WSH (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013 & WSH (Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

The Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013 (WAH Regulations) have been gazetted and published on 15 April 2013. It will come into operation on 1 May 2013.

About the new Regulations

The key provisions in the new Regulations are:
(a) Fall Prevention Plan (FPP) – A specific provision mandates the establishment and implementation of a FPP in accordance with any Approved Code of Practice issued by the WSH Council. This provision will only be effective on 1 May 2014 to allow industry time to build up their capability;
(b) Permit-to-work System (PTW) – A specific part pertaining to the control of work at height where a person could fall from a height of more than 3 metres. This will also be effective on 1 May 2014 to allow industry time to have people trained and qualified to implement the PTW system;
(c) Training of workers, supervisors and other WAH personnel – Training requirements for work at height personnel are emphasised to ensure effective conduct and oversight of work performed at heights;
(d) Work on Roof and Fragile surface – Specific provisions on safe working on roof as well as working near fragile surface are included to require persons working there to be more vigilant; and
(e) Industrial Rope Access System – Due to its high-risk nature, a specific part has been included to address this area of concern.

The scope of coverage of the proposed Regulations will be in two phases, as follow:
1 May 2013
- Comes into force and applicable only to factories.
1 May 2014
- Coverage will be expanded to all workplaces
- Establishment and implementation of a FPP for workplaces specified in the Schedule
- Implementation of a PTW system for work at height where a person could fall from a height of more than 3 metres.

The WSH (Construction) Regulations have also been amended to delete those replica provisions in the new WSH (Work at Heights) Regulations via the WSH (Construction) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.

Leveraging on available assistance and resources
To help industry get ready for the Regulations, the WSH Council has rolled out various capability building initiatives during the recent Programme-based Enagagement (ProBE) Forum on 4 April 2013. These include:

• Revised Approved Code of Practice on Working Safely at Heights (LINK) - Includes new chapter on the PTW for WAH, sample templates on FPP and decision flow chart for PTW.
• Roll out of the enhanced Construction Safety Orientation Course in 1 May 2013 (LINK) - Includes new practical assessment on areas such as WAH.
• Enhancements to WAH training
  - Workers will be trained in basic WAH knowledge (such as the correct use of a personal fall arrest system) while supervisors will be trained on how to check that all fall preventive measures are in place before work commences.
  - Two new levels (WAH course for Assessor and Managers) will also be offered.
• A new WAH Train-the-trainer course has been developed to keep trainers up-to-mark on WAH fundamentals and ensure quality of training.

Risk Management

Since 2006, Risk Management has become mandatory for any work being carried out in manufacturing facilities, construction sites and shipyards. Since September 2011, all workplaces come under the purview of the Workplace Safety and Health Act. The implication is that all are required to conduct risk assessment for activities carried out by them, be it within their own premises or at other premises.

The requirement for risk assessment is stipulated in WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006. The Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSH Council) has also published a Code of Practice to provide guidance on implementing risk management, including the identification of hazards, evaluating risk, and putting in place control measures.

It is recommended that 5x5 Risk Assessment Matrix be adopted to provide more accurate assessment of risks.

Risk Assessment Form (Sample)

A Risk Assessment Form template, which is created based on the CP from WSH Council, may be downloaded here.

For assistance in developing RA, you may visit www.kavservices.sg

Gazette of WSH Subsidiary Legislations

(Received via e-mail, WSH Bulletin from WSH Council)

The following subsidiary legislations made under the WSH Act were gazetted on 9 September and will come into operation on 10 September 2011.

(a) WSH (First-aid)(Amendment) Regulations 2011
(b) WSH (General Provisions)(Amendment) Regulations 2011
(c) WSH (Medical Examinations) Regulations 2011
(d) WSH (Operation of Cranes) Regulations 2011
(e) WSH (Scaffold) Regulations 2011

The above Regulations previously only cover a limited class of workplaces. In line with the extension of the WSH Act to cover all workplaces on 1 September 2011, they were reviewed for updates and alignment to the new regime.

About the new Regulations

(a) WSH (First-aid)(Amendment) Regulations 2011

This amends the WSH (First-aid) Regulations. The key enhancements are as follows:

• Extend the coverage to all workplaces, except for hospitals and medical clinics
• Remove the prescriptive requirements on :-
- the number and types of first-aid boxes to be provided
- the content to be contained in the first-aid box
• Standardise the ratio of first-aider to persons employed across all sectors (i.e. workplaces where there are more than 25 persons employed are to appoint one first-aider to every 100 persons employed)

(b) WSH (General Provisions)(Amendment) Regulations 2011

This amends the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations. The key enhancements are as follows:
• Extend the coverage to all workplaces
• Allow the statutory inspection of pressure vessels to be extended beyond its prescribed interval
• Require warning labels and safety data sheets for hazardous substances to conform to any Singapore Standard or other such standards, codes of practice or guidance issued or approved by the WSH Council
• Reduce the minimum age (from 20 to 18 years old) for persons carrying out examination, lubrication or adjustment of moving parts of machinery while the fencing or other safeguard is removed

(c) WSH (Medical Examinations) Regulations 2011
This replaces the Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations. The key enhancements are as follows:
• Extend to all workplaces in which persons are employed in hazardous occupation
• Assign duty-holders for the provisions relating to medical examination of persons employed in hazardous occupations
• Include provisions on registration, suspension and cancellation of approval for Designated Workplace Doctor
• Update terminologies (e.g. from Designated Factory Doctor and Chief Inspector to Designated Workplace Doctor and Commissioner respectively)
• Improve overall structure and flow of the Regulations through minor editorial enhancements

(d) WSH (Operation of Cranes) Regulations 2011
This replaces the Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations. They key enhancements are as follows:
• Extend to all workplaces
• Require the establishment and Implementation of a lifting plan where any lifting operation involving the use of any crane is carried out in a workplace. Previously, only safe lifting procedure is needed.
• Enhance the duties of lifting personnel (i.e. lifting supervisor and crane operator), in the light of the lifting plan
• Require lorry crane operators to attend training course conducted by accredited training providers. (Note: This requirement will only come into effect on 1 Sep 2013)

(e) WSH (Scaffold) Regulations 2011

This replaces the Factories (Scaffold) Regulations. The key enhancements are as follows:
• Extend to all workplaces
• Require all metal scaffolds to be type-tested by a recognised testing body and comply with a standard or specification that the Commissioner accepts. Currently, approval is to be sought from the Commissioner.
• Assign duties on the professional engineer to ensure that he discharges his duty with due diligence

For more details, click here or refer to MOM website.