The WSH (WSH Management System and Auditing) Regulations was introduced earlier this year and shall take effect on the 1st of March 2010.
The purpose of this legislation is for high-risk industries to establish, implement and maintain an effective WSH management system. This legislation also aims to provide a means for organisations to carry out a self-check and third-party verification of their WSH management system and current WSH practices.
Guiding Principles
The main principles based on which the legislation has been introduced is as follows:
- Prescribing statutory duties and powers for the WSH auditors;
- Extending the WSH auditing regime;
- Expanding the scope of WSH audits; and
- Providing greater clarity on the Standards (e.g. SS 506) to which WSH management systems should be implemented and audited
Who is affected?
The industries and sectors that are affected by this legislation include worksite (building operation or works of engineering construction), shipyard, metal fabrication industry, pharmaceutical industry, semiconductor industry, petrochemical and chemical processing industry, etc.
Frequency of audit
The frequency of the WSH audit, which is to be carried out by an approved WSH auditor, is
- Building operation and works of engineering construction: half yearly
- Shipyard and metal fabrication: yearly
- Petrochemical/ chemical processing/ pharmaceutical/ semiconductor:
bi-yearly
Above and beyond the requirement stated above, construction sites are required to carry out an internal review of their WSH management system on a half-yearly basis and on a yearly basis for shipyards.
WSH auditor qualification
The legislation also highlights the pre-requisites for approval as a WSH auditor, which includes the following:
- The applicant is required to successfully complete a training course to equip him/ her with the knowledge and skills to become a WSH auditor
AND
Has practical experience in auditing–
(a)
5 years or more of WSH auditing experience; OR
(b)
3 years or more of WSH auditing experience and an approved WSH Officer
WSH auditor responsibilities and authority
-
Conduct WSH audits in accordance to the WSH management system as well as applicable legal and other requirements;
-
Submit the WSH audit report to the occupier of the workplace;
-
Advise the occupier of the workplace on corrective actions to be taken as a result of unsafe practices observed during the audit; and
-
Report to the Commissioner on unsafe practices of the workplace audited, should the occupier of the workplace fail to carry out the remedial actions or extend the duration for completion of remedial actions.
By Sruti Lal
Senior Consultant (CLC, PSB Academy)
Information for the article was gathered from http://www.mom.gov.sg (as at 25 Feb 2010).
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