Commercial diving firm fined S$115,500 for flouting stop-work order; lives put 'at risk'

SINGAPORE: A commercial diving company has been fined S$115,500 (US$85,697) for failing to comply with a stop-work order, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Thursday (Aug 10).

Joint Pacific Ocean Underwater Services (JPO) was issued a stop-work order on Oct 21, 2018, following an MOM inspection on board the dive boat JPO Challenger.

Companies that have been issued a stop-work order are not allowed to carry out workplace activities until safety measures have been taken to the satisfaction of the commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health.

The ministry said it found “several safety lapses”, including the lack of commercial diving equipment, the lack of a commercial diving training and the lack of a dive plan.

“Commercial diving activities could not be carried out as it would endanger the safety, health and welfare of workers,” MOM added.

However, the ministry later received feedback of possible infringement of the Work Safety and Health Act. It conducted follow-up inspections on Apr 25, 2019.

It was later found that JPO continued commercial diving activities even though the stop-work order was still in force.

For instance, the company made a total of 155 applications to the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) for diving permits to carry out commercial diving operations.

Divers employed by JPO were also instructed to carry out commercial diving works, such as underwater inspections of vessels, underwater polishing of vessel propellers and underwater cleaning of vessel hulls.

“MOM uncovered 33 service reports containing details of works carried out,” it said.

“JPO had put the lives of its divers at risk by instructing them to carry out commercial diving works while the SWO was still in force.” 

MOM added it was able to take action against the company due to feedback from a member of the public.

The firm was fined on Jul 14, 2023.