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Speech at bizSAFE Convention 2012

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

Workplace safety and health

Mr. Heng Chiang Gnee, Acting Chairman, Workplace Safety and Health Council

Industry players, bizSAFE companies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

  1. Good morning. I am pleased to join you today to celebrate the achievements of bizSAFE companies and also help those new to bizSAFE understand the importance of workplace safety and health.
  2. Since September last year, the WSH Act was extended to cover all workplaces. Employers are required to identify work risks and address them through appropriate measures. Besides this legal requirement, failure to manage safety and health can affect businesses. Work incidents can lead to serious injuries, downtime and work stoppage, greatly lowering productivity and staff morale. In addition, the company may suffer from a diminished reputation and thus lose future business contracts. Hence, any business that wants to operate successfully in Singapore must be able to manage safety and health at their workplaces. The first step to a safer workplace is identifying risks at the workplace and putting in place strategies to manage these risks. There is a business angle and it is important that we do not look at it purely in terms of dollars and cents, but to make sure people are safe. Every person who is injured or loses a life can be a father or a spouse, and that is something we cannot take for granted.

    Helping SMEs through RMAF and bizSAFE
  3. To help you and other companies that are new to risk management, the Workplace Safety and Health or WSH Council has stepped up efforts to help smaller companies (or SMEs) which may lack resources or capability. The Council has many online resources and guidelines1. Various training courses subsidised by the Skills Development Fund are also available. Where SMEs require further assistance such as consultancy help, they can tap on the Risk Management Assistance Fund (RMAF) to defray the cost. The RMAF co-funds SMEs when they seek assistance from certified risk consultants to implement risk management. I am happy to note that, since 2006, of the $24 million that has been set aside, $16 million has been committed to help 3,000 SMEs get started on their WSH journey.
  4. Two SMEs that have benefitted from the Fund are Unifurn Decoration and Construction and Bureauserve. As a construction business, Unifurn has put in place a risk management system that identifies potential hazards and implements measures to reduce risks. For example, in the area of timber storage, the company implemented a rack system for timber storage that allowed workers to retrieve the timber easily and safely. Unifurn received $5,000 from RMAF to co-fund its risk management implementation. At Bureauserve in a typical office setting, it has implemented measures to safeguard both staff and customers. For example, the existing swing door at the registration counter was a potential hazard as it could hit anyone walking past. The door was removed. At a nearby area with steps, there was no support to facilitate safer movement. A handrail was installed.
  5. Besides RMAF, SMEs have also been able to tap on the Council’s bizSAFE programme. bizSAFE provides the way for SMEs to progress step-by-step from a company with no knowledge of WSH to one with a comprehensive system in place to manage work risks. I am pleased to share that the Council has successfully brought on board more than 10,0002 companies since its launch in 2007. This is an important milestone. It signals that bizSAFE membership is something useful and is good for business.
  6. With over 10,000 bizSAFE companies now, many businesses may find that their competitors are on bizSAFE to enhance their competitive edge. Those without bizSAFE certification may be at a disadvantage, especially since many potential clients will want to work with partners that can deliver work safely and smoothly. In particular, businesses from traditional sectors like construction and marine increasingly find that being on bizSAFE allows them to compete on equal ground for contracts. SMEs keen to become more competitive should seriously consider bizSAFE as well. They can contact the Council and tap on government subsidies for training.

    Lifelong Licensing Scheme for Crane and Scaffold Contractors
  7. At the same time, in line with the Government’s general direction to make licensing processes easier, our Ministry has developed a new licensing scheme for Approved Crane and Scaffold Contractors that taps on the bizSAFE programme. These contractors are involved in highly hazardous activities and their WSH management is critical. Currently, they are required to renew and pay for their licences every two years, as well as submit an audit report. To streamline the licensing process, from 1 April this year, our Ministry will be putting these contractors on a lifelong licensing scheme3. They no longer have to submit renewal forms or pay renewal fees. Instead, contractors already registered with MOM will be automatically ported over to the new scheme upon the expiry of their current licences.
  8. However, in order for MOM to maintain a strong oversight on these Contractors to ensure that they carry out their work safely, we have put in place new requirements. For Approved Crane and Scaffold Contractors to maintain the validity of their lifelong licenses, they have to attain and renew their bizSAFE Level 3 certification every three years. This will include audits on their risk management as well as important work processes.
  9. Existing training requirements will remain as it is important for workers to attend relevant courses and learn how to perform their work safely. For example, scaffold contractors must send their supervisors for work-at-height training, while crane erectors must attend training on crane erection, alteration and dismantling. I hope the scheme will help these businesses save processing time, costs and maintain high safety standards and above all, keep employees safe.

    Recognising exemplary bizSAFE companies
  10. Today, I am also pleased to share that bizSAFE companies that do exceptionally well will not only benefit in business, they can also be recognised nationally as winners of the bizSAFE Awards4. The first 14 winners today feature four bizSAFE partners that have put in tremendous efforts to aid their SME subcontractors, as well as 10 SMEs which did not have any incidents last year and have implemented risk management well. One such SME is West Squadron Marine Services. Its Managing Director Mr Derrick Tan has highlighted this win as a key achievement. In his video interview that you will see later, Mr Tan’s words captured in essence the real reason for a safe workplace. I would quote him here, “Life, is only one. Money, you can make anytime.” This is a testament of the company’s belief that safety is important because it safeguards lives. And lives, once lost, are lost forever.
  11. On that note, Iet me thank the 14 winners who will receive their Awards today and has contributed to safeguarding the lives of their employees. I urge those who have not yet taken on bizSAFE to consider doing so, just like the 150 company bosses who will take the bizSAFE Level 1 course this afternoon. We must all embrace safety because it is important to protect those who work with us every day. In return, you will see your business prosper and grow. I wish you a rewarding time at this Convention. Thank you.

1 Information on risk management can be found on the WSH Council website HERE.

2 As at end Jan 2012.

3 Refer to Annex A for more details on the lifelong licensing initiative.

4 Refer to Annex B for more details on the bizSAFE Awards and winners.

Annex A - Factsheet on Lifelong Licensing Scheme

Annex B - Factsheet on bizSAFE Awards 2012