The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on 1 December 2020 that government agencies will be distributing the updated BluePass (BP 2.0) contact tracing devices for migrant workers in Singapore, from 2 December 2020.
The Process Industry should take note that the BP 2.0 device is NOT Intrinsically Safe (IS). Whilst having workers carry the BP 2.0 device at all times could enable swifter and more accurate contact tracing, thereby reducing the quarantine ring in the event of C+ cases, plant owners and their contractors must ensure that the use of BP 2.0 devices is in compliance with the process plant’s prevailing health and safety requirements, similar to the use of mobile phones, which are not allowed in a live plant environment.
Agencies are in discussions with the equipment vendor, D’Crypt, on potentially developing an IS-compliant version of the BluePass token that could be used in live process plant worksites. Should this be viable, more information on subsequent roll out of such a device will be made available in due course.
For the full advisory by EDB and ESG, please visit https://bit.ly/3qs5e9b