29 Jan 2020
Ref No.: 290120 (1)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Members,
The industry is encouraged to put in more efforts to improve safety and health at the workplace // bizSAFE now a licensing criterion for Private Security industry // Industry Workshops
Since the beginning of the year, there have been four fatal workplace accidents. More efforts are needed to ensure safe practices at the workplace. The Ministry of Manpower had earlier issued a Facebook post on some of the fatal workplace accidents and shared initial findings from its ongoing ramped-up inspections.
The WSH Council strongly encourages regular checks be conducted to ensure safe and healthy workplaces for your workers. A thorough Risk Assessment should also be carried out for all work activities so that necessary measures can be put in place to manage any foreseeable risk that may arise. Persons responsible for the workplaces are advised to consider the following to prevent accidents:
- Good coordination between contractors and sub-contractors as well as between different groups of workers is critical, especially when numerous activities are being carried out concurrently in the same work area.
- Fasten objects/construction materials securely to prevent them from falling/rolling and avoid stacking materials at height.
- Demarcate hazard zones. Cordon off all lifting zones and areas in the immediate vicinity of lifting equipment to prevent workers from entering danger areas.
- Remind workers to be vigilant of moving equipment/machines in their work vicinity and to maintain a safe distance from moving machinery.
- Prior to work commencement, brief workers on potential hazards, like location of fragile surfaces and advise workers to look out for one another.
Workers are encouraged to report any unsafe work practices and conditions, or near-miss incidents to their supervisors so that these can be addressed before an accident occurs.
bizSAFE now a licensing criterion for Private Security industry
With effect from 1 January 2021, all existing Security Agencies (SAs) will be required to attain a minimum of bizSAFE Level 3 when applying for renewal of their SA licence. Companies applying for a new SA licence are required to attain a minimum of bizSAFE Level 2 and to upgrade to bizSAFE Level 3 before renewal of the licence a year later.
The above criterion was announced by the Police Licensing Regulatory Department (PLRD) at its annual forum last month as part of efforts to ensure SAs have the necessary risk management capabilities, which in turn will help raise the workplace safety and health (WSH) standards in the security industry.
The introduction of bizSAFE as a new licensing criterion was made possible through the collaboration between the WSH Council and PLRD.
The WSH Council will continue to work with other similar agencies to include bizSAFE as a licensing criterion, and to help establish a safe and healthy workplace for every worker in Singapore.
Find out more about bizSAFE here.
Workshops
Level C – Specialist Diploma in WSH
The WSQ Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety & Health is designed for individuals who are keen to join the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) profession as WSH Officers, and acquire the knowledge on how to identify WSH hazards and assess the risks.
Date: 2 March 2020 – 28 February 2021
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Polytechnic 535 Clementi Road, Singapore 599489
Get more information here.
OEHS Conference 2020
Join the Occupational, Environmental, Health and Safety experts from around the world who will be sharing best practices on ways to make life and work better for all at work.
Date: 19 – 20 March 2020
Time: 9am – 530pm
Venue: Shaw Foundation Alumni House Auditorium, National University of Singapore, 11 Kent Ridge Drive, Singapore 119244
Get more information here.