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.