Draft for Public Comment Document Number: …

1 Code of Practice for Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Risk Management WSHC Risk Management Work Group Draft for Public Comment Document number : WSHP HKS 01 Comment Period ends on 17 Dec 2010 Draft FOR Public Comment (Concludes on 17 Dec 2010) Risk Management Code of Practice ( Document number WSHP HKS 01) Page 2 of 25 Preface As Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management ( RM ) gains momentum in the Singapore, more duty holders are beginning to recognise the usefulness of Risk Assessments ( RA ) in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Duty holders and workers alike are seeking greater clarity about how RA should be implemented. This Risk Management Code of Practice ( RMCP ) intends to offer such guidance to bridge the gaps.

2 The Risk Management Code of Practice advises duty holders on how to fulfil their obligations under the Workplace Safety and Health Act ( WSH Act ) and the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations. It also provides a clearer process for implementing risk management and will assist duty holders to identify hazards, evaluate hazards and implement risk control measures. Much consideration has been given to make the RMCP applicable to both large and small companies, and across a broad series of industry sectors, including the remaining workplaces that will come under the WSH Act in September 2011. The risk profiles, needs and RM deployment of these workplaces differ significantly.

3 Large companies tend to have one Risk Management Team to oversee the coherent deployment of Risk Management throughout the company. At the same time, it is not unusual for these companies to have many Risk Assessment Teams to assess specific risks. Therefore, guidance is included in this RMCP to offer clarity of their roles. Smaller companies, on the other hand, often need specific steps in implementing Risk Management, especially when doing the Risk Assessment itself. To better help this segment, the Risk Management Work Group decided to provide guidance in bite sized steps. Roles and responsibilities are also defined in the RMCP to ensure that duties are sufficiently covered with minimum overlap.

4 Other ideas incorporated in the RMCP include guidance to do Risk Assessments three levels deep (RA Scoping); introducing the use of numbers in evaluating risks this will be useful for prioritizing actions; introducing a monthly RA review process that can be synchronized with monthly WSH Committee Meetings; and guidance on how differences in RA ratings should be managed. This RMCP recommends the 5x5 matrix. However, companies may choose other matrices. The Work Group is sensitive to companies that may need to follow corporate guidance. Should this code be adopted as an Approved Code of Practice ( ACOP ), it must be followed unless there is another means of achieving the same or better standard of health and safety.

5 In addition, it will then be admissible as evidence in legal proceedings as proof of a breach of the Act or regulations The WSH Council would like to thank the following industry led Work Group members who dedicated their time in their individual capacity to make this Risk Management Code of Practice possible; Mr. Seet Choh San, Mr. Ong See Hee, Mr. Lim Poo Yam, Dr. Ting Seng Kiong, Dr. Gregory Chan and Ms. Jaime Lim (As a representative of the Ministry of Manpower). We also thank the following members of the WSH Council for their active involvement in this effort; Mr. Lim Meng Ann, Mr. Han Kin Sew, and Mr. Riccardo Chee. o0o Draft FOR Public Comment (Concludes on 17 Dec 2010) Risk Management Code of Practice ( Document number WSHP HKS 01) Page 3 of 25 Table of Contents 1 Purpose.

6 4 2 Abbreviations .. 4 3 Definitions .. 4 4 Overview .. 5 5 General Requirements .. 6 General .. 6 Employer .. 6 Manager .. 7 RM/RA Leaders .. 7 6 Preparation .. 8 Formation of Risk Management Team .. 8 Appointment of RM Team .. 8 RM Team Leader .. 8 RM Team Members .. 8 RA Teams .. 8 Extent of RA Determine What is to be Assessed .. 9 Scoping the RA .. 9 RA Scoping Nomenclature .. 9 Inventory of Work Activity form .. 9 Gather Relevant Information .. 10 7 Risk Assessment .. 11 General Requirement .. 11 Hazard Identification .. 11 General .. 11 Process .. 11 Hazard Evaluation .. 11 General .. 11 Existing Control .. 13 Rate Severity.

7 13 Rate Likelihood .. 14 Risk Prioritization number (RPN) .. 14 Classification of Risk Risk Matrix .. 15 5x5 Risk Matrix Standardization .. 15 Actions for Risks Levels .. 16 Risk Control ..17 Additional Controls ..17 Re evaluation with Additional Controls ..17 Guidance Notes ..17 Implementation Person & Date ..17 8 Implementation .. 18 RM/RA Approval .. 18 Implementation Actions .. 18 Communication .. 18 Records .. 18 9 References .. 18 Appendix A RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS FLOW Appendix B INVENTORY OF WORK ACTIVITIES FORM Appendix C RISK ASSESSMENT FORM Appendix D HIERARCHY OF CONTROL Appendix E SCOPING RISK ASSESSMENTS THREE LEVELS DEEP EXAMPLE Appendix F ADDITIONAL NOTES o0o Draft FOR Public Comment (Concludes on 17 Dec 2010) Risk Management Code of Practice ( Document number WSHP HKS 01) Page 4 of 25 1 PURPOSE The purpose of this Code of Practice (CP) for WSH Risk Management (RM) is to establish minimum requirements and duties for implementing workplace RM in Singapore, and to provide guidance on its implementation.

8 This CP applies to all workplaces in Singapore that are governed by the WSH Act. Where there is room for implementation flexibility, this CP recommends a way. Users of this CP are strongly encouraged to adopt the recommended way as it provides a common platform to facilitate national best practice translation across industries. Completing a Risk Assessment before work is carried out is a requirement under the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulation. 2 ABBREVIATIONS PPE Personal Protective Equipment RA Risk Assessment RM Risk Management RM Regulation WSH (Risk Management) Regulations (Singapore) RPN Risk Prioritisation number SWP Safe Work Procedure WSH Workplace Safety and Health WSH Act Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A) 3 DEFINITIONS Additional Control Additional risk control measures are those that are implemented beyond the existing controls to reduce Risk further.

9 Employer As defined in the WSH Act, an employer is a person who, in the course of the person s trade, business, profession or undertaking, employs any person to do any work under a contract of service. The self employed person and principal, as defined in the WSH Act shall also fulfil the duties and functions of the employer specified in this Code of Practice. Where the WSH Act does not offer sufficient clarity to the definition, references to Employer in this Code of Practice means the most senior person within the workplace. This is often the Managing Director, General Manager or Executive Director. Existing Control Risk control measures that have been implemented and are still effective in controlling the hazard.

10 Hazard Anything, any source or any situation with the potential to cause bodily injury or ill health. RA Register The collection of Risk Assessments within the organization RA Team Risk Assessment Team(s). The team(s) responsible for conducting RAs within the scope defined by the RM or RA Team. If an organisation requires only one team, then the functions of the RA & RM team may be combined within one team. Draft FOR Public Comment (Concludes on 17 Dec 2010) Risk Management Code of Practice ( Document number WSHP HKS 01) Page 5 of 25 Risk Appetite The amount and type of risk that an organisation is prepared to pursue, retain or accept. Risk Assessment (RA) The process of identifying hazards, evaluating the risks, and determining the appropriate options for risk control.