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Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) Formed to Enhance Workplace Safety 
Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 - 12:00 AM

The Ministry of Manpower has announced the formation of the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC) to help galvanise industry efforts to raise occupational safety and health standards in Singapore.

Chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, the Committee comprises 14 industry leaders. The WSHAC has formed 4 industry sectoral sub-committees led by:

Construction
Mr Eugene Yong - Executive Director, Woh Hup Pte Ltd

Healthcare
Prof Lim Meng Kin - Dept of Community, Occupational & Family Medicine, National University of Singapore

Metalworking
Mr Erik Peyrer - Vice President & General Manager, Cooper Cameron

Shipbuilding & Ship-Repairing
Prof Poo Aun Neow - Dept of Engineering, National University of Singapore

2 The Committee will focus on securing industry participation and ownership in a broad range of initiatives to significantly raise occupational safety and health standards in Singapore, in order to achieve a halving of the workplace accident fatality rate by 2015.

3. The Committee will advise the Ministry in the following areas:
(a) Set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards and regulations;
(b) Promote OSH awareness and engage the industry to raise the level of OSH in Singapore;
(c) Train key stakeholders to raise competency and capabilities in OSH; and
(d) Work on any other matters relating to OSH, as prescribed by the Minister.

4 The Committee will embark on the following strategic key thrusts:
(a) Promote a business case for high OSH standards, and review the current system to better recognise industry best practices in workplace safety and health;
(b) Engage businesses to secure their participation and buy-in for the new OSH framework;
(c) Raise the level of OSH competency in industry, by developing a OSH competency framework as well as new training programmes for all levels of industry;
(d) Work in partnership with MOM to set higher OSH standards for industry.

5 The sub-committees will drive these strategic thrusts in 4 key industry sectors, 3 of which (construction, metalworking and shipbuilding & ship-repairing) have higher incidence of workplace accidents, in order to develop sector specific measures to raise OSH standards.

6 Chairman Mr Lee Tzu Yang said, “I welcome this bold and timely move by government to involve business in their approach to safety and health. This Committee will look at sharing best practices in safety and help develop stronger capability across industries, as well as promote relevant safety skills and competencies, in which we will work closely with the Ministry of Manpower’s Occupational, Safety and Health Division. We strongly believe that good safety performance leads to good business performance, and we will call on the support of all stakeholders - employers, unions, and professionals from the fields of education, law, medicine and insurance to help take industry health and safety standards to a higher level.”

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[1] Earlier on 10 March 2005, the Minister for Manpower, Dr Ng Eng Hen, announced the new Occupational Safety and Health Framework. The Ministry identified several measures that would facilitate a quantum leap in the standard of occupational safety in Singapore. Initiatives included a new Workplace Safety and Health Act, a Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC), and an International Advisory Panel for Occupational Safety and Health.