Two Directors of Workplace Safety and Health Training Providers were jailed for fraudulent practices under the Workplace Safety and Health Act in 2017. Mr. Sellachamy Somasundaran, Director of Maha Safety Training Centre Pte Ltd and Mr. Md Abu Zahin Mostafizur Rahman, Director of Pioneer Skill Training Centre Pte Ltd had both pleaded guilty to fraudulently issuing the “Building Construction Supervisor Safety (“BCSS”) course certificates/safety passes without conducting any lessons and assessments.
In the first case, Mr. Sellachamny Somasundaran was charged with forging 20 BCSS course certificates/safety passes between September 2015 and December 2015 and had pleaded guilty to the charges. He was sentenced on 7 August 2017 to a jail sentence of 10 months.
In the second case, Mr. Md Abu Zahin Mostafizur Rahman was charged with forging 14 BCSS course certificates/safety passes between October 2015 and December 2015 and had pleaded guilty to the charges. He was sentenced on 15 Sep 2017 to a jail sentence of 10 months.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had since cancelled all the fraudulent BCSS records uploaded by the two Training Providers. The BCSS is a course for workers appointed to take on the construction supervisory role. The 34 hour course equips the workers with construction related knowledge on safety and health issues and how, as supervisors, they can help to implement the safety and health measures at the workplaces.
MOM takes a very serious view of any breach to the Workplace Safety and Health Act as workplace safety and health issues directly affects worker’s lives, safety and health. Regular audits on the training providers are conducted to ensure full compliance and competency of the training providers. Anyone who is aware of any malpractice by any training provider can notify MOM immediately at www.mom.gov.sg/contact-us.
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Source: WSH Bulletin by WSH Council, Singapore
