WORKPLACE SAFETY. Table 1: Industries with highest fatalities rates and types of highest fatal* / non fatal^ injuries

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1 INTERISK ASIA PTE LTD. July 2011 WORKPLACE SAFETY Do you know that the workplace safety is part of everyone s responsibility? And so how many of us are assessing workplace safety naturally like it is part of our life? Building a good safety culture in the society and workplace should be the direction to go forward and be sustained. We can also see that many countries governments are trying to drive the numbers of annual workplace injuries and fatal injuries down. If we have a good workplace safety culture, the benefits will not only be improving the workers morale, and also increasing workers productivity. But it could also be cultivating a good habit, making it become part of our daily lives and benefiting everyone in the society, family and company. 1. Overview of the Workplace Injuries and Fatality Rate We will be looking at the statistics specifically on Safety in general only in this discussion and Health is excluded. Workplace safety is a very wide topic by itself and we will review two types of incidents in the cases studies: Fall from Heights and Caught in or between Objects. Table 1: Industries with highest fatalities rates and types of highest fatal* / non fatal^ injuries S/No. 1 Country (Year) Singapore (2010) Nos. of Workplace Fatalities Fatalities Rate (per workers) US (2009) Industries with highest fatalities rates Construction and Water Supply, Sewerage & Waste Management Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector Types of highest fatal* / non fatal^ Injuries * Falls from Height and ^caught in or between objects * Falls and Contact with objects and equipment (Excluding Transportation incidents and Assaults and violent acts) 3 UK (2009/2010) Construction and Agriculture ^Slipping or Tripping and Falls from height (Source: Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Council; hssh0910.pdf; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2011.) 1/6

2 Each country has their own way of presenting their workplace safety s statistic figures, as each country has different types of industries, categorization and their workplace safety risks. Hence, it may not be feasible to compare them or conclude anything from it. For full details of the statistics, please refer to the respective agencies reports. However, it s interesting to know the statistics trend. As you can see, the industries with the highest fatalities rate were quite similar the Construction and Agriculture, while Falls from Height and Caught in or between objects were the highest types of fatal or non fatal injuries among the 3 countries. Figure A: Signs can be used to warn persons at work if there is a risk of falling objects and that safety helmets are needed. From their detailed statistics report, it indicated that Falls from height was the leading workplace fatalities incident, Struck by falling objects and Struck by moving objects were the second and third highest incident types respectively in Singapore for year Manufacturing and Construction sectors were the main industries that contributed to the total permanent disablements in 2010, and being Caught in or between objects was the leading incident type. It accounted for half of the total permanent disablements. While the top 3 incident types which accounted for around 48% of total temporary disablements in 2010 were: Struck by Moving Objects; Slips and Trips; and Struck by Falling Objects. In US, of the 645 fatal Falls in year 2009, over one third involved falls from roofs or ladders. 2. The Importance of the Workplace Safety The purpose of showing the statistics is for the understanding of current workplace safety trend. We should not be complacent if our workplace does not fall under the top fatality industries, or our workplace does not have activities causing those injuries. Ultimately, the workplace safety depends very much on how much effort and how competently the individual and company manage their safety. Sometimes, we learn from others experiences, especially on new incidents or cases, so that we become more aware and to keep ourselves updated on best practices. It also enables us to implement necessary measures to improve further. Hence, continuous learning and reviews in safety is essential as for human behaviour, workplace environment (including weather), technology, processes and management changes. They may affect our operations and our safety performance. It is important to be on our toes at all times in whatever we do. To conduct safety check, carry out risk assessment such as to prevent and minimize any incidents from happening due to the possibilities of unsafe acts and unsafe environment. Management also has a key role and must take the lead in Workplace Safety and Health efforts. This is important for developing a good safety culture where each individual takes personal responsibility for safety and health at the workplace. An effective Risk Management and Safety Management System can also reduce the financial exposure of an organisation by reducing direct and indirect costs associated with accident and incidents. 2/6

3 3. Systematic and Logic Approach We shall adopt the Risk Management and the Safety Management System Methodology, which address the basic principles of Hazard Identification, Risk Evaluation and Risk Control to reduce any risks to a level that is as low as it is reasonably practicable. Using Plan, Do, Check, and Act, which provides a systematic way to identify hazards and control risks while maintaining assurance that these risk controls are effective. The risk assessment process helps to identify and prevent hazards (e.g. in mechanical, electrical, chemical, slips and falls, fire, etc.) at the workplace. It also helps in the implementation of effective risk control measures before risks escalate into accidents and injuries. Every workplace should conduct risk assessments for all routine and non routine works. To control hazards and reduce risks, the control measures should be considered in the order of: Elimination; Substitution; Engineering controls; Administrative controls; and PPE. It may be necessary to use more than one of these measures to reduce a risk to its lowest possible level when no single measure is sufficient on its own. In considering each measure in the Hierarchy of Control for mitigating risk, managing residual risks, and reviewing effectiveness of control measures, the following elements of what is reasonably practicable must be considered: The likelihood of a hazard or risk occurring; The degree of harm if the hazard or risk occurs; The person s degree of understanding on the hazard or risk, and any possible ways of eliminating or reducing the hazard or risk; and The availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or reduce the hazard or risk. Besides risk assessment, good risk management also consists of other components such as communication (hazard communication, education & change management), record keeping, safety programs (safety promotion, safety training, and workplace safety & health inspection), implementation and review. CASE STUDY 1 In the year of 2009, at a manufacturing factory in Singapore, a Production Operator found pinned face down between the hood frame and the leg base of the support frame of a Hood Stretch Machine. He was extricated from the machine and pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was certified as traumatic asphyxia (or crush asphyxia). Cause: Investigation revealed that the direct cause of the incident can be attributed to Man (Production Operator). The Production Operator should have complied with the warning signs and adhered to the training he received, and have deferred pasting the QC Accept labels until after the pallet had been shrink wrapped. He had been trained not to make unauthorised entry into the Hood Stretch Machine and disregarded the known safety measures to enter the said machine whilst it was still in operation. By doing so, he committed an unsafe act, ultimately leading to the fatal accident. 3/6

4 Could this be prevented? 1. WSH Communication: Hazards and safe work procedures must be communicated effectively to the workers to raise their awareness of the risks involved in their work. Various channels of communications such as safety briefings, toolbox meetings, training sessions, and documented safe work procedures can be used. Workers should also be regularly reminded of the dangers of the Hood Stretch Machine, and that unauthorised entry into the machine is strictly forbidden for safety reasons. 2. Roles & Responsibilities: Workers must know their specific responsibilities and work procedures for carrying out the assigned task. They should be advised to clarify any unclear instruction / arrangement with their supervisors whenever in doubt and not make assumptions. Supervisors must ensure that work instructions are communicated clearly and understood by the workers under their charge. 3. Engineering Control: In this incident, further engineering control measures may be implemented by narrowing all gaps at the material ingress and egress points and the plastic film feeder area to deter human entry or make human entry impossible. Safety light curtains may also be deployed at all material entry and exit points and programmed to instantly terminate machine operation once human presence is detected. 4. Supervision and Safe Work Procedures: Employers should ensure that workers adhere to the established safe work procedures. In particular, new employees and employees who lack experience must be duly supervised until they are qualified and certified as competent. Workers who perform unsafe acts and do not comply with the safe work procedures must be counselled, and if need be, appropriately disciplined. In this case, adherence to safe work procedures would have prevented the loss of a life. CASE STUDY 2 In the year 2010, at a construction worksite in Singapore, a worker fell to his death 9m below the working platform of a scaffold erected inside a lift well/hoistway while working. He was assisting his co workers in dismantling timber formwork panels from the internal wall of the lift well/hoistway. 4/6

5 Cause: Fall Protection was not in place. Slip and trip hazards that were likely due to poor housekeeping practices were also present. Could this be prevented? Workers working at heights must be protected at all times. They should not be left to use their own discretion to devise ways to protect themselves. A risk assessment of the work environment and work methods whenever a worker is up to work at height must be conducted. Adequate supervision to ensure that control measures and safe work procedures are properly implemented on site must also be conducted. Figure 2: Worker fell 9m from working platform Working at height risks can be effectively and systematically mitigated if a robust Fall Protection Plan is adopted. 1. Risk assessment: A risk assessment must be carried out by experienced and knowledgeable persons before starting any work. Through the risk assessment, hazards can be identified and appropriate actions can be taken to eliminate the hazards or reduce the risks involved. Control measures and safe work procedures must be established, communicated and implemented to ensure the safety and health of the workers. In this case, one critical hazard would be falling from height, and adequate risk control measure would need to be considered and implemented. 2. Workplace safety and health management programme: Shall establish and implement a Safety and Health policy, and safety management system with proper control measures and safe work procedures. This includes a fall protection plan for any works that may involve workers falling from a height. The programme must be clearly communicated to all levels of personnel. 3. Fall prevention / protection / arrest system: Work at height must be made safe through fall prevention or protection measures first. This can include safe access and egress where the workplace is adequately barricaded or guarded to prevent falls. Further considerations include fall arrest and engineered systems with anchorage points: Fall Arrest: An individual fall arrest system protects the worker by stopping his fall so that he does not strike the ground. A full body harness with a self retracting lifeline or a shock absorber and a lanyard are suitable for fall arrest once anchored securely. A 100% tie off procedure is recommended for such case. The procedure requires twin tailed lanyards that allow users to remain anchored to one point of anchorage with one lanyard, while transferring to another point of anchorage with the second one. Engineered Systems: Engineered systems such as horizontal lifelines could be installed according to the design by a professional engineer. Deviating from the design can result in the system not functioning as it rightfully should and can result in potentially unsafe conditions for workers. 4. Supervision and Safe Work Procedures: Employers should ensure that workers adhere to the established safe work procedures, e.g. by ensuring that workers follow the fall protection plan 5/6

6 when working at height and disciplining workers who exhibit unsafe acts and do not comply with the safe work procedures. 5. Housekeeping and Material Storage: The risk of falls due to tripping and slipping can be reduced by proper planning for material storage and good housekeeping. Such good practices not only result in a cleaner and safer workplace, but also improve productivity. 4. Conclusion Many different workplace hazards and risks are around us at all times. Top management should instil in the minds of all employees the importance of workplace safety and to promote a total safety culture within the workplace. Implementing the effective risk management and safety management programs can prevent or minimize accidents and loss, which helps to reduce operation costs, improve workers morale and increase workers productivity. 5. References 1. Ministry of Manpower, Singapore 2. Workplace Safety & Health Council, Singapore 3. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, The Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2009/10, United Kingdom Interisk Asia, one of the subsidiary companies of MS&AD Insurance group, is established in Singapore to provide risk management services, such as Electrical Safety, Fire Safety, Occupational Safety, and Burglary Risk etc. to our clients in Southeast Asia and Oceanic countries. For inquiry, please fell free to contact us. Interisk Asia Pte Ltd Company Registration No D 16 Raffles Quay #19 05A Hong Leong Building Singapore Phone:(65) , Fax:(65) URL: 6/6