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EVENts7Singaporesigns theSeoulDeclarationMeeting of MindsThrough the various plenary sessionsand symposiums, attendees heard fromprominent local and international speakersabout effective WSH management, andideal WSH approaches through case studiesand best practices. The Conference alsofeatured sessions focused on small andmedium enterprises (SMEs), to help themdiscover how implementing WSH makesgood business sense and increase profit.Keynote speaker Dr Sachiko Yamamoto,Regional Director of ILO’s Asia-PacificRegional Office, shared a global perspectiveon the challenges and efforts to protect thesafety and health of workers amidst thediverse and complex work environments inglobalising economies. Country delegateshighlighted their experiences in WSH, withSingapore sharing our tripartite approach —employers, unions and government together— to manage WSH.The Business of SafetyFor the business aspect, CEO speakers offeredvaluable insights in safety leadership andmanaging the supply chain for better WSHoutcomes and hence business profitabilityand productivity. WSH professionals sharedtheir WSH challenges on the ground, andtheir experiences in implementing innovativeWSH practices across organisations.Emphasising the role of WSH professionals inSMEs in driving improvements in workplacesafety, former U.S. Assistant Secretary ofLabor for Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration and leading expert, Mr JohnHenshaw, highlighted that “SMEs havediscovered how to create additional socioeconomicvalue through worker protectionwhich improves their competitive position inthe global marketplace.”The wealth of experience and talentgathered during the Conference alsofacilitated the constructive sharing ofinsights. Conference participant, Mr LimSui Soon, Director of Health Safety SecurityEnvironment from Cameron (S) Pte Ltdnoted,: “This conference offers a good andrare opportunity to listen to internationalexperts from different parts of the world toshare with us, what they do as a nationallevel, at their individual trade associationlevels and also as a region like the EU.“Technological, social and economic changeswill continue to effect tremendous shifts inthe WSH landscape in the coming years. TheSingapore WSH Conference is well-placed toserve the region, through cross-fertilisationof ideas and generation of new insights fromexperts, practitioners and policy makers.Mr Lee Tzu Yang (left), Chairman, WSH Council, pictured withMr Lee Joon-Won (right), Secretary-General, InternationalCooperation Center, Secretariat for Seoul Declaration on Safety andHealth at Work, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyThe Seoul Declaration, supported by theInternational Labour Organization, servesas a major new blueprint for constructing aglobal culture of safety and health at work.The Declaration upholds the right to a safeand healthy working environment as afundamental human right, and considers thatimproving safety and health at work hasa positive impact on working conditions,productivity, economic and socialdevelopment.Singapore became a signatory of the SeoulDeclaration on 15 September 2010 at theSingapore WSH Conference. While alreadyevident in the many national efforts in WSHinitiatives effected in recent years, thisformal commitment elevates Singapore’sprofile in WSH on an international level.The Seoul Declaration is a key conjunctiveelement of the next three World Congress onWorkplace and Safety and will culminate atthe 2017 Congress to be hosted in Singapore.More than 200 organisations worldwide havesigned the Seoul Declaration. For a full list,please visit http://bit.ly/seouldeclaration

events9Let’s Talk Safety:Logistics and Transport SafetyChampions League 2010Communication is crucial when it comes to all areas of work in the Logistics and Transport(L&T) sector. From operating heavy machinery, loading and unloading of goods, orundertaking comprehensive risk assessment, communication opens the way towardsa healthier and safer work environment for all. This is the key focus of the L&T SafetyChampions League 2010, held on 26 September 2010 at Big Splash in East Coast.Let’s Talk StatisticsA total of 200,000 people areemployed in the L&T sector; and some500 workers were injured from workincidents in 2009. This works out tobe more than one injury each day. Tohelp workplaces put in place bettersafety measures, the Workplace Safetyand Health (WSH) Council issuedguidelines on Workplace Traffic SafetyManagement and Safe Loading inVehicles last year.Let’s Talk SafetyReiterating the importance ofcommunication, Guest-of-Honour,Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior ParliamentarySecretary (Manpower and Health),said: "While the guidelines willhelp employers put in place safetymeasures, what is most important isthat everyone understands and takesthe steps to ensure safety. This is whytoday’s L&T Safety Champions Leagueadopted the theme "Let’s Talk Safety".You must understand the workplacerisks and the measures needed toprevent such risks from affecting youand your co-workers. Today’s leagueactivity therefore highlights theimportance of good communications,the ability to understand and workcohesively and safely as one team atall levels – from the top managementto the workers on the ground."The highlight of the event wasthe forklift relay races with 16participating teams from theL&T sector. The race showcasedthe importance of teamwork,communication, strategy and skill atwork as competing teams raced tothe finish line in their bid to make itto the finals. The championship cameto a nail-biting final race, with TeamBS (from Bok Seng Logistics Pte Ltd)achieving a well-deserved victory withtheir precise maneuvering of theirforklift and skillful team coordination.L&T Safety Champions League 2010was organised by the WSH Councilin collaboration with the Ministryof Manpower. It was sponsored byLTH Logistics (S) Pte Ltd and PSACorporation Ltd and supported byGoldbell Leasing Pte Ltd and PUB.

EVENTS11WSH COURSESWorkshop to Enhance Safety of Crane OperationsCranes are widely used on construction sites and can pose a serious danger if they are not safelyoperated. To raise the safety competencies of all personnel involved in the operations of cranes, theMinistry of Manpower requires all crane operators to attend this workshop before their license renewalwith effect from 1 April 2011.The Workshop will update crane operators with the latest legal requirements as well as to providethem a platform to discuss safe lifting procedures and case studies which identify causes of craneaccidents. Topics covered include safety practices for crane operations, updates on safety laws andregulations, safe lifting practices and lessons learnt from recent crane-related accidents.For further enquiries pertaining to the enrolment in the Workshop, please contact the followingtraining providers:• BCA Academy of the Built Environment • NTUC Learning HubKristeen LeeOng Zhi XianTel: 6248 9868 Tel: 6795 2541Design for Safety: Project Safety and Coordinator CourseEffective coordination and communication between clients, designers and contractors is essential toreduce safety and health risks in every construction work. To ensure continuity in information flow, asuitably qualified Project Safety and Health Coordinator (PSHC) is required to follow through a projectfrom the design stage, to the construction stage until the handover to the client for maintenance.To meet the rising demand for a pool of competent professionals to undertake the PSHC role, wehave launched the Design for Safety: Project Safety and Coordinator Course. Supported by variousassociations including the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and the Singapore ContractorsAssociation Limited (SCAL), this 2-day course is targeted at experienced design and constructionprofessionals with safety and health knowledge. For details on upcoming courses, pleasevisit Ministry of Manpower’s website at www.mom.gov.sgWork-at-Height (WAH) Course for SupervisorsSupervisors play a critical role to reduce Work-at-Height risks in workplaces as they are directlyresponsible for many workers on the ground and can make the most immediate impact to how workis carried out. To build capabilities in this key area, a new and first-of-its-kind training programme,the WAH Course for Supervisors, has been launched since July 2010. This 2-day course, comprisingtheoretical and practical aspects, will bring supervisors through a wide range of topics such as fallprotection systems, risk assessment, safe work procedures, as well as emergency planning. To sign upfor this course or view more details, please visit our accredited training providers as follows:• Asretec Pte Ltdwww.asretec.org• QMT Industrialand Safety Pte Ltdwww.qmtsafety.com• Capital Safety Group Asia Pte Ltdwww.capitalsafety.com

14Fact FileHearing ConservationProgrammeNoise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be the leading occupational disease in Singapore. Itis often undetected because there are no visible symptoms, develops gradually over a long periodof time, and seldom causes pain except in rare situations of extreme exposure. NIHL is irreversiblebut preventable. Under the Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) Regulations, employers have anobligation to protect their workers who are exposed to hazardous noise levels in the workplace.Hearing ConservationProgramme (HCP)To protect employees from the harmfuleffects of excessive noise, every workplacewith noise hazards should implementa comprehensive HCP as part of thecompany’s safety and health programme.Implementation of a HCP is based on thefact that NIHL is preventable. Therefore, theobjective of a HCP is to minimise the risksassociated with excessive and/or extendednoise exposure and to prevent hearing lossat the workplace.Components of a HCPIdentification of noise hazards and riskassessmentA HCP consists of several parts startingwith detecting and mapping out thehazardous noise in the workplace.Under the Workplace, Safety and Health(Risk Management) Regulations, a riskassessment must be conducted anddocumented for all work activities, includingnoisy processes, before work commences.The first phase of the risk assessmentbegins with hazard identification toidentify noisy work processes, type ofnoise generated, persons exposed, theirduration and level of exposure.Noise ControlWhen a noise hazard existsat the workplace, the secondphase of risk assessmentrequires reasonably practicablecontrol measures to betaken to reduce the risk toan acceptable level. Thehierarchy of control measurescan be used as a guide toachieve this objective.See Figure 1:SafeWorkplaceSafeWorkerHearing ProtectionUse of hearing protective devices (HPD) isthe last resort to control noise exposurewhen substitution and engineering controlsare not feasible. Use of HPD does not reduceor eliminate the hazard; it only protects thewearer. Where use of HPD is required, it isimportant to communicate their proper use,care, maintenance and limitations to affectedemployees. For more information on use ofHPD, refer to SS 549:2009 Code of Practicefor Selection, use, care and maintenance ofhearing protectors.Employee Training and EducationThe objective of training is to increasethe employees’ awareness of the hazardsof noise and what they need to do toprevent NIHL. Development of trainingand education materials and HPD selectioninvolving workers would give them a senseof ownership and motivation to participatein the program. Training should alsoperiodically include correct wearing, fittingand maintenance of HPD and ensure they arestill appropriate for the area in which theyare worn.Audiometric ExaminationAudiometric evaluation of workers’ hearing isthe only way to actually determine whetheroccupational hearing loss is being prevented.Under the WSH (Medical Examinations)EliminationSubstitutionEngineering ControlsAdministrative ControlsUse of Personal Protective EquipmentFigure 1Regulations, any person exposed tohazardous noise must undergo a baselineaudiometric test and subsequent annualexamination. Records must be kept for atleast five years from date of examination.MostPreferredLeastPreferredRecord KeepingRecord keeping provides evidence that theHCP components were properly, consistentlyand thoroughly conducted. Thereforethis evidence-based documentation is animportant aspect of a HCP.Program EvaluationThe effectiveness of a HCP should beevaluated in terms of hearing lossesprevented for each worker and any gapsidentified must have corrective actions inplace. The program evaluation should becarried out at least annually.Useful ReferencesRefer to the appropriate Approved Codesof Practices to assess whether reasonablepractical measures have been taken tomaintain WSH standards at your workplace.SS 549:2009 Code of Practice forSelection, Use, Care and Maintenanceof Hearing ProtectorsThis article is contributed by 3MTechnologies (S) Pte. Ltd.

NATIONAL WORKPLACE SAFETYAND HEALTH CAMPAIGN 201120 April – 27 July 2011HIGHLIGHTSWSH MessengerDon't let workplace hazards affect you.We can help you learn about everyday risks at work.Make an appointment with us today.Say NO torisks at workCall 6777 1672 or email wshmessenger@aux.com.sgSafety Starts With Me Competition ShowcaseDon’t ignore everyday risks at workCome view the winning entries from this year’s competitionAn interactive exhibit on workplace safety and healthLearn about how work incidents happen through case scenario exhibits.Test your deductive skills to get to the root cause of these incidents. Find out how youcan prevent them in your workplace.Visit www.wshc.sg for more detailsThe “Safety Starts With Me” creative competition is a multi-faceted competitionthat aims to increase awareness of Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) among theindustry as well as the general public, by encouraging them to look at workplacesafety across a variety of creative mediums.The theme of the competition in 2011 highlights common everyday risks at work.“Don’t ignore everyday risks at work” reminds everyone that WSH affects us all,regardless of where we work.The winning works will be showcased at our National WSH Campaign 2011.Past winning entries from the Creative Writing category have been collatedand published in the “Safety Starts With Me”illustration book.For more information on the competitionand to read the illustration book, pleasevisit www.wshc.sg/safetystartswithme