What's New



Risk Management Assistance Fund (RMAF)

MOM is prepared to help SMEs who do not have adequate capacity to implement new components stipulated under the new Workplace Safety & Health Act (WSHA) 2006 and its subsidiary legislations. One of the much highlighted components is the Risk Management, comprises Risk Assessment (RA) and plan for implementation and monitoring. On 1 September 2006, Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations will come into effect and under this new legislation, every workplace is required to implement risk management. RMAF is a $5 million fund that has been set aside by MOM as one of the ways to underline the importance of RA. The fund is for the SMEs to engage consultant to assist in risk assessment and also to heighten internal OSH competency. The RMAF is opened to all companies:

• specified under the First Schedule of the WSH Act and employing 100 or less employees

• have not received any kind of government funding for risk assessment

• to send at least two (2) supervisory or managerial staff for RM training

The RMAF may co-fund up to 70% of the consultancy cost (or a cap of $7,500).

For more information on RMAF, please visit the MOM - OSHD website.




Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA) 2006

WSHA has come into effect on 1 March 2006 with the following underlying axioms:

• Ownership - those who create the hazards are responsible in eliminating them

• Increased penalty scheme to prevent workplace accidents and/or ill health

The WSHA no longer lays out specified requirements for each and every different kinds of industries. It assigns legal duties and responsibilities to those who create and have control over health and safety risks. In other words, not only the occupiers are liable for the health and safety outcomes but employers, principals, employees, manufacturers and suppliers must take reasonably practicable steps to safeguard the health and safety of the workforce as well as members of the public. The new penalty scheme does not only involve increased monetary fine but as well as jail term. New/revised subsidiary legislations introduced along with the main Act are:

• WSH (General Provisions) Regulations

• WSH (Risk Management) Regulations

• WSH (First Aid) Regulations

• WSH (Registration of Factories) Regulations

• WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulations

• WSH (Transitional Provision) Regulations

• WSH (Offences & Penalties) Regulations

For more details on WSHA & its subsidiary legislations, please visit the MOM website.




DO YOU KNOW ...?

The safest way to survive a tip-over of forklife is to stay in the vehicle and NOT jumping out from the vehicle. One should have the seat belt fastened, strong hold onto the steering wheel, feet braced against the floor and body leaning forward and away from the direction of the tip-over...