Unit 1: A Guide to Workplace Safety & Health (WSH)

Act and WSH Regulations

Three Principles Desired Mindset Change

From To

1) Reduce risk at source by Manage risk Identifying and eliminating risks

before they are created
requiring all stakeholders to

eliminate or minimize the

risk they created

2) Promote greater ownership Compliance with Proactive planning to achieve a

prescriptive rules and safe workplace – develop a
of WSH outcomes
regulations
Safe Work Procedure

3) Prevent accidents through Accidents are costly Poor safety management is

costlier
higher penalties for poor

safety management

The Workplace Safety and Health Act has four key features:
i. Assign responsibilities to all stakeholders along lines of control at the workplace
ii. Focus on Workplace Safety & Health systems and outcomes, rather than on compliance
iii. Facilitate effective enforcement through the issuance of remedial orders
iv. Impose higher penalties for non-compliance and risk-taking behaviour to prevent accidents
at source

Four key areas cover in WSH ACT

A. All workplaces, unless exempted by the WSH Act

 The Workplace Safety & Health Act covers all factories and workplaces of various
risk levels and industries.
 A workplace is any premises where a person carries out work or is to work. Some
of these workplaces are further classified as a factory.
 The following premises types are considered as factories:
 any premises used for the manufacturing, for the purposes of trade or gain,
of fabricated metal products, machinery, or equipment.
 any premises used for the production of gas for commercial sale.
B. Responsibilities of stakeholders
• The Workplace Safety & Health Act defines the responsibilities for the following
stakeholder groups:
 An Employer is any person who employs another person to perform work under a
contract of service.
 A Principal is any person who engage another person or organization to supply
labour or perform work.

• Duties and responsibilities of Employer or Principal:

 Conducting risk assessment and control measures
 Maintaining safe work facilities
 Developing safe work procedures for all work processes
 Planning and conducting emergencies such as fire and chemical spilling
 Providing adequate safety training for all employees

• An Occupier
Is the holder of the certificate of registration or who has the control of the premises
regardless of whether he is the owner. He must ensure the followings are safe and
without risks to the health of stakeholders:

 All entrances to or exits from the workplace.

 Any machinery, equipment, articles, or substances kept in the workplace.
 Electrical generators and motors located in the workplace.
 Hoists and lifts, lifting gears and appliances located in the workplace.

• A Manufacturer Or Supplier
Any person who manufactures or supplies machinery, equipment or hazardous
substances used at work in the workplace.

• An Erector Or Installer
Any person who installs or erects machinery, equipment, the building itself or any item
for use in the workplace.

• An Employed Worker
Any person at work, including an employee, i.e. one employed under a contract of
service, volunteer or any other person training or working under the employer such as
an industrial attachment student.

• Self-employed person
Any person who works but is not under a contract of service.

• Duty & Responsibilities of Employees

 must adhere to safe working procedures of all work processes
 should not endanger yourself or others working around you through unsafe
behaviour
 should not tamper with any safety device or undertake any wilful or reckless acts
  Should use and maintain any personal protective equipment provided at work
correctly

C. Hazardous substances

 The following are some of the classified hazardous Substances under the
Workplace Safety and Health Act:
 Carcinogens
- Corrosive substances
- Explosives Flammable substances
- Gases under pressure
- Irritants
- Oxidising substances
- Self-heating substances
- Self-reactive substances

D. Machinery & equipment

 Manufacturers and suppliers of the following machinery & equipment have
the duty to ensure they are safe for use:
- Scaffolds and any materials or components used to erect them
- Lifting equipment
- Forklifts Power presses
- Bar-benders Equipment or piping intended for operation under pressure, including
all statutory pressure vessels
- Equipment or piping intended to contain corrosive, toxic, or flammable substances
- Welding equipment, including any accessory, apparatus or fitting necessary to
enable its use
- Materials or components used for the construction of support structures
- Equipment used for abrasive blasting, including any accessory, apparatus or fitting
necessary to enable its use and operation

The Enforcement Framework of WSH Act

 The Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, assisted by Deputy
Commissioner and appointed WSH inspectors, ensures that workplaces
comply with safety and health regulations by taking the following actions:
 Workplace Inspections
Inspectors are empowered to enter, inspect, and examine any workplace at any
time to ensure workplace safety:
- An inspector may inspect, examine, and make copies of any workplace
documents.
- An inspector may take samples of any material or substance found in, or
being discharged from, any workplace for the purpose of analysis or test.
 - An inspector may take photographs and video recordings to record the
conditions and the processes carried out in the workplace.
- He may take into custody any article in the workplace for the purpose of an
investigation or inquiry under the Act.
 Workplace Investigation
- The Commissioner may order an investigation into any workplace accident or
incident.
- In the course of investigation, the inspector may inspect the accident scene
and workplace, and interview and record statements of persons. The
persons interviewed are bound to state the truth and assist in the
investigations.
 The enforcements are:
1. Suspension of Certificates
2. Remedial Orders & Stop Work Orders
3. Composition Fines
4. Prosecution: The Commissioner may prosecute any offender for violations under
the Act. If you are charged with an offence under the Act, it is your duty to show to
the courts that:
- You have complied with the Act and/or its relevant subsidiary legislation
- You have complied with the relevant approved code of practice or
guidelines
- Where there was no specific legislation or guidelines, you have taken
reasonable precautions and exercise due diligence.

The Enforcement Framework of WSH Act

 The Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 2006
In the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006, one of the major means of reducing risks
at the workplace is by making stakeholders accountable for managing the risks they create.
Risk assessment is a key instrument to reduce risk at the workplace.

Employers, self-employed persons, and principals (including contractors and sub-

contractors) have the responsibility of identifying safety and health hazards at the workplace
and taking appropriate actions to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks associated with
the hazards.
 The Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations 2006
covers the followings:
Part I: General Part II: General Provisions Relating to Safety Part III: Special Provision
Provisions Relating Relating to Health, Safety
to Health and Welfare
Infectious agents a bio- Prime movers Hoists and lifts Steam boilers, Toxic dust, fumes or other
hazardous material steam contaminants
receivers,
steam
containers, air
 receivers
Overcrowding Electric motor, Lifting gears, Periodical Permissible exposure levels (PELs)
motor, transmission lifting examinations of toxic substances
machinery, etc appliances, and when
lifting machines authorised
examiner is
not available
Ventilation Removal of fencing Register of Pressure Hazardous substances
from machinery listing gears, etc vessel
containing
hazardous
substance
Lighting Electrical installation Measures to be Pipes and Warning labels
and equipment taken to equipment
prevent falls conveying
certain
substances
Drainage of floors Construction and Storage of Gas plants Safety data sheet
maintenance of goods
fencing or other
safeguards
Sanitary conveniences Lock-out procedures Dangerous Repair of Safety and health management
fumes and lack pressure system
of oxygen in vessel
confined spaces
Reduction of vibration Protective measures Precautions Prevention of
relating to tanks, with regard to fire
structures, sumps, or explosive or
pits containing flammable dust,
dangerous gas, vapour, or
substances substance
Protection against Self-acting machines Condition Safety
excessive heat or cold before steam provision in
and harmful radiations boiler, steam case of fire
receiver, air
receiver or
refrigerating
plant pressure
receiver may be
used

Key coverage of the following WSH Regulations

 The Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations
The Regulations specifies the responsibilities of relevant parties to report accidents,
dangerous occurrences, and occupational diseases at workplace.

If you are an employer, an occupier or a medical doctor, your duties include the reporting
and keeping of records of accidents, incidents, and occupational diseases.
 I-A Reporting to MOM for certain cases as listed below:
1. Death
2. More than 3 calendar days of medical certificate (consecutive or otherwise)
3. Hospitalized more than 24hrs
4. Dangerous occurrences
5. Occupational diseases
6. Work-related accidents

Any employer, occupier, or medical doctor, who contravenes the regulation shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

i. for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and

ii. for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Exemption from WSH ACT

 The Workplace Safety and Health (Exemption) Order

This Order generally exempted the followings from WSH Act.

- Singapore Armed Forces
- Occupiers of domestic premises