A HEALTHLY WORKFORCE IN A SAFE WORKPLACE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH DIVISION
YEAR IN REVIEW 2015
A HEALTHLY WORKFORCE IN A SAFE WORKPLACE
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH DIVISION
YEAR IN REVIEW 2015
PLANNING AND POLICY BRANCH
OSH Policy and Planning (P&P) Branch oversees the development and review of OSH policies and legislation that support the Division’s goals of achieving the desired WSH outcomes. In addition, the Branch also oversees the business and corporate planning function efforts; analyses and identifies emerging WSH trends and risks by leveraging on effective information systems and business intelligence; develops and implements new intervention levers to address emerging area of concerns.
In 2015, together with the OSH Inspectorate Department, the Branch successfully launched the enhanced Demerit Points System for the construction industry after extensive review and consultation with stakeholders. The Branch has also supported a multi-agency taskforce to develop the gazetted WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations as part of the efforts to sustain WSH improvements in the construction industry. To address emerging accident trends, the Branch has also developed and implemented capability building and engagement programmes for the various industry sectors such as:
The Branch is working on the review of the National Strategy to map out new strategies and key priority areas for improving WSH outcomes in Singapore for the next 5 years. The WSH (Construction) Regulations are also being reviewed by the Branch to ensure that the provisions continue to remain effective and relevant to meet industry’s needs.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT BRANCH
OSH Information Management (IM) Branch is responsible for 4 functions namely:
In 2015, IM Branch has accomplished notable initiatives such as:
Come 2016, the Branch will operationalise the use of drones for OSHD’s operations. It will also explore the development of practical ICT applications for the industry to better manage WSH. In addition, IM Branch will work with the Information Technology & System Department (ISTD) on the review of iOSH for better efficiency and usability. On top of these, the Branch will acquire Business Analytics capability to support WSH strategising and planning.
CORPORATE SERVICES & CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT BRANCH
Corporate Services (CS) Branch continues to build and sustain a one-OSHD culture through dedicated capability development that enables the deliverance of seamless and professional services and assuring governance within the division.
To create and sustain a new communications approach, CS Branch embarked on a journey to instil a culture of “Writing in Plain English (W.I.P.E.)”. Besides providing a series of customised trainings to the officers who undertook the rewriting of some 200 system-generated letters, changes are expected to create simple and more effective written communications that are easily understood so as to build trust with customers.
The collaborative effort in working with the Internal Audit Team has collectively helped OSHD to stay vigilant and prudent in our work processes, and ensures that our financial policies and procedures adhere to the accountability and judicious use of public funds.
CS Branch is also responsible for the development of the staff in OSHD. The Branch has successfully rolled out a series of new training programmes this year, taking into consideration to equip our staff with the relevant skillsets which are on par or better than industry standards so as to enhance their job performance.
The investigations of serious workplace incidents, such as fatalities and dangerous occurrences, aim to uncover the root cause(s) of the incidents so as to guide the development and implementation of effective control measures and systemic interventions to prevent recurrences.”
In 2015, together with the Policy and Planning Branch, OPA oversaw the implementation of the Enhanced Demerit Points System (DPS) for the construction industry to encourage contractors with poor WSH records to improve on their performance.”
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH
The Enforcement Branch is the heart of the regulatory framework of our Division. It consists of:
Through our enforcement efforts, we ensure that workplaces have good safety and health standards in place and employers are proactive in their management of WSH.
Our Enforcement Branch adopts an enforcement strategy of “targeting where it matters”. Targeted inspections and sustained enforcement actions are contingent on analysis of industry trends and WSH statistics. Therefore, higher risk workplaces are the focus of OSHD’s enforcement efforts, where we can deliver the greatest impact on improving WSH performance.
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS BRANCH
Accident investigations are another key pillar in OSHD’s regulatory framework. OSHD strongly believes that learning from past accidents and mistakes is critical in driving WSH improvements. Lessons learnt from the accidents are shared with the industry. The Branch investigates serious workplace incidents, such as fatalities and dangerous occurrences. The investigations aim to uncover the root cause(s) of the incidents so as to guide the development and implementation of effective control measures and systemic interventions to prevent recurrences.
OPERATIONS PLANNING & ANALYSIS BRANCH
Operations Planning & Analysis (OPA) Branch is responsible for Operations planning, analysis and management of OSHI’s corporate indicators. OPA works closely with the Policy and Planning Branch to translate and integrate policies into actionable operational doctrines and programmes for implementation. Our work also includes the preparation of timely corporate reports to keep the management team updated of the Department’s progress towards achieving corporate goals. Besides that, OPA assists in the publication and dissemination of OSHI’s enforcement related and prosecution statistics for internal usage and public release. In 2015, together with the Policy and Planning Branch, OPA oversaw the implementation of the Enhanced Demerit Points System (DPS) for the construction industry to encourage contractors with poor WSH records to improve on their performance. OPA will continue to explore ways to improve effectiveness of enforcement through trending and analysis of enforcement information.
INCIDENT REPORTING CUSTOMER OUTREACH BRANCH
The Incident Reporting and Customer Outreach (IRCO) Branch administers the iReport system - a one-stop e-Service for reporting work-related accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) and Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA). The Branch also carries out screening of occupier and traffic reports to determine admissibility under WICA. In addition, IRCO carries out outreach activities to promote awareness of WIC rights and responsibilities to employers and workers.
In 2015, IRCO rolled out system enhancements to the iReport system such that employers who submit late incident reports will have to provide reasons. This is to allow OSHD to better track late reporting. New questions related to traffic incidents were also added to the iReport system to reduce downstream work. As part of the system improvement, it also removes the need for manual routing of occupier and traffic reports among officers which frees up resources to concentrate on other value-adding tasks.
To prepare for MOM’s redesigned website, which incorporates the new “Ask Jasmine” cognitive Q&A tool, IRCO updated the FAQs on IR. We also developed an IR Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Compendium to better deal with the myriad of IR-related queries, including the more complex ones. It was a success and we saw a drop in public queries.
Our key outreach achievements for the year include an advertorial on the changes to WICA, which was publicised in mainstream newspapers for mass outreach. We also produced new educational exhibits for our dormitory roadshows.
Moving forward, IRCO is gearing up for a revamped iReport system in line with e-services transformation project. Members of the public can look forward to better user experience with an incident reporting portal offering dashboard features and perform various e-transactions from one central location.
On the outreach front, to help employers better manage timelines in incident reporting, IRCO will roll-out guidelines on the good practices in incident reporting that will be published in WSH Council guidebooks.
INVESTIGATION BRANCH
The Investigation Branch investigates into the admissibility of compensation claims lodged under WICA. They also investigate if any offences were committed under the WICA and recommend appropriate legal action under the WICA against culpable offenders, thereby contributing to making WICA a fair compensation system for both employees and employers. The Branch also screens incidents which did not occur during official work duties, incidents which involved seamen, and non-notifiable Occupational Diseases to determine their admissibility under WICA. The Investigation Branch is currently exploring the use of data analytics to develop a predictive model to support its work.
CLAIMS MANAGEMENT BRANCH
The Claims Management Branch processes the claims of employees who suffered a work-related injury, death or occupational disease, so as to assist the injured employees in claiming fair compensation for their work injury timely. The Branch also adjudicates claim disputes and initiates appropriate enforcement and prosecution actions against errant employers and employees.
In 2015, amidst the daily operations and various projects that were undertaken, the three most notable were the Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Design Thinking and the management of foreign workers on Special Pass. Several ideas and proposals were initiated from the projects, which would see the Branch driving and fleshing out in the year ahead.
The Branch will see its role strengthened with the introduction of two strategic legal instruments – Pre-Hearing Conference (PHC) Direction Notice and Settlement Order – which would allow the officers to ensure compliance of instructions by claim parties and early resolution of disputed aspects of a claim.
MEDICAL BOARD SECRETARIAT BRANCH
The Medical Board Secretariat Branch supports the WIC process by ensuring the expeditious and accurate return of completed medical reports from the medical institutions. It further facilitates the prompt referral and receipt of reassessment medical reports made by the Work Injury Compensation Medical Board (WICMB), and ensures the smooth operations of the WICMB and partner medical institutions.
In 2015, the Branch continues to seek out improvements to daily operations and work processes. The introduction of WicSubmit, a web portal for online submission of medical documents, necessitated a major change in work processes to integrate the various modes of submission. The Branch also boosted its engagement efforts by meeting with the restructured hospitals to present them with an overview of their performance in relation to WIC medical reports, as well as prepare them for upcoming initiatives undertaken by WICD.
Two key areas that will be worked on are the improved data collection from medical institutions and the use of the online medical report form by doctors.
ENGINEERING SAFETY BRANCH
ES Branch provides specialist engineering support on the use of equipment such as pressure vessels and lifting machines. The Branch is involved in the development of WSH standards and best practices, and conducts investigation of incidents relating to the use of these equipment. ES Branch also carries out operational research and data analysis to provide evidence for the development and implementation of strategies and targeted programmes. The Branch regularly collaborates with industries and international organisations to share information, conducts visits and trainings, and promotes the safe use of equipment.
In 2015, ES Branch announced three initiatives relating to safe use of cranes. Firstly, with effect from 1 August 2015, newly registered mobile cranes are required to be equipped with data loggers while existing cranes are to be retrofitted by 1 August 2018. Secondly, with effect from 1 January 2016, operators of mini cranes, which are mobile cranes with less than 5 tonnes safe working load (SWL), are not required to register with MOM. However, these operators will be required to undergo and pass a specialised training on the safe operation of mini cranes. Lastly, from 1 April 2016, registered crane operators aged 50 and above will be required to undergo medical examinations while operators 70 years old and above will require addition occupational therapist tests.
In the coming year, ES Branch will focus its efforts in three key areas:
MAJOR HAZARDS INSTALLATIONS BRANCH
The MHI Branch oversees major hazard workplaces such as refineries, petrochemical plants and other chemical manufacturing facilities through strategic interventions at the systemic level, with the aim to prevent any catastrophic incidents. MHI Branch carries out monitoring and inspections of these workplaces, as well as the investigations of dangerous occurrences.
MHI Branch is gearing up to introduce a Safety Case regime for MHIs by working closely with NEA and SCDF together with economic agencies EDB and JTC, as well as the MHI industry.
A multi-pronged approach is taken towards the implementation of Safety Case for MHIs and this includes the following:
OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE BRANCH
OH Branch provides technical support and guidance in implementing OH programmes to meet the needs of Singapore’s workforce. The Branch also helps to ensure that Singapore’s workplace health continues to improve by working with other departments in OSHD as well as government agencies and industry associations. In 2015, OH Branch, together with Asia Pacific Biosafety Association (A-BPA), Biorisk Association of Singapore (BAS), Ministry of Health (MOH), Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC), Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) launched the Biosafety Passport for the biomedical and life sciences industry. The biosafety passport will be recognised by employers in the sector and reduce the time spent on repetitive biosafety training.
The Branch also participated in several international workshops such as the ASEAN-OSHNET’s Training-of-Trainers Workshop on Risk Assessment, Management and Control held in Manila, Philippines in February 2015 and the Fifteenth APEC Meeting of the Chemical Dialogue held in Cebu, Philippines in August 2015. The Branch also continuously supports the industry by participating in industry-led seminars such as the 15th National Globally Harmonised System Awareness Seminar which served as an initiative to drive Singapore’s GHS implementation.
The Branch has conducted multiple exercises to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety and health of the Singapore workforce; this includes the Hearing Conservation Programme Audit in Shipyards and the Dust Exercise in the manufacture of engineered and nature stones.
OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE BRANCH
OM Branch provides specialist medical expertise required in the diagnosis, management and prevention of occupational diseases and promotes best practices in occupational health to achieve world class standards, in line with Singapore’s vision of “a safe and healthy work environment for everyone, a country renowned for best practices in Workplace Safety and Health”.
It has developed guidelines and protocols, including criteria for diagnosis and procedures for applying specialised tools, for the investigation and management of cases of occupational diseases and work-related health conditions. The Branch evaluates workplace conditions and advises the management of appropriate preventive measures in order to optimise the health of the worker and enhance productivity. The doctors also serve as Visiting Specialists and Consultants to the Joint Occupational Health Clinics conducted in the hospitals.
Together with other departments in OSHD, the Branch has been actively working on the Return-to-Work (RTW) initiative and is exploring RTW models that could help injured workers recover and get back to work as quickly as possible. This development can translate into a systematic and effective method of assisting injured workers to get back to work.
VISION:A safe and healthy workplace for everyone; and a country renowned for best practices in WSH.
MISSION:To lead a mindset that all incidents are preventable and strengthen capabilities to protect health and lives at work.
ABOUT WSH COUNCIL
Established on 1 April 2008, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council comprises 17 leaders from the major industries (including construction, manufacturing, marine industries, petrochemicals, and logistics), the government, unions, as well as professionals from the legal, insurance, and academic fields.
WSH Council works closely with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and other government agencies, the industry, unions, and professional associations, to develop strategies to raise WSH standards in Singapore and realise the national WSH 2018 vision.
The Council’s main functions are to:
DEPARTMENTS IN WSH COUNCIL
Industry Practices, Sensing and Engagement
The Industry Practices, Sensing and Engagement (IPS&E) Department drives the development and adoption of good WSH practices, and supports the Council’s industry committees in identifying sectoral gaps and propose solutions to achieve sustainable improvements in WSH. IPS&E also leads the overall WSH strategic communications and promotional plans and collaborates with industry stakeholders to raise awareness and industry participation in WSH.
Industry Capability Building
The Industry Capability Building (ICB) Department leads WSH capability building efforts in organisations and people. ICB helps to raise WSH standard in organisations through its flagship programmes bizSAFE and CultureSAFE. The Department also oversees the implementation of a comprehensive competency training framework for WSH professionals as well as for the overall workforce. In addition, ICB also takes charge of the development, administration and management of funds to support its WSH programmes as well as the curriculum development and training provider accreditation scheme.
Strategy and Management
The Strategy and Management (S&M) Department provides policy guidance and oversees the work planning, budget allocation, and business performance functions of the Council Office. S&M also works with MOM to monitor the achievements and implementation of WSH 2018 strategies.
VISION:A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations.
MISSION:Enhancing WSH through Knowledge, Innovations and Solutions.
The board ensures that the Institute’s work is relevant to the industry, government and workers, tapping on the members’ expertise in research, education and training.”
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH (WSH) INSTITUTE
The WSH Institute was set up in April 2011 as part of Singapore’s WSH 2018. The Institute provides forward-looking and evidence-based knowledge and solutions to address current and emerging WSH challenges faced by the industry, and also informs policymaking by MOM and WSH Council so as to ensure WSH policies and programmes continue to stay relevant and effective.
ABOUT WSH INSTITUTE
To realise our vision of a leading institute for WSH knowledge and innovation and achieve the corresponding strategic outcomes, the Institute has adopted the following three key strategies:
GOVERNANCE
Mr Khoo Teng Chye, Executive Director of Centre for Liveable Cities succeeds Mr Khoo Chin Hean as the Chairman of WSH Institute Governing Board in July 2015. The WSH Institute Governing Board provides strategic guidance and directions to facilitate efficient governing of the Institute. It consists of members from the industry, the labour movement, government and institutions of higher learning. The Board ensures that the Institute’s work is relevant to the industry, government and workers, tapping on the members’ expertise in research, education and training. The Institute also taps on the advice of MOM’s International Advisory Panel (IAP), which comprises WSH experts from countries with similar but more mature set-ups.
BRANCHES IN WSH INSTITUTE
Research and Solutions
The Branch aims to create knowledge for industry application. The annual call for thematic research proposals from consultants and research institutions solicits expert knowledge and innovative applications to enhance Singapore’s WSH capabilities. By collaborating with industry partners, R&S translates and communicates research outcomes into key learning points for the industry, WSH Council and MOM.
The Branch organised two Solutioning Sessions in 2015 to understand the issues on the ground and co-create solutions that are practical and relevant for the industry.
We completed 8 research projects in 2015, in collaboration with consultants and research institutions.
Risk Observatory and Knowledge Dissemination
The Knowledge Hub Branch is responsible for horizon scanning, making sense of new and emerging risks and trends in the workforce, workplace and working life, and assessing its impact on WSH in Singapore. The Branch is also responsible for the effective dissemination of knowledge to our key partners and stakeholders to improve the WSH outcomes in Singapore.
Data Analytics
The Data Analytics Branch provides WSH analytics to support MOM and WSH Council in WSH policies, strategies development and other intervention actions aimed at reducing workplace incidents and ill-health.
The Branch produces in-depth analyses of WSH trends, and conducts relevant overseas comparison and benchmarking, so as to guide WSH planning by industries. It publishes the bi-annual National WSH Statistics Report to provide timely information on Singapore’s WSH landscape.
Partnerships, Planning and Development
The Partnerships, Planning and Development Branch strategises, plans, leads and manages all aspects of research management, planning and development to facilitate the achievement of the Institute’s mission and vision. This involves developing frameworks and systems for managing research work of the Institute, developing and managing research collaborations and partnerships as well as the managing of daily corporate matters to ensure the smooth running of the institute.
For 2016, the Branch will be focusing on more local research collaborations and partnerships to catapult WSH research in Singapore to greater heights.
