong Hin, said that the 4-week jail term passed by the Court underscores the gravity of the offence and the importance for supervisors to uphold workplace safety. The accident could have been prevented had the supervisor ensured that the necessary safety precautions were in place.

The News taken from HERE.

Safe Handling of Compressed Gas Cylinders - WSH Bulletin

12 Jan 2010

Fact Sheet - Safe Handling of Compressed Gas Cylinders

Compressed gas cylinders are commonly used in the different industries for a variety of operations. These cylinders are heavy, normally weighing about 80 kilograms each. They are specifically designed to contain gases, such as Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen. These gases are compressed and stored under high pressure. The gas is released through a valve which regulates its discharge.

Compressed gas cylinders are dangerous because:



• They may contain gas that may be toxic, asphyxiating or flammable. The gas is also stored under high pressure.
• They are usually heavy and can cause injury, such as sprains and strains, if not well handled.

• If the cylinders are tipped, dropped, heated or knocked, they may rupture and explode, sending sharp metal pieces, like shrapnel, blasting through the area.

• The release of pressure from a gas leakage could generate a huge amount of force. It may also propel the cylinder, leading to injuries;

Click here for the fact sheet providing recommendations on the safe handling of compressed gas cylinders.

Unsafe Roof Work Resulted in Fatality - WSH Bulletin

4 Jan 2010

In recent years, a significant number of workers have been killed while working on roofs. Some of these accidents involved workers stepping on and falling through fragile roofs.

A recent accident has further contributed to this number. Unsafe unloading of glass panels on a roof caused the glass panels to topple onto two workers. One was injured while the other succumbed to his injuries. Please click HERE to read the full article.