Saturday, June 20, 2020

Singapore Standard (SS) ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

SS ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems provides a framework to assist organisations in improving employee safety, in reducing workplace risks, and in creating better, safer working conditions at the workplace.

This Standard will replace SS 506, Part 1 Occupational safety and health (OSH) management systems which had been adopted by more than 500 organisations in Singapore. It also replaces OHSAS 18001. Similar to SS 506 Part 1, SS ISO 45001 will be recognised as a pathway for direct entry into the WSH Council’s bizSAFE Programme, up to the level of bizSAFE Star. This new Standard will also be gradually applied to the industry in other areas.

ISO 45001 adopts the same format as ISO9000 and ISO 14000, hence making it easy to establish an integrated QEHS Management System.

Contents of the Management System:


4              Context of the organization
4.1          Understanding the organisation and its context
4.2          Understanding the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties
4.3          Determine the scope of the OHSMS
4.4          Occupational Health and Safety Management System

5              Leadership and worker participation
5.1          Leadership and commitment
5.2          OHS Policy
5.3          Organizational role, responsibilities and authorities
5.4          Consultation and participation of workers

6              Planning
6.1          Actions to address risks and opportunities
6.1.1      General
6.1.2      Hazards identification and assessment of risks and opportunities
6.1.3      Determination of legal requirements and other requirements
6.1.4      Planning action

6.2          OHS objectives and planning to achieve them
6.2.1      OHS objectives
6.2.2      Planning actions to achieve OHS objectives
7              Support
7.1          Resources
7.2          Competence
7.3          Awareness
7.4          Communication
7.4.1      General
7.4.2      Internal communication
7.4.3      External Communication
7.5          Documented information
7.5.1      General
7.5.2      Creating and updating
7.5.3      Control of documented information

8              Operation
8.1          Operational planning and control
8.1.1      General
8.1.2      Eliminating hazards and reducing OH&S risks
8.1.3      Management of change
8.1.4      Procurement
8.2          Emergency preparedness and response

9              Performance evaluation
9.1          Monitoring, measurement, analysis and performance evaluation
9.1.1      General
9.1.2      Evaluation of compliance
9.2          Internal audit
9.2.1      General
9.2.2      Internal audit programme
9.3          Management review

10           Improvement
10.1        General
10.2        Incident, nonconformity and corrective action
10.3        Continual improvement

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

ISO 31000 Risk Management - Principles and Guidelines

New standard released describes principles and guidelines on risk management. May be used for safety as well as environmental management systems.

Relationship between risk management principles, framework and process

Thursday, October 29, 2009

FAQs on WSH Council Code of Practice (CP), Guidelines & Technical Advisories

1) What is the purpose of the WSH Council’s CP? How much detail does the CP provide?

The WSH Council’s CP sets the preferred work practices or standards that industry practitioners are expected to adopt when managing workplace risks. It is widely consulted with the industry prior to being confirmed and issued as reference materials for the industry.
The CP provides guidance on what constitutes “reasonably practicable” measures and the parties responsible for these measures. In line with the outcome-based approach of the national WSH framework, the CP, however, may not detail the exact steps or methodologies of these measures. Industry practitioners can decide how best to meet the standards stated in the CP.

2) What is an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP)?
ACOPs refer to Approved Codes of Practice. ACOPs would set preferred work practices or standards that industry practitioners are expected to adopt when managing workplace risks, unless an alternative course of action can achieve the same or better standard of health and safety in the workplace.
Any Code of Practice issued directly by the WSHC would, by default, undergo official processes to be approved as an ACOP. Existing standards residing with other National Standards Body (NSB), e.g SPRING Singapore, BSI or International Standards Organisations e.g ISO, IEC etc and where the WSH Council considers practical for industry’s WSH use, can be approved to become an ACOP.

3) Is it mandatory for the industry to comply with CPs?
The WSH Council’s CP is not a piece of legislation. However, as it is issued only after extensive industry consultation, the industry standards for a specific type of work stipulated in the CP are considered expected industry standards. Hence, it may be cited as a reference in a court of law on what constitute ‘reasonably practicable’ measures.
CPs could be used in prosecutions to demonstrate whether the accused parties involved in a workplace accident have implemented ‘reasonably practicable measures’ to manage the risks that resulted in the accident. Accused parties may find it harder to defend themselves if they have not implemented measures deemed to be ‘reasonably practicable’ as determined by the CP. The CPs may also be cited in cases where parties are taken to task by MOM for safety
infringements found during inspections that may not have led to any accidents.

4) What is the purpose of a Guideline and a Technical Advisory? Is there any difference between the two?
Both Guideline and Technical Advisory (TA) provide useful references on recommended WSH practices. They provide guidance on “how” to make the work safe by providing detailed information on meeting the requirements of the CP or legislation.
The main difference between the two is the type of information provided. Guideline generally provides information on general, non-technical issues while TA gives guidance on issues that are technical in nature where engineering or scientific methods are more common.

5) Is it mandatory for the industry to comply with Guideline/TA?
Guideline and TA are not legislation. However, both are issued after extensive industry consultation and provide guidance on safety and health measures, common practices and knowledge that are deemed ‘reasonably practicable’.
Hence, it is possible that Guideline and TA can be surfaced as reference points in a court of law to determine whether a safety measure is considered reasonably practicable.

Source: http://app.wshc.gov.sg/cms/Portals/0/FAQ_on_CPs,_TAs_and_GLs.pdf

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

CP91: 2001 Code of Practice for Lockout Procedure

Application
This code applies to the control of energy during construction, servicing or maintenance of machines.

Scope
This code covers the construction, servicing or maintenance of machines where any unexpected energisation or start up of the machines, or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. It establishes minimum performance requirements for the control of such hazardous energy.

Definitions
Affected employee - An employee who is required to operate or use a machine on which construction, servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout, or who is required to work in an area in which such construction, servicing or maintenance is being performed.
Authorised employee - A person who locks out machines in order to perform construction, servicing or maintenance on that machine. An affected employee becomes an authorised employee when that employee's duties include construction, servicing or maintenance covered under this code.
Construction, servicing and/or maintenance Workplace activities such as constructing, erecting, installing, setting up, commissioning, repairing, adjusting, inspecting, modifying, operating, and maintaining and/or servicing machines or equipment. These activities include lubrication, cleaning or unjamming of machines or equipment and making adjustments or tool changes, where the employee may be exposed to the unexpected energisation or start-up of the equipment or release of hazardous energy.

Energy isolating device - A mechanical device that physically prevents the transmission or release of energy, including but is not limited to the following:




  • a circuit breaker


  • an isolating switch


  • a line valve


  • a block


  • any similar device used to block or isolate energy.


NOTE - Push buttons, selector switches, functional switches and other control circuit type devices are not energy isolating devices.



Energy source - Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other forms of energy.
Lockout - The placement of a lockout device on an energy isolating device, in accordance with an established procedure, for ensuring that the energy isolating device and the machine being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed.
Lockout device - A device that utilises a positive means such as a lock, either key or combination type, to hold an energy isolating device in the safe position and prevent energisation of a machine.


Tagging device - A prominent warning device, such as a tag and a means of attachment, which can be securely fastened to an energy isolating device in accordance with an established procedure, to indicate that the energy isolating device and the machine being controlled may not be operated until the tagging device is removed.



Lockout poilcy and procedure
Responsibility of each employer whose employees are engaged in erecting, installing, constructing, repairing, adjusting, cleaning, inspecting, operating, or maintaining the machine, to develop, document and implement a policy and procedure for lockout.

The policy and procedure shall clearly and specifically outline the purpose, responsibility, scope, authorisation, rules, definitions and measures to enforce compliance.
The lockout policy shall require all personnel concerned to comply with the lockout procedure.
Procedure
The lockout procedure shall specify that prior to the performance of any ctivities where unexpected energisation, start up, or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, all potentially hazardous energy sources shall be isolated and locked out. The procedure shall also specify the requirements for removal of such devices, transfer of locks, and testing for determination of lockout effectiveness.
Use of locks
Locks shall be provided by the employer and shall be the only authorised device(s) used for the lockout of energy sources. They shall be singularly identified and specifically approved for lockout.

Responsibility
Authority
Compliance with this code shall be the responsibility of the employer and the individuals to whom the employer delegates accountability for compliance and authority to enforce compliance. Periodic inspections
Responsibility of the employer to verify, through periodic inspections, the organisation's compliance with this code.
Joint responsibility
The responsibility for obtaining performance in the lockout procedure shall be collaborated between the employer and the employee. The responsibility for compliance is that of the employer, who shall establish, communicate, train in the use of and the enforcement of procedure. The employee shall be responsible for knowing and following the established procedure.

Communication and training
All employees- All employees shall be specifically notified of the requirements for compliance with the employer's policy and made aware of the lockout procedure.
Affected employees- The employer shall ensure that each affected employee is instructed in the purpose and use of the lockout procedure.
Authorised employees- All authorised individuals shall receive training in recognition of the applicable hazardous energy sources and in adequate methods and means for their isolation.

Requirements for lockout devices

The lockout devices used for compliance with this code shall be:
  • Durable
  • Unique
  • Standardised
  • Identifiable
  • Substantial Locks & Tags

Requirements for lockout procedure

  • Survey of energy sources and identification of all energy isolating devices
  • Selection and procurement of protective materials and hardware
  • Assignment of duties and responsibilities
  • Preparation of de-energisation and start up sequence
  • Implementation of lockout procedure

Preparation and steps for lockout

Details on the types of energy that power the machinery, locations of the energy isolating devices, presence of any secondary power supplies and the correct steps to turn off the machine safely must be established in the energy control procedure.

Before the machine is shut down the authorised employee must understand the type and magnitude of the energy he is working with, the hazards of the energy, the means and method to control the energy, verification of effective energy control and the purpose of the procedure to be used.

The following steps shall be taken to achieve a safe energy isolation and machine lockout. The sequence established shall be followed.

  • Announce the shut down.
    Inform all affected employees of the purpose and duration of the lockout application. This notification must be given before the lockout procedure is performed.
  • Machine shut down.
    The machine must be shut down using the operating controls according to the shut down procedure for each individual machine to avoid any additional or increased hazard. This is a safe practice as any attempt to shut down machine under load risks damaging the machine.
  • Machine isolation.
    All energy isolating devices that control the energy to the machine must be operated to isolate the machine from the energy sources. The energy control procedure must also identify the location of all energy isolating devices and energy sources including secondary power supplies. This will ensure the safe and complete de-energisation of the machine.
  • Lockout and tagging device application.
    The authorised employee is responsible for the application of proper lockout and tagging devices to the energy isolating devices of the machine.
    The authorised employee must use his own locks only and nobody is allowed to apply his locks on behalf of another individual, except for group lockout protection.
    The lockout devices must be sturdy and lockout the energy isolating devices in the "off" position. They must also be designed to prevent the operation of the energy isolating devices when they are lockout.
    If more than one person is working on the machine, every member of the crew must attach his personal lock and tag. Secure tags directly to the energy isolating devices where the lockout devices are attached. Each tag must be clearly visible, explaining the purpose of the lockout and warning against the hazard of operating the machine. It must also identify the person who affixed the tag and the date of lockout.
  • Control of stored energy.
    Any residual stored energy in the machine can be equally hazardous to the employee. The authorised employee must ensure that any stored energy is safely released before work begins.
  • The following are examples of ways to control stored energy:
    relieve trapped pressure downstream;
    discharge capacitor and install ground wire;
    release tension on spring, or block movement of spring driven part;
    use block to prevent fall due to gravity; and
    use blank flange to block flow of hazardous materials if valve is not available.
  • Verify the energy isolation.
    The authorised employee must verify the isolation and deenergisation of the machine before work begins. The following actions shall be accomplished after the lockout application to confirm the energy isolation:
    Operate the machine "on/off" switch to verify that the machine is not working and return all controls to the "off" or "neutral" position.
    Use appropriate instrument to verify that the machine is completely de-energised.

Steps for start-up
The procedure for release of lockout is equally important after the construction, servicing or maintenance is completed. The following actions are required for safe start-up of machine to ensure the safety of employees:

  • The machine.
    Before restoring energy to the machine, the authorised employee must ensure that the work area is clear of all non-essential items and all necessary components are operationally intact. For a complex machine, use a checklist to verify that all essential components are operationally intact.
  • Personnel.
    It should be ascertained that personnel are physically clear of the machine. Multiple personnel and energy source situations demand comprehensive measures to ensure that assigned work has been completed and all personnel have cleared the machine.
  • Lockout and tagging devices removal.
    Inform all affected employees when the lockout devices are removed but before the machine is energised. Only authorised personnel who applied the lockout and tags are authorised to remove their own locks and tags. No other employee should attempt to remove another person's lockout. The lockout procedure should also have a provision for the removal of another employee's lockout, in the event that the individual is not present. This provision must ensure that the procedure taken is as safe as if the individual were present to remove his locks.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

SS 586: Part 1: 2008 Hazard Communication for Hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods

SS 586: Part 1:2008
The Transport & Storage of Dangerous Goods

Contents
  • Information of Hazard Identification Number (HIN)
  • National Authorities regulating the transport of dangerous goods
  • Transport Emergency Information Panel
  • Storage Emergency Information Panel
  • Table of minimum quantities for labeling
  • Recommended color codes
  • Transport labels for dangerous goods

Requirements
The UNRTDG (United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods) or “Orange Book” is adopted by Singapore for the safe transport of dangerous goods in Singapore and for international trade.

Annex A (Informative) - Information of Hazard Identification Number (HIN)

HIN consists of 2 or 3 figures. In general, the figures indicate the following hazards: e.g.

'2' Emission of gas due to pressure or chemical reaction

'3' Flammability of liquids (vapours) and gases or self-heating liquids

'5' Oxidising (fire intensifying) effect

'6' Toxicity

Annex B (informative) - National Authorities regulating the transport of dangerous goods

Annex C (Normative) - Transport Emergency Information Panel (TEIP)


Annex D (Normative) - Storage Emergency Information Panel (SEIP)



Annex E (Normative) - Table of Minimum Quantities - Road Transportation

Annex F (Informative) - Recommended Colour Codes

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Singapore Standard SS 586

Singapore Standard SS 586:2008 Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Goods
Singapore Standard SS 586:2008 Hazard Communication for Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous GoodsPart 1: Transport and Storage of Dangerous GoodsPart 2: Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - Singapore's adaptationsPart 3: Preparation of Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

The SS 586 series of standards is the result of the revision of SS 286 : 1984, ‘Caution labelling for hazardous substances’ (5 parts) and CP 98 : 2003, ‘Preparation and use of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)’. The Specification for hazard communication for hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods comprises the following three parts, which are complementary to one another.
SS 586 : Part 1 provides information and guidance on the classification of dangerous goods by the types of hazards they present. It also provides information on standard hazard communication labels. This part applies to the storage and transportation of dangerous goods by road in Singapore, which includes carriages in bulk, tank-vehicles, vehicles with demountable tanks as well as by vehicles carrying dangerous goods in packages. The transportation of dangerous goods by sea and air is subject to the requirements of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) / International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) respectively and is not covered in this standard.

SS 586 : Parts 2 and 3 provide guidance for the implementation of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and Preparation of Safety Data Sheets in Singapore.GHS is an international system for the classification of chemicals by the types of hazards they present. It provides information on standard hazard communication elements including labels and SDS. The GHS helps to ensure that information on physical hazards, health hazards and environmental hazards from chemicals is made available, in order to enhance the protection of human health and the environment during the handling, transport, and use of these chemicals. The GHS also provides for the global harmonisation of rules and regulations on the classification, labelling and SDS of chemicals.