Celebrating the Best in Safety

Transcription

1 issue 02 S A F E T Y + H E A L T H I N V O L V E S E V E R Y O N E Celebrating the Best in Safety A starry night for Singapore s safest workplaces at the Workplace Safety and Health Awards thumbs up for singapore Singapore is spot-on to be a model of Workplace Safety and Health for the region 06 blue sky thinking, down-to-earth solutions Get an insight into how employees form creative ideas to get around everyday problems 08 towards 2015 Shine@Work A campaign you do not want to miss. Read on to find out more

2 02 s t r a t e g i c s t r i d e s Thumbs up for Singapore Being the first Asian country to put out a comprehensive national strategy for Workplace Safety and Health, Singapore is spot-on to be a model of WSH for the region. Formed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the six-member International Advisory Panel (IAP) for Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), was here for its first meeting, from 31 October to 2 November Comprising well known WSH experts with both regulatory and industry experience, the panel was here to discuss strategies to halve Singapore s occupational fatality rate by Endorsement of WSH strategic map and key recommendations The key focus for the IAP was the WSH 2015 Strategy for Workplace Safety and Health in Singapore. Jointly drawn up by MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC), the paper outlines the key strategies to achieve Singapore s WSH target for The IAP affirmed the key thrusts of Singapore s WSH strategies as well as the specific measures for the construction sector. The IAP also unveiled a report with ten key recommendations to enhance Singapore s WSH performance, highlighting the availability of reliable and broad-based WSH statistics as the foundation of WSH Other key recommendations include the WSHAC evolving overtime, to provide leadership in raising WSH performance and standards in Singapore and special efforts to engage and offer compliance assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Implementing WSH 2015 for Construction Industry On the specific measures for the Construction Industry, the IAP proposed that the Government should work with the industry to develop a robust safety audit scoring system that involves independent scoring of projects by third parties to evaluate the performance of the project s WSH management system. The IAP also emphasised the importance of defining the role and responsibilities of developers and designers for better WSH performance. It also recommended placing greater emphasis on facilitating the training, development and retention of a core group of skilled and experienced construction workers. Moving Forward Both the WSHAC and the Government will endeavour to work together with the key stakeholders to implement WSH This includes the possibility of leveraging on research institutions and learning more from WSH colleagues from around the world to develop a suitable mentoring programme for Singapore. To read the WSHAC press release for this meeting, log on to The Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) was formed in September 2005 to raise workplace safety and health standards in Singapore. The WSHAC comprises of leaders from the major industry sectors, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, academia and associations to drive industry participation and ownership. It has four sector specific sub-committees in the areas of construction, metalworking, shipbuilding & ship-repairing and healthcare as well as two functional sub-committees on competency, education and training as well as engagement and publicity. SHINE is a quarterly newsletter on Workplace Safety and Health issues. MICA (P) No 261/06/2006 For contributions, feedback or more information, please to the WSHAC Secretariat at admin@wsh.sg publisher Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee address Ministry of Manpower, 18 Havelock Road #03-02 Singapore contact Tel (65) Fax (65) No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

3 Drop the Baby? NO WAY!! Shift in work culture a must for enhanced workplace safety and health, highlighted presenters at a recent workplace safety and health seminar. Everyone at the workplace has a role to play when it comes to workplace safety. This was the message at the heart of the seminar on The Best in Workplace Safety and Health held over 2 days in November 2006, in conjunction with the WSH Awards The seminar was jointly organised by the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC), the Ministry of Manpower and the Institution of Engineers Singapore. Taking ownership for better safety outcomes From the building of a landmark condominium to ergonomics and noise on the production floor, the speakers at the seminar, hailing from industries as diverse as IT, shipping, construction and chemicals, shared a common vision for the future of workplace safety and health. We ve all heard the terms best management systems and best practices, but each of the speakers at the seminar delved deep into these slogans to discuss not just systems, but the importance of workplace safety and health, its impact on real people and the need to adopt it as an integral part of our work culture. The message from all of the speakers was clear. Companies and individuals are moving from just understanding and complying with the workplace safety and health act and regulations, to one of taking responsibility and ownership of workplace risks, to achieve better safety outcomes. Safety, a corporate social responsibility Opening speaker, Mr Erik Peyrer, Vice- President of business development, Cameron Corporation and Chairman, Metalworking Advisory Sub-Committee of WSHAC explained how this new culture was an essential component of the larger concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Better, faster, cheaper is not enough anymore, Mr Peyrer challenged. CSR is a recognition and call for action A safe and healthy workplace is proven to improve profitability. Erik Peyrer, Vice-President of business development, Cameron Corporation and Chairman, Metalworking Advisory Sub-Committee of WSHAC for companies to move beyond purely legal and profit motives, and act responsibly towards economic growth, the environment and people. A safe and healthy workplace is proven to improve profitability, he pointed out, it is good business. Safety requires a holistic approach The shared view of all speakers at the seminar is that proactive risk management and best practices must be integrated into the corporate culture and daily work practices. Every stakeholder should be responsible for every work process within their control. The approach is a holistic one, based on consultation and engagement of all key players and stakeholders and looking at the entire process, from assessment of risks in work processes to training, in order to raise competency and capabilities in managing safety. Workplace accident statistics have improved, and this gave the seminar a positive and optimistic air. However, there can be no slowing down. The process is continuous and everyone should be committed to reducing and eliminating workplace hazards. This point was perhaps most appropriately brought home by Mr Peyrer in his opening speech, How many babies should be allowed to be dropped on their heads in a maternity ward? 10? 5? The answer, of course, is zero. 03 s t r a t e g i c s t r i d e s

4 04 Celebrating the Best in Safety s a f e t y o n s t a g e The Workplace Safety and Health Awards 2006 a starry night for Singapore s safest workplaces. Safety took on a whole new hue and style on 24 November 2006, as Personal Protective Equipment were replaced with smart dark suits and ties and flowing gowns for a gala event. The Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Awards 2006 is an annual event that honours companies that have put in place excellent safety and health practices at the workplace. Jointly organised by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC), the event dubbed the Oscars for Workplace Safety was held at the Suntec Singapore Ballroom. Top winners received not an Oscar, but a shiny plaque in appreciation of their efforts. Over 130 companies were conferred WSH awards in 2006, many of them multiple and repeat winners. A prime example is Infineum Singapore Pte Ltd. A multinational company with more than 70 years of industry experience, Infineum s plant in Jurong Island has been operating since It has enjoyed 24 years of operating safely without a major incident. Infineum has won the Annual Safety and Health Performance Excellence Award consecutively for the last seven years, the highest accolade a company can achieve under the Awards. Infineum likens safety to a child, who requires us to nourish and treat with caution and respect. They recognise that hazards are ever present in any Proud winners of the WSH Excellence Award in a photo opportunity with Manpower Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen. (from left) Mr Brian Rains for Invista (Singapore) and Invista Singapore Fibers Pte Ltd, Mr Teo Lek Hong for Infineum Singapore Pte Ltd and Mr Hans Pijnenburg for Exxonmobil Chemical Operations Pte Ltd.

5 work environment. The only way to have a safe work environment is to have strong safety consciousness in every worker and contractor, supported by strong management commitment and accountability from everyone. In his welcome address, Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of WSHAC, affirmed the commitment of the Committee to make the awards more comprehensive and inclusive, and to encourage the participation from SMEs. Guest-of-honour Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower, took stock of the state of workplace safety and health in Singapore. He acknowledged the early results of efforts thus far, announcing that Singapore had witnessed a further decline in the total number of workplace fatalities by 14%, from 63 deaths in 2005 to 54 in He highlighted the Committee s engagement with the International Advisory Panel (IAP) as a major milestone as the latter provided much valuable insight and feedback. The IAP strongly endorsed the legislative and other changes to the WSH framework, asserted Dr Ng. They confirmed that our new framework is consistent with international best practices. With his heartening words, the celebrations began in earnest. For Philip Chua, Senior Country It takes a minute to write a safety slogan, an hour to hold a safety meeting, a month to plan a safety programme, and a year to win an award, but it only takes one second to destroy all this. V.V. Suresh, Environmental Health & Safety Manager of CH2M HILL Executive of American Express, being an award winner was a fantastic achievement. And they had much to be proud of. Despite it being the first year that American Express applied for the award, they bagged one of the top three Silver awards in the Service category. To add to the celebrations, WSHAC unveiled its launch into cyberspace with a new vibrant website, and a sumptuous dinner followed. The night came to a close with high spirits. The awards dinner may be over, but the celebrations will no doubt continue as the winners strive for bigger and better WSH performances in the following year. 05 s a f e t y o n s t a g e The Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee launches into cyberspace, with a fresh new look.

6 06 i n n o v a t i o n i n s a f e t y Blue sky thinking, down-to-earth solutions The Innovation for Occupational Safety and Heath Awards Exhibition and Presentation truly inspired, with demonstrations of how powerful it can be to look at problems in a different way. We seldom think about it, but in our modern lives we are surrounded by great ideas every day. Reflector strips on vehicles, roads and clothing, safety rails at taxi stands, airbags, childproof caps, safety pins the list goes on. At some point in time a problem was recognised and it was looked at in a new way. This is the real essence of creativity. It is this spirit of creativity and invention which made the Innovation for Occupational Safety and Health Awards (i-4-osh Awards) Exhibition and Presentation, held at Suntec Convention Centre on 24 November 2006, such an exciting event. The award-winning innovations of the 12 winning teams ranged from the small but clever to the scale which would require a dedicated team of experts. Whether it is a hanging walkway or sinking box excavation method for the construction industry, equipment to test live currents for shipbuilding, or a guard to prevent accidents while cutting tubes in the services industry, the winners of the i-4-osh Awards demonstrated that by applying creative thinking to safety issues at work, these risks can be eliminated at source and a workplace can be made safer. The Award winners serve as an encouraging indication that many companies and their employees are becoming more aware and more pro-active with matters concerning workplace safety and health. Instead of understanding and meeting the minimum obligations required by law, the winners of the i-4-osh Awards went much further, taking responsibility and ownership of their workplace risks. Simply the Very BEST! Held in conjunction with the Workplace Safety and Health Awards 2006, the i-4-osh Awards recognise the development of creative health and safety solutions on a sector-specific platform, with winners from the construction, shipbuilding and ship-repairing, manufacturing and services sectors. Receiving top honours were Hull Planners from Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd, Smart Bed System from Alexandra Hospital and B-team from Becton Dickinson Critical Care Systems Pte Ltd. How Smart is Your Bed? Project: Smart Bed System Existing Problem: Everyday, hospitals everywhere face the problem of elderly patients falling from their beds in the wards. The highest incident of which is caused by patients getting out of bed. I-4-OSH solution: Team members came up with a prototype of a thinking bed. The sensor system essentially comprises of a series of compression springs placed under the mattress. When the patient is lying on the bed, the springs are depressed, completing the circuit below the mattress. However, as the patient slides towards the end of the bed to get up, the circuit is opened, triggering a threefold alert system a buzzer at the nurse station, a light along the corridor and a SMS to the duty nurse s mobile. Results: At the end of the six months trial period, the fall down rate decreased by a substantial 43%. Staff from Singapore General Hospital demonstrates how a dose of creativity and innovation can be injected to address and eliminate safety issues at work.

7 An Eye for an Eye You have heard the phrase Keep your eyes on the job! It means more than just paying attention to what you are doing. Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. Industrial-related eye injuries are commonly caused by chemical splashes, metal or plastic debris hitting the eye, tools accidentally striking the face and improper use of equipment. In fact, 90 per cent of eye injuries can be prevented by following simple and relatively inexpensive safety precautions, that is, to put on appropriate safety protective eyewear at all times. When selecting safety protective eyewear, there are some things to look out for: Allow for easy changing of different types of lenses for different types of hazards Optical clarity, functionality and durability Should be non-obstructive Laugh awhile DANGER SAFETY STARTS HERE Now, splatter some red paint around here and on the floor to help everyone get the idea. 07 s a f e t y o n - s i t e Must be certified to ANSI Z and / or EN166 standards Must have testing standards marked on the frame and/ or lenses along with the name or symbol of the manufacturer. As there is no one-size-fits-all standard or safety eye protection programme for every industry, safety professionals must assess the types of safety gear to purchase. It is necessary to have a sound safety programme in place that mandates 100 percent participation from employees, managers and visitors. Wearing eye protectors is important but wearing it right is even more important! Protect your vision, don t take the risk. Spot the Bus Ad Contest Six SBS Transit buses are now running on the roads across the island bearing the theme for this year s National Workplace Safety & Health Campaign. We would like you to tell us the theme on the bus ad and three of the six bus service numbers that the ads are running on. Submit your answers by visiting our website at The closing date for this competition is 30 April The first 500 entrants will each receive an exclusive and limited edition WSHAC mobile accessory. The mobile accessories are kindly sponsored by PDS International. Furthermore, the first three entrants with the correct answers will also receive a $100 NTUC Voucher each. Let s get busy bussing!

8 b u z z o n s a f e t y 08 RECORD BREAKER: Help us get into the Singapore Book of Records by pledging your commitment to safety at work 20 April to 24 May 2007 The annual NWSH Campaign will be undergoing a stretch from the traditional one week to a month-long event this year. The theme Shine@Work, aims to gather greater participation of industry and all stakeholders and to heighten general awareness on the message that safety and health involves everyone. Visit the WSHAC website at in April 2007 for more information and a detailed list of campaign events.