Daily News
View All NewsSingapore – Ministry of Manpower to conduct 500 workplace inspections in early 2016
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be stepping up its enforcement efforts in workplaces with 500 inspections to be conducted in early 2016 to address workplace health and safety (WSH) concerns.
MOM will focus on supervisory practices, the quality of worker’s training and adequacy of risk management during its workplace inspections.
In January 2016, there were nine fatal workplace accidents. MOM states that while the investigations into the accidents are ongoing, preliminary findings indicate ineffective implementation of risk assessments, absence of fall protection plans and/or unsafe work procedures were contributory factors.
The enforcement campaign follows an earlier enforcement operation, code named “Operation Cormorant” that was conducted over eight weeks, from 15 October to 15 December 2015. Over 1,150 workplaces were inspected, with a focus on work at heights, crane safety and traffic management. In total, more than 1,900 WSH breaches were discovered and close to SGD 450,000 (USD 320,435) in fines were issued, with fines ranging from SGD 1,000 (USD 712) to SGD 65,000 (USD 46,285) per inspection.
According to MOM, 14 workplaces were also issued with Stop Work Orders. Among the breaches include failure to properly maintain lifting machines, failure to ensure openings were properly barricaded and failure to establish lifting plans during a lifting operation.
"Most of these accidents could have been prevented with proper risk assessment and effective implementation of preventive measures,” Ho Siong Hin, Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health said. “Every worker is entitled to a safe workplace and employers have the responsibility to provide it. We will take errant contractors and employers that expose their workers to unnecessary risks to task.”
Under the WSH Act, companies may be fined up to SGD 500,000 (USD 355,864) for the first offence for failing to ensure workplace safety and health. Individuals can also be fined up to SGD 200,000 (USD 142,345) and/or imprisoned up to 24 months for offences under the Act.