Programme Based Engagement

(ProBE) 2008 on

Flammable & Hazardous

Substances

Thomas Teo
Manager, Programme Management Unit
Occupational Safety & Health Division
2008 Government of Singapore

Brief Introduction
on ProBE
FHS

Thrust 1
Focusing where it matters

Thrust 2
Engaging stakeholders through
partnership and working well
together

Thrust 3
Applying MultiMulti-dimensional
approach towards raising safety
standards

2008 Government of Singapore

Background
FHS

Flammable & Hazardous Substances (FHS) is

one of the leading accident agency of
workplace fatalities. 9 fatalities last year.
Catastrophic consequences Accidents
involving FHS often result in multiple victims.

Flammable &
Hazardous Substances

2008 Government of Singapore

National WSH Statistics 2007

FHS

Breakdown of Workplace Fatalities in 2007

Top 3 Accident Agencies
Working
Environment

21

Falls From
Height
(FFH)

23

(86% due
to FFH)

Materials &
Substances
Lifting
Equipment

Top 3 Accident Types

14

12
9

11
9 contributed by
Flammable
Hazardous
Substances (14%
of all Workplace
Fatalities)

Struck by
Falling
Object
Fire &
Explosion/
Exposure
to Harmful
Substances

2008 Government of Singapore

Continuing Trend
FHS

Trend showing Workplace Fatalities involving FHS

from 2004 to 2007

1
2004

2005

2006

2007
2008 Government of Singapore

In 2008
FHS

A chain of events leading to islandwide

enforcement exercise on shipyards
shipyards
2 April 2008
Fire at Kreuz Shipbuilding
& Engrg Pte Ltd
6 Injured

8 June 2008
Fire at Kreuz Shipbuilding &
Engrg Pte Ltd
3 Fatalities

17 June 2008
Unintended release of
CO2 gas at Drydocks
World-Singapore Pte Ltd
2 Fatalities

25 June 2008
Flash fire at Drydocks
World-Singapore Pte Ltd
1 injured

June July 2008

Islandwide Enforcement
Exercise

2008 Government of Singapore

Overseas WSH Trends

FHS

Combustible Dusts Explosions United States

In US on February 7 2008, an
explosion in a sugar company
killed 13 workers. Accumulated
sugar in packaging plant fueled
the explosion.
The incident is not isolated. In US
from 1980 to 2005, there were
281 similar incidents of a major
nature, with 119 fatalities, 718
injuries.*
Combustible dusts finely divided solid material that can be fuel, e.g.
food, wood, metal, plastic, chemical products, pharmaceutical products.
In Singapore, similar accidents have happened.
*Source: US CSB

2008 Government of Singapore

Burn victims
FHS

Victim
Victims life will never be the same
Repercussions on victim and his family as
they have to adapt to loss of victim or
victim
victims injuries.
Trauma to witnesses and fellow
employees

2008 Government of Singapore

A bad safety and health

record affects profit
FHS

Penalties under the WSH Act amounts up

to $500,000 for companies and $200,000
for individuals
Dent to performance record
Potential loss of contracts as deliveries
cannot be met
Damage to property resulting in losses to
factory productivity and value, and
incurring an increase of insurance
premiums
2008 Government of Singapore

ProBE
The Process
FHS

Phase 2
Industry
Engagement
Phase

Phase 1
Intel
Phase

Phase 3
Operations
Phase

Phase 4
Monitoring
Phase

Phase 5
Comms
Phase

2008 Government of Singapore

ProBE on FHS
What can you do?
FHS

Legislation
WSH Act
WSH (RM) Regs
WSH (GP) Regs
WSH (IR) Regs
WSH (SSR) Regs

Guidelines and Codes of

Practice
MOM Risk Assessment Guidelines
SS 510 CP on safety in welding
and cutting
SS532 CP on storage of
flammable liquids
CP 55 CP for use and
maintenance of portable fire
extinguishers
CP 84 CP for Entry into and Safe
Working in Confined Space

Resource Materials
Technical Advisory on
Flammable Hazardous Substances
Technical Advisory on Confined
Space
Compliance Assistance Checklist
Posters on FHS

Competency Building
Workshop for CEO / Top
Management
Management of Hazardous
Substances
Confined Space Safety Assessor
Course
Manhole Safety Assessor Course
Safety Instruction Course (Manhole)
for Supervisors
Oil/Petrochemical Industry Safety
Course for Supervisors
2008 Government of Singapore

Legal Requirements
Flammable & Hazardous Substances
FHS

WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

Duty of employer/principal to
conduct and review
risk assessment
WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations
Duty of occupier to notify
Commissioner of dangerous
occurrence
Explosion or fire damage causing
suspension of ordinary work
2008 Government of Singapore

Legal Requirements
Flammable & Hazardous Substances
FHS

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

Risk Control Measures taken to
prevent fires/explosions [R26(1)-(4)]

Enclosure
Remove/prevent accumulation of flammables
Exclusion/effective enclosure of ignition sources
Use of flame-proof equipment

Permit-to-work system for hot works

[R26(5), (6), (8)]
Prior to operation, inspection must be carried out
to ensure workplace is free from explosive or
flammable substances, or fumes, or the
substances are rendered non-explosive and nonflammable

2008 Government of Singapore

Legal Requirements
Flammable & Hazardous Substances
FHS

WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

Mitigating Measures [R37 R38]
Provision and adequacy of means of extinguishing fire and
escape

Information and Training [R41-43]

Competent person managing FHS
Adequate warning signs
Availability of Safety Data Sheets and dissemination of
information to all at risk

2008 Government of Singapore

Legal Requirements
Flammable & Hazardous Substances
FHS

Current possible development of dedicated

WSH (Confined Space) Regulations
Clearer standards for work in CS
MOM will work with WSH Council to seek
Industry Consultation

2008 Government of Singapore

Recent enforcement findings

related to FHS
FHS

The following are examples of common nonnoncompliances related to Flammable & Hazardous
Substances in 2008, including the recent
enforcement on shipyards:
Risk Management :
1) Risk Assessment not conducted
2) Risk Assessment do not address fire
or explosion risks
3) Lack of Safe Work Procedures to
control the risks for work with
flammable & hazardous substances
2008 Government of Singapore

Recent enforcement findings

related to FHS
FHS

Examples of common nonnon-compliances

Permit to Work (PTW) for hot
work and confined space :
1) Expired permits being
extended for use
2) No PTW implemented at
some factories for hot work or
confined space
3) The same Personnel signing
on all the stages of the permit

2008 Government of Singapore

Recent enforcement findings

related to FHS
FHS

Examples of common nonnon-compliances

Hot-Works:
1) Damaged insulation for arc
welding holders while still in
use
2) Smoking near hot-work
areas
3) Lack of maintenance on
welding equipment in use

Damaged arc
welding insulators

Cigarette butts
near cylinders

2008 Government of Singapore

Competence is key
FHS

At least 33% of workplace fatalities

related to FHS* had lack of
competency as a direct contributing
factor. If your staff is exposed to FHS,
proper training could save your
workplace from a disaster.

*Statistics from 2004-2006

2008 Government of Singapore

Compliance Assistance
FHS

N
TIO
NI CE
IG UR
SO

FU
EL

Application of Risk Management to your

workplace Lets look at the risks.
For e.g. to prevent the occurrence of fire, lets
see if we can eliminate any of the following
elements

FIRE

OXYGEN
2008 Government of Singapore

10

Compliance Assistance
FHS

Technical Advisory on Confined Spaces and

Technical Advisory on Flammable Hazardous
Substances by the WSH Council

2008 Government of Singapore

Compliance Assistance
FHS

Compliance Assistance Checklist

2008 Government of Singapore

11

What next?
FHS

Legislation
WSH Act
WSH (RM) Regs
WSH (GP) Regs
WSH (IR) Regs
WSH (SSR) Regs

Guidelines and Codes of

Practice
MOM Risk Assessment Guidelines
SS 510 CP on safety in welding
and cutting
SS532 CP on storage of
flammable liquids
CP 55 CP for use and
maintenance of portable fire
extinguishers
CP 84 CP for Entry into and Safe
Working in Confined Space

Resource Materials
Technical Advisory on
Flammable Hazardous Substances
Technical Advisory on Confined
Space
Compliance Assistance Checklist
Posters on FHS

Competency Building
Workshop for CEO / Top
Management
Management of Hazardous
Substances
Confined Space Safety Assessor
Course
Manhole Safety Assessor Course
Safety Instruction Course (Manhole)
for Supervisors
Oil/Petrochemical Industry Safety
Course for Supervisors
2008 Government of Singapore

FHS

2008 Government of Singapore

12