01 Oct 2020
Ref No.: 011020 (1)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Members,
[IMPORTANT] Updates to PCM Advisories, Guidelines & Regulations
In reference to the circular that ASPRI sent out on 16th July 2020, we would like to gently inform our members of the updates made to the Safe-Restart Advisories and Criteria for the PCM Sector.
For more information, you may visit https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/sector/ where you will find the following:
- Advisory for a Safe and Controlled Restart of the PCM Sector
- COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for PCM Companies
- COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for E&C Plant Owners
- BCA-MOM Joint Circular on the Implementation of Staggered Rest Days for Work Permit Holders and S Pass Holders in the Construction Sector from 19 August 2020
- COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020
ALL PCM WORKS TO COMPLY WITH PCM COVID-SAFE RESTART CRITERIA
From September onwards, all PCM works* should comply with the appended COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for PCM companies and E&C plant owners. PCM companies applying for General Exemption or Manpower Appeal through the GoBusiness Portal will need to declare compliance against the PCM COVID-Safe Restart Criteria.
*works requiring Process Sector Work Permit or S-Pass Holders in connection with the regular maintenance, turnaround maintenance or construction of plant equipment in the Petroleum/Petrochemicals and other Chemicals manufacturing sector, not regulated under the Building Control Act.
It is understood that most plant owners and PCM companies have been adhering to the COVID-Safe Restart Criteria across both regular/routine and turnaround/shutdown maintenance work, as well as process construction work not regulated under the Building Control Act. For these companies, there will be no changes to the implementation and operationalisation of their Safe Management Measures (SMM).
E&C PLANT OWNERS TO APPLY TO EDB FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MTI APPROVED MANNING LEVELS
E&C plant owners and PCM companies should continue to comply with the appended COVID-Safe Restart Criteria to minimise transmission risks and potential disruptions to business operations. E&C plant owners should work with PCM companies to maintain updated records of the worker cohorting arrangements (worker details, worksite team/zone, transport and accommodation arrangements) for prompt submission to the relevant authorities if needed, especially in the event of a COVID incident.
For regular/routine maintenance work requiring Process Sector Work Permit or S-Pass Holders which does not require the total of substantial shutting down of plant equipment to perform, PCM companies which do not have General Exemption or sufficient quota to deploy workers on site should apply through the GoBusiness Portal for approval to restart or to increase any remaining manning levels, indicating details of the plant owners/customers/projects they are supporting.