WSH Regulations and Case Studies WSH Forum for Pest Management 20 Feb 14 Mr. Teo Han Ping Head, Programme Management, Occupational Safety & Health Division, Ministry of Manpower A Great Workforce A Great Workplace
WSH STATISTICS REPORT 2012 WORKPLACE FATALITIES Aug 2011 The Deceased and his brother had assessed to the warehouse roof for minor roof repair The Deceased was killed when he stepped on and fell through a fragile roof skylight Real Estate Activities 0 1
WSH STATISTICS REPORT 2012 WORKPLACE FATALITIES Falls as % of Total Workplace Fatalities Falls - 2012 30% Falls - 2011 35%
WSH STATISTICS REPORT 2012 WORKPLACE INJURIES MAJOR INJURIES 2012: FALLS 238 = 100 injuries MINOR INJURIES 2012: FALLS 2,944 = 100 injuries
WSH STATISTICS REPORT 2012 KEY INCIDENT AGENTS Temporary Access for Working at Heights Risk Assessment Ladders Scaffolds Slips, Trips & Falls Floors and level surfaces Stairs/ Steps
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #1 Fall through Fragile Roof In Apr 2013, a farm worker climbed onto the pitched roof of a storage shack Stepped on corrugated zinc roof sheet which gave way Fell 5 m to the ground and succumbed to his injuries
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #1 Recommendations Consider alternative safer work platform (e.g. MEWP) to eliminate the need for to stand on fragile roof surfaces Identify fragile surfaces and communicate to all personnel Provide safe means of access to work areas (e.g. crawler boards)
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #2 Fall through Roof Opening In Jul 2013, worker was tasked to install a canopy roof in front of the office building Deceased was supposedly working alone when he fell through a roof opening Fell 4 m to the ground and succumbed to his injuries
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #2 Recommendations Where possible, work from below the roof instead of deploying workers on roof top Safe and proper means of access and egress should be provided Provide sufficient and adequate anchorage for any personal fall arrest system or travel restraint system
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fall from Ladder
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES 5 Workplace Fatalities Falls from Ladders 4 4 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 13 fatalities involving falls from ladders since 2008 80% of such fatalities involved A-frame ladders
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #3 Fall from Ladder A worker was tasked to remove ceiling lightings at 5.0m height using a 2.8m aluminum A-frame ladder The employer found the ladder had toppled with the worker on the ground The victim was standing on the upper rung of the ladder to dismantle the lightings
ACCIDENT CASE STUDIES Fatal Accident #3 Recommendations Consider the use of other safer equipment like scissor lifts or tower scaffold to reach higher work area Select and use the right ladder for the job Never stand on the top rung of a ladder Provide sufficient supervision
Update on WSH Regulations
NATIONAL WAH TASKFORCE STRATEGIC OUTCOMES 1. Building Strong Capabilities Revised Code of Practice for Working at Heights 3 WSHC Guidelines on WAH Safety published 2. Promoting Benefits of WAH Safety 3. Compliance Framework - Enhancing Intervention Framework for WAH Dedicated Work at Heights Regulations
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Part I - Preliminary Part II - General Provisions Part III - Permit-to-work System Part IV - Industrial Rope Access System Part V - Miscellaneous The Schedule
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule 1. Citation and commencement 2. Definitions 3. Application Commencement 1 May 2013 Factories where work at heights is carried out 1 May 2014 All workplaces where work at heights is carried out FPP and PTW requirements will come in force
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule 1. Citation and commencement 2. Definitions 3. Application Definitions Work at Height means work (a) in or on an elevated workplace; (b) in the vicinity of an opening; (c) in the vicinity of an edge; (d) on a surface through which a person could fall; or (e) any other place (above or below ground) from which a person could fall, from one level to another and it is reasonably likely that the person would be injured
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Most preferred Avoid work at height All open sides and openings barricaded or covered Use travel restraint system Least preferred Use fall arrest system
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc. Fall Prevention Plan (FPP) 1 May 2014 Where work at height is carried out in a workplace specified in the Schedule Occupier of workplace to establish and Occupier of workplace to establish and implement an FPP in accordance to with the requirements of the ACOP relating to safe and sound practices for fall prevention.
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule The Schedule 1. Any worksite 2. Any shipyard 3. Any factory processing/ manufacturing petroleum/ petrochemicals products 4. Any premises with bulk storage/ capacity of toxic/ flammable chemicals 5. Any factory manufacturing F, Cl, HF, CO or synthetic polymers 6. Any factory manufacturing pharmaceutical products/ intermediates 7. Any factory manufacturing semiconductor wafers 8. Any factory not falling within 1-7, in which 50 or more persons are employed
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Ladders Ensure ladder in a workplace a) Good construction, adequate strength b) Free from defects c) Suitable and safe for the purpose it is intended The surface upon which any ladder rests upon when used by a person a) be stable; b) be level and firm; and c) be of sufficient strength to safely support the ladder and any person and load intended
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Ladders For Access Where a ladder is used for access or as a working place, the ladder shall rise, or adequate handhold shall be provided, to a height of at least one metre above (a) the place of landing; or (b) the highest rung to be reached by the feet of any person working on the ladder.
2. Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Application of PTW System 1 May 2014 PTW system applies only to hazardous work at heights where a person could fall from a height of more than 3m Workplaces Workplaces specified in the Schedule Workplaces not specified in the Schedule Duty-holder Occupier Responsible Person > 3m
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule Stage 1 - Application Supervisor Implementing PTW System Stage 2 - Evaluation Stage 3 - Issue Stage 4 - Posting Monitoring WAH Assessor Authorised Manager Daily review
Overview of WAH Regulations I. Preliminary II. General Provisions III. PTW System IV. Industrial Rope Access V. Misc./ Schedule 29. Industrial rope access equipment and personal protective equipment 30. Design and inspection
Overview of WAH Regulations Resources for Compliance Assistance WSHC guidelines to promote and generate awareness of the various safe practices pertaining to working at heights Revised ACOP launched in Apr 2013 WAH competency courses for Workers, Supervisors, Assessors and Managers WAH Regulations WAH ACOP WSHC Guidelines
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