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
Elevating the WSH landscape in Singapore requires the collective effort and cooperation between MOM, WSH Council, WSH Institute and all industry stakeholders. It is therefore important to build strong ties among the various stakeholders so as to leverage on one another’s strengths and knowledge.
Close collaborations are continually forged between Government, unions, trade associations, developers, insurance companies, financial institutions, embassies, media, local, non-governmental organisations and the community to better achieve the WSH strategic outcomes.
WORLD CONGRESS ON RISK 2015
OSHD and WSHI participated in the 4th World Congress on Risk which was held on 19 to 23 July 2015 at Biopolis, Singapore. Dr Jukka Takala, Senior Consultant, WSHI co-chaired the opening plenary as well as symposium sessions. Er Mohd Ismadi, Director of PICS and Veronica Chow, Senior Assistant Director (OH) each presented a paper for the symposium “Information Technology in Occupational Safety” at the Congress.
NUS LAW UNDERGRAD INTERNSHIP
WICD was among the few frontline departments in MOM to host a group of NUS law undergraduates for an Internship programme from 20 July 2015 to 6 August 2015. The purpose of the internship was to showcase the work that the Ministry is doing in protecting foreign workers, and to provide insights into the intricacies of frontline Operations and policy work in balancing the interests of multiple stakeholders. The interns attended Pre-Hearing Conferences to observe how the Assistant Commissioners handled multiple stakeholders in the sessions, and observed how advisory services are provided to foreign workers who approach the Ministry for assistance with their work injury compensation claims. The interns also participated in the orientation programme for foreign
workers as part of WICD’s outreach efforts, and engaged in a fruitful discussion with representatives from Keppel FELS to hear first-hand the measures the company has implemented for the welfare of injured foreign workers. After the internship, the interns recognised MOM’s efforts to protect the well-being of foreign workers, and acknowledged the challenges of frontline work.
WSH INSTITUTE VISITING EXPERT SERIES (VES): SAFETY CASE FOR MANAGING MAJOR HAZARD INSTALLATIONS”
WSH Institute collaborated with MHI Branch of OSHD and Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) of A*Star to organise the VES session. Experts featured included:
Impact: About 140 senior management and WSH professionals from the chemical processing, oil and petrochemical industries as well as pharmaceutical and wafer fabrication plants gained better understanding about the importance and intent of the Safety Case requirement and the need for research to enable proper hazard identification. They also provided feedback on future research work needed to support Safety Case implementation.
USAFE AWARDS 2015
Er. Ho Siong Hin, Divisional Director, OSHD and Dr Lucy Leong, Deputy Director of Research and Solutions, was a member of the judging panel of the inaugural USAFE Awards, which was organised by NTUC, NTUC LearningHub, e2i and supported by WSH Council. Companies and individuals were recognised for their contributions towards achieving good workplace safety and health practices.
Strong networks in WSH in the international arena help Singapore keep abreast of the latest developments in WSH as well as new WSH hazards and risks. Singapore strives to be an active and global WSH participant and collaborator to explore new avenues and raise the level of WSH discourse and practice in Singapore and the region.
ASEAN-OSHNET TRAINING-OF-TRAINERS’ TRIPARTITE WORKSHOP ON RISK ASSESSMENT, CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
Divisional Director Er. Ho Siong Hin led a delegation to attend the ASEAN-OSHNET Training-of-Trainers’ Tripartite Workshop on Risk Assessment, Control and Management on 10-12 February 2015 at Manila, Philippines. The Workshop was attended by participants from governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations from ASEAN.
The 3-day workshop covered lectures on risk management (RM) and included a field visit to Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co Ltd, as well as group discussions on how to improve risk assessment (RA) and risk control in the region. Singapore delegates shared Singapore’s journey in WSH risk management and WSH in construction and healthcare industries.
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) CHEMICAL DIALOGUE, REGULATORY FORUM AND CONFERENCE
OSHD participated in the Singapore delegation led by the Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC) to attend the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chemical Dialogue, Regulatory Forum and Conference on 25 to 28 August 2015 at Cebu, Philippines.
The CD serves as a forum for regulatory officials and industry representatives to find solutions to challenges facing the chemical industry and users of chemicals in the Asia-Pacific region. Member-economies made recommendations concerning the formation of a consolidated data exchange system harmonised with the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), and integrating databases on hazardous chemicals of engaged APEC economies. OSHD shared Singapore’s GHS Implementation Journey at the CD Regulatory Conference.
STUDY VISIT TO PERKESO REHABILITATION CENTRE IN MALACCA
OSHD has been actively exploring overseas Return-to-work (RTW) models that have successfully put in place early interventions that could help injured workers recover and get back to work as quickly as possible. Malaysia is one country that has made significant improvements in increasing disability management and practices in the Asian region, since it first launched its Return to Work Programme. In the heart of their program was the opening of the Malacca’s PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre in October 2014, which has helped to prepare workers with injuries or diseases return to work.
In June 2015, a delegation led by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Education, Mr Hawazi Daipi, along with tripartite members, insurance and healthcare representatives, visited the PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre in Malacca to understand Malaysia’s Return to Work Programme, as well as the setup and management of the PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre. Through the visit, the delegation gained many useful insights into Malaysia’s National RTW framework, including the success factors and challenges faced, and the future development of RTW in Malaysia. The visit provided many valuable learning points which could be leveraged on in the development of RTW in Singapore.
TRIP TO BRUNEI ON HSE CONFERENCE 2015
Er. Ismadi Mohd, D(PICS) was invited as a Panel Expert at the first international HSE Conference 2015 on “Developing HSE capability in the Oil and Gas Industry in Brunei” organised by Energy Department of Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with Institute of Technology Brunei, held on 27th and 28th April 2015. D(PICS) shared the overview of Singapore’s WSH journey and the progress made over the years. In particular, D(PICS) shared in detail the WSH Framework and WSH 2018 Strategy, providing examples of WSH programmes and initiatives introduced that support and help improve Singapore’s WSH standard. D(PICS) also made mention to a special interest item, Major Hazard Installations Framework in Singapore, and shared the key strategies and plans of the workgroup.
5TH ASEAN LABOUR INSPECTION CONFERENCE, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
The 5th ASEAN Labour Conference which was held in November 2015 is an annual conference organised in conjunction with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to compare experiences and share good practices as well as challenges of labour inspections in the ASEAN region. The theme for the Conference this year is “Enhancing Labour Inspection through Information and Communication Technology (ICT)”.
Participants of the Conference included representatives from ASEAN Member States, China, New Zealand, ILO and the International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI). Singapore’s delegation comprising of OSHD, LRWD and FMMD was led by D(PICS), Mohd Ismadi. Wilbur Oh, Head (International Collaboration) also attended the conference as IALI’s representative.
TRIPARTITE CAMBODIAN STUDY VISIT
The Labour Relations and Workplaces Division and Work Injury Compensation Department, OSHD, co-hosted a study visit on labour courts for a tripartite Cambodian delegation on 15 December 2015. The visit was requested on the Cambodian delegation’s behalf by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. The Royal Cambodian Government adopted a new law on the organisation of Cambodian courts in May 2014. The ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR felt that Singapore’s experience with the Labour Courts and our dispute resolution processes could be an important and relevant example for Cambodia, and approached MOM for a study visit. In addition to a briefing on Labour Court processes, the delegates were also briefed on industrial relations, Employment Act, and the Work Injury Compensation Act. The delegates found the briefing very useful and brought the knowledge gained back for further reference.
HONG KONG OSHC VISIT
Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) joined hands with WSH Council to organise a benchmarking study on construction safety and health in Singapore from 23 to 27 March 2015. The study comprised both theoretical and practical aspects in construction safety and health, coupled with site visits to appreciate the implementation of OSH best practices and innovation projects in construction industry.
KAROKEN (PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN JAPAN)
On 3 August 2015, the WSH Council, supported by Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD), hosted a visit for 10 delegates from Karoken that comprises unions of the pharmaceutical industry in Japan. The delegates were in Singapore to learn about strategies and plans that addressed the OSH issues in Singapore.
PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONERS FROM MYANMAR
As part of a short course organised by the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, WSH Council and WSH Institute hosted five public health practitioners from Myanmar on 8 September 2015. They were given an overview of the work of WSH Council and WSH Institute, as well as a briefing on the Total WSH concept. The guests also visited Natsteel to witness first-hand implementation of Total WSH in Natsteel.
VISIT FROM AMEC FOSTER WHEELER
WSH Institute’s Executive Director, Dr Gan Siok Lin and Senior Manager, Mr Cheng Yue Pan met up with Mr Luca Fontana, Regional Director (S.E.A) and Mr David Armstrong, Director of Operations (Singapore). They shared with us the “Beyond Zero” WSH vision journey of their organisation. WSH Institute will be working with them to develop a Total Workplace Safety and Heath case study.
VISIT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY LABORATORY (HSL), BUXTON, UK
In September 2015, ED WSH Institute, Senior Research Analyst Tan Pe Ter, Director OSHD Specialist, DS (Development), MOM and Dr Shaik Salim from the Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences - A*STAR visited HSL to:
2ND INTERNATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CONFERENCE, SANTIAGO, CHILE
Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, Er. Ho Siong Hin, was invited by Mutual de Seguridad, one of three private non-profit social security institutions in Chile providing worker injury insurance compensation, to speak on Singapore’s journey in improving WSH as Chile is in the midst of developing a WSH new strategy. The conference was held on 7 – 9 September 2015 and was attended by over 400 delegates and they learned about the strategies and various programmes that Singapore have put in place to improve WSH. Er. Ho also met up with various institutions managing WSH in Chile such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Chile and Chilean Chamber of Construction, during his trip to Chile.
16TH ASEAN-OSHNET COORDINATING BOARD MEETING (CBM16) AND 2ND ASEAN-OSHNET CONFERENCE (AOC2), BANGKOK, THAILAND
CBM16 and AOC2 were held at Bangkok, Thailand from 21 – 23 April 2015 and MOM was represented by Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health Er. Ho Siong Hin, Dr Lee Hock, Siang Senior Consultant (Occupational Medicine), and Wilbur Oh, Head (International Collaboration). The meeting was attended by over 40 delegates from the ASEAN Member States, Republic of Korea, Japan, United States of America and international organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI). Key highlights of the CBM16 included the agreement to convene an ASEAN-OSHNET Policy Dialogue to chart the next 5 year ASEAN-OSHNET Plan of Action and the launch of the ASEAN-OSHNET Awards that will be awarded in 2016. Er Ho also presented on ASEAN-OSHNET’s progress at the AOC2 while Dr Lee and Mr Oh shared Singapore Total Workplace Safety and Health strategy and enforcement framework respectively.
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) /INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY ASSOCIATION (ISSA) CONFERENCE AND A+A TRADE FAIR, DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
Ms Kee Ee Wah, Director (Work Injury Compensation) and Wilbur Oh, Head (International Collaboration) attended the ILO-ISSA Conference that was held at the sidelines of the A+A on 28 and 29 October 2015, the largest OSH trade fair in Europe. Ms Kee announced the launch of the 21st World Congress on Safety and Health at Work First announcement, which has the motto and topics of the World Congress.
Meetings with ILO and DGUV were also held to understand the ILO youth at work programme and Germany’s work injury scheme, including their Return to Work programme, respectively.
VISIT BY KOREAN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH AGENCY (KOSHA)
The 8-member delegation consisted of officers from the Administrative Management Department and KOSHA’s Labour Union, who visited us on 30 November 2015. The delegation was introduced to the development and status of OSH in Singapore and the cooperative and engagement activities between management and employees for enhancing safety and health at workplaces. The visit ended with a lively exchange on the differences in regulatory framework in both countries and KOSHA’s commendation on Singapore’s rapid progress in implementing the Vision Zero movement.
VISIT BY TAICHUNG CITY LABOUR AFFAIRS BUREAU
WSH Institute hosted a 5-person delegation jointly with MOM and WSHC. Delegates were keen to understand Singapore’s innovative strategies to lower the rate of workplace accidents in the construction industry and our progress in WSH research.
