Making workplaces safer: Some large firms appointed as advocates to encourage safety among contractors
SBS Transit is among 18 large companies in sectors like construction, manufacturing and transport to be given the role.
Industrial contractor CNIM has serviced all the escalators on the Downtown Line since the MRT line opened in 2013 and has been recognised for its safety.
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SINGAPORE: Industrial contractor CNIM has serviced all the escalators on the Downtown Line since the MRT line opened in 2013.
The firm along with Downtown Line operator SBS Transit have managed to maintain the highest level of workplace safety certification since day one, despite the risks that come with maintaining escalators.
Workers can trip and fall, or even suffer electric shocks.
CNIM Singapore’s planning and commercial manager Philip Choo said that the firm’s strong safety record is in part because of continuous safety training provided by SBS Transit.
“When they have new safety programmes, we get our technicians to attend,” he added.
To encourage contractors like CNIM to focus on safety, SBS Transit has been appointed as a Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) advocate by the WSH Council in a programme launched on Wednesday (Sep 11).
NEW WSH PROGRAMME
The firm is among 18 large companies in sectors like construction, manufacturing and transport to be given the role.
Other firms include pharmaceutical giant GSK, Jurong Port and NatSteel Holdings.
The WSH Council said in a statement on Wednesday that advocates play a “queen bee” role to nurture higher workplace safety and health standards among contractors. For instance, they can prefer to award contracts to safer contractors and reward contractors for good safety practices.
SBS Transit already includes safety as a criterion in its tender requirements, but from next year, it will focus more heavily on potential contractors' track record.
CEO of SBS Transit’s bus business Lim Tien Hock said that the firm’s procurement system already requires that contractors have high safety standards based on WSH accreditation.
The recognition as an advocate will however lend it more weight in ensuring the safety standards of contractors, he said.
“(With) regards to the procurement of services, certain contractors that are not able to fulfill certain requirements - we will strike them out immediately,” he added.
SAFETY HELPS BUSINESSES
Announcing the launch of the new WSH programme at the 8th Singapore Workplace Safety and Health Conference on Wednesday, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng noted that there has been a greater emphasis and scrutiny on companies’ global supply chains, including for those within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“Increasingly, more companies from ASEAN’s major trading partners, such as the EU (European Union), are looking to contract with suppliers with good WSH,” he said during his speech at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
“A robust regional WSH ecosystem will help ASEAN remain an attractive region for trade and investment. It will also be a competitive advantage for firms in ASEAN.”
Mr Tan noted that Singapore achieved a record low fatal injury rate of below 1.0 per 100,000 workers last year, adding that there must be a commitment to sustain such standards.
WSH Council chairman Abu Bakar Mohd Noh pointed out that high safety standards are good for business.
“When you have safety, a safe environment, a safe and healthy environment, naturally, your people are able to perform better,” he said.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR CONTRACTORS
CNIM’s Mr Choo said the new programme will encourage his firm to continue adhering to high safety standards.
“With a long term programme and maintenance contract, there's more stability in our company,” he added.
SBS Transit’s Mr Lim said that his firm has encouraged CNIM to continue performing well by recognising it as a good partner during its annual safety forum.
Mr Bakar said main contractors have the greatest influence on the firms they work with and will be able to guide them.
“If you have like-minded companies together with you in this journey, it really helps,” he told CNA’s Singapore Tonight.
He added that while there are several individual companies that may be advocates on their own accord, the new programme provides a structure for these safety leaders to follow.
