Officials in Singapore are making sure workplace safety in the construction industry is a priority.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) recently took action against 79 companies following Operation Goldcrest, a special enforcement operation that was conducted this summer. The enforcement operation targeted the construction industry, with a focus on unsafe lifting practices and crane operations.
A total of 80 work sites were inspected by MOM’s Occupational Safety and Health Division, and 194 crane-related contraventions of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act were uncovered.
Of these contraventions, 98 resulted in composition fines that totaled more than $95,000. The other contraventions saw 96 Notices of Non-Compliance1 issued to companies to warn them against unsafe lifting practices. MOM has also instructed the companies involved to address the findings of inspections and will monitor these efforts closely.
The top five contraventions uncovered included: a. Failure to maintain cranes in good working condition b. Failure to establish and implement a proper lifting plan c. Using defective lifting gear or lifting gear that had not been examined by an authorized examiner d. Failure to implement a proper Permit-To-Work system e. No indication of the Safe Working Load and lifting machine number on the lifting machine Crane safety remains a top concern.
Safety Concerns Continue
While none of the contraventions uncovered during Operation Goldcrest warranted a Stop-Work Order, the type and number of contraventions remain a concern.
Er. Ho SiongHin, MOM’s commissioner for WSH said, “The crane industry’s practices remain a serious concern. Besides the safe deployment of cranes, crane owners and occupiers have the responsibility to ensure that their cranes and lifting operations do not endanger workers or the public. MOM will take stern action against errant crane companies and occupiers. All occupiers and crane owners ought to put in place robust maintenance regimes and safety systems so that we can put an end to unsafe lifting operations”.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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