MOM Raises Quality of Workplace Safety and Health Training Through ISO Certification of Training Providers

1. To raise the quality of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) training and enhance oversight of WSH training providers, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has made it a requirement for training providers to attain the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 29990:2010 Learning Service Provider (LSP) certification by 1 July 2017.
2. The ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification is administered by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC)¹ through its Certification Bodies (CBs) and will replace the MOM Accredited Training Provider (ATP) Scheme. The ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification is valid for three years, and LSPs will have to undergo an audit at the end of the validity period to be re-certified.
   
   About ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification
3. The implementation of the ISO 29990:2010 certification requirement is part of MOM’s ongoing efforts to raise the standards of WSH training courses. The ISO standard, which has been adopted by many countries including Germany, France, Australia, Denmark and Hong Kong, will align training providers’ practices to an international standard for quality professional practice and performance in the design, development and delivery of education, training and development.
4. In addition to meeting the requirements for ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification, training providers will also have to conform to MOM’s Technical Notes. The Technical Notes stipulate WSH-related course requirements such as course duration, trainer criteria, trainees’ prerequisites, learning objectives and outcomes, assessment method and criteria. The ISO 29990:2010 standard and MOM’s Technical Notes requirements combined will ensure that WSH training courses are put together and delivered at a high level of quality, while remaining relevant to Singapore’s industries.
5. To ensure that training standards are maintained, the LSPs will be subjected to two surveillance audits by CBs over the span of the three-year certification validity. In addition, CBs may conduct investigations into complaints against the LSPs. If these training providers are found to have committed malpractices, the SAC-accredited CBs may impose penalties on the training providers, including suspension or cancellation of certification.
   
   Transition to new certification scheme
6. To encourage training providers to transit to the ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification system by 1 July 2017, MOM will be directing training providers to CBs for ISO 29990:2010 certification in stages:
   
   a. Since 14 October 2014, companies that are not ATPs and wish to conduct WSH courses have to attain ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification before conducting such courses.
   
   b. Existing ATPs whose accreditation expires before 1 July 2015 will have the option of a one-off renewal of their existing ATP accreditation, for another two years upon the date of expiry. There will be no further renewal of ATP status thereafter, and the ATPs will have to attain ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification.
   
   c. Existing ATPs whose accreditation expires on or after 1 July 2015 will be required to attain ISO 29990:2010 LSP certification if it wants to continue conducting WSH training after the expiry of its ATP accreditation.
7. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Education Mr Hawazi Daipi said, "Training is a key component of WSH programmes. It entrenches safe and healthy behaviour, and helps shape WSH outcomes at workplaces. The ISO certification and MOM’s Technical notes will raise the quality of WSH training services, and will benefit the industry with uplifted standards, and workers who are more attuned to good WSH practices."
8. Information on the new certification scheme is available on MOM’s website². ATPs that have further queries about accreditation and certification can contact MOM at 6438 5122 or email mom_cc@mom.gov.sg.