RM2.0

WSH Risk Management (RM) is a process of identifying workplace hazards, assessing the risks associated with the hazards, and eliminating or controlling the risks. RM is the cornerstone of WSH Management. The aim of WSH RM is to prevent workplace accidents and ill health. Introduced in 2005, the RM framework has helped reduce workplace fatality rate and shape the WSH landscape in Singapore. RM 2.0 is an enhanced version of the existing RM framework. It places emphasis on a pragmatic approach towards effective upstream risk control through elimination, substitution and engineering controls; and a holistic approach towards safety and health risk assessments, taking human factors into consideration.

To provide compliance assistance to industry on RM 2.0, the Code of Practice on WSH Risk Management was revised and launched during the bizSAFE Convention in February 2015. It has incorporated the key principles of RM for effective risk management, including consideration of human and cultural factors that can influence the outcome of risk assessment. It recommends possible roles a human resource manager could play to complement other duty holders in RM implementation. In view of a heightened awareness of occupational health hazards in the industry, the risk evaluation of health hazards is included in the revised Code to enable a holistic RM implementation.

In addition, the RM webpage is updated with examples of upstream risk control solutions from more than 10 industries e.g. construction, logistics and metalworking. In terms of capability building, SISO conducts a monthly enhanced RM course to educate WSH officers and professionals on the enhanced RM. The implementation of RM 2.0 will be included in bizSAFE level 3 audit checklist, and in annual WSH and bizSAFE awards selection criteria.

MHI

At the 2015 Committee of Supply debate in Parliament, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi announced that a safety case regime will be introduced for Major Hazard Installations (MHIs), with the aim of preventing major accidents. To implement the safety case regime, a set of MHI Regulations is targeted for enactment by 1H 2016. A Major Hazard Department (MHD) will be established as the single regulatory front for MOM, NEA and SCDF, in support of the safety case regime. Industry will be given a year to prepare and build up capabilities before the new safety case requirements come into effect in 2017.

REDUCE OBJECTIONS TO WIC NOTICE OF ASSESSMENTS WITH BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS

WICD strives to uphold a simple and transparent work injury compensation system for our stakeholders so that eligible employees or their dependants can receive timely compensation under the WICA.

WICD is collaborating with CPMD on a project to reduce objections to our Notice of Assessment for compensation. This project leverages on behavioural insights obtained through analysis on statistical trends and interviews with our various stakeholders. We seek to identify the stakeholders’ reasons for objecting and to come up with appropriate solutions in order to reduce the objections. Following this, WICD has identified objection management as one area that can be further enhanced to expedite the settlement of cases.

WICD is working with LSD to enhance the effectiveness of the objection process. This is done by putting in place procedures that will make the use of adjudication powers more effective. The aim is to reduce the amount of time a case resides at the adjudication stage and to bring about a quicker settlement.

IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY IN CLAIMING COMPENSATION UNDER WICA

In today’s increasingly demanding customer landscape, it is no longer sufficient for WIC claimants to garner a good outcome in their claim. They also need to receive a good customer experience on their road to recovery and settlement of their claim. Hence, WICD has been working with a design consultancy firm, ThinkPlace, since December 2014 to adopt a user-centred approach to gain a deep understanding of the experiences of injured employees, both local and foreign, who are pursuing WIC claims. Through the use of design thinking methodologies, the project will prototype initiatives that result in injured employees being better equipped to manage their claims confidently and independently, which will in turn improve their user journey and experience with the WIC system.