Control measures to prevent fall from heights // Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2018

Control measures to prevent fall from heights // Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2018

27 Nov 2018

Ref No.: 271118 (1)
UEN: S97SS0046G

Dear Valued ASPRI Members,

Control measures to prevent fall from heights // Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2018

Control measures to prevent fall from heights

Fall from heights continues to be the leading cause of fatal and major injuries in 2018 with 5 fatalities and 52 major injuries as of September 2018. Most of these incidents could have been prevented with the proper adoption of Risk Assessment (RA) procedures. One important component of RA is selecting appropriate Risk Control measures for implementation using the Hierarchy of Controls:

Upstream risk control measures in the Hierarchy of Controls (elimination, substitution and engineering controls) should be prioritised for their effectiveness in managing workplace risks and hazards. To protect workers’ safety, senior management and supervisors play an important role in ensuring that adequate risk control measures are duly implemented.

Take time to take care of your workers’ safety and health; do your part now and pledge your support to the Target Zero Falls 2018 campaign

Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2018

The Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2018 was published on the Government Electronic Gazette on 23 November 2018. This new Notification will be effective from 3 December 2018 and the Workplace Safety and Health (Approved Codes of Practice) Notification 2016 will be revoked accordingly.

The number of Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) will stand at 76.

The new additions are:

  • SS 616:2016 Code of practice for safe use of mobile elevating work platforms
  • SS 176:1996 Portable aluminium ladder
  • SS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
  • SS ISO 10218:2016 Robots and robotic devices – Safety requirements for
  • industrial robots Part 1: Robots
  • SS ISO 10218:2016 Robots and robotic devices – Safety requirements for
  • industrial robots Part 2: Robot systems and integration

The following ACOPs are updated to their last revision:

  • SS508:2016 Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs Part 1: Design principles for safety signs and safety markings• SS508:2016 Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs Part 2: Design principles for product safety labels
  • SS508:2016 Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs Part 3: Design principles for graphical symbols for use in safety signs
  • SS508:2016 Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs Part 4: Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety sign materials
  • SS508:2016 Graphical symbols – Safety colours and safety signs Part 5: Registered safety signs
  • SS510:2017 Code of Practice for Safety in welding, cutting and other operations involving use of heat
  • SS514:2016 Code of Practice for office ergonomics
  • SS550:2017 Code of Practice for Installation, operation and maintenance of electric passenger and goods lifts
  • SS553:2017 Code of Practice for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in buildings
  • SS617:2016 Code of practice for the lifting of persons in work platforms suspended from cranes (Formerly CP63)

The electronic gazette is available at www.egazette.com.sg