Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations. - What is in this section of the Guide? 2

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2 Contents Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations - What is in this section of the Guide? 2 - What is the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations? 2 - Why should I report accidents, incidents and occupational diseases that occur in my workplace? 2 - Please explain what is meant by workplace accident, dangerous occurrence and occupational disease. 3 - To whom do the Regulations apply? 4 - What, who, when to notify and report? 4 - How do I notify or make a report? 6 - How should I keep records? 7 - Is a separate report required under the Workmen s Compensation Act if a report under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations has been made through ireport? 7 - What are the penalties for not following requirements under the Regulations? 8 - Where can I obtain further information? 8 Annex A 9 Annex B 11 Annex C 13

3 2 A Guide to the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations What is in this section of the Guide? This section of the Guide provides a brief explanation of the requirements of the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations to assist you in complying with the Regulations. What is the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations? The Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations specifies the responsibilities of relevant parties to report accidents, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases at workplaces. If you are an employer, an occupier or a medical practitioner, your duties include the reporting and keeping of records of accidents, incidents and occupational diseases. The requirement for reporting is not new for factories as defined under the previous Factories Act. However, this is a new requirement for other workplaces which are not defined as factories. Why should I report accidents, incidents and occupational diseases that occur in my workplace? You should do so for three reasons. It is a legal requirement and penalties apply for non-compliance.

4 3 The requirement also encourages each workplace employer and occupier to take responsibility for monitoring workplace accidents, dangerous occurrences and occupational diseases and to take steps to prevent them. The information enables the Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD) of the Ministry of Manpower to identify where the workplace risks are and to channel resources in partnership with the industry so as to reduce workplace injuries and diseases. Please explain what is meant by workplace accident, dangerous occurrence and occupational disease. Workplace Accident A workplace accident is any accident occurring in the course of a person s work. The following are not classified as workplace accidents: any accident which occurs while a person is commuting to and from his workplace; any traffic accident on a public road; any accident which occurs in the course of work of a domestic worker. Dangerous Occurrence A dangerous occurrence is a serious workplace incident which does not involve the death or injury of any person at work. Annex A provides a list of the dangerous occurrences reportable under the Regulations.

5 4 Occupational Disease A reportable occupational disease includes any of those listed in Annex B. To whom do the Regulations apply? The reporting requirements set out in the Regulations apply to every instance of workplace accident, a dangerous occurrence, or occupational disease in any workplace in Singapore. The reporting requirements do not apply to work involving: personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force, the Prisons Service, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Internal Security Department, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Civil Defence Force; service or crew personnel on board ships, air-crafts or other international modes of transport. What, who, when to notify and report? Please submit all reports to the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health. The table below provides a summary of your obligations to notify and submit a report.

6 Obligations To Notify And Submit A Report What To Report A workplace accident which results in the death of an employee A workplace accident which results in the injury of an employee who is given more than 3 consecutive days of medical leave or hospitalized for at least 24 hours A workplace accident which involves a self-employed person or member of public and results in his or her death or treatment in hospital for the injury A dangerous occurrence An occupational disease A subsequent death of an employee as a result of an injury at the workplace Who Should Report the employer of the deceased worker the employer of the injured person the occupier of the workplace the occupier of the workplace the employer of the person with the disease, and the doctor who diagnosed the disease the employer What You Need To Do notify as soon as is reasonably practicable; submit the report within 10 days of the accident submit the report within 10 days of the accident notify as soon as is reasonably practicable; submit the report within 10 days of the accident notify as soon as is reasonably practicable; submit the report within 10 days of the accident employer - submit the report within 10 days of receipt of the written diagnosis doctor - submit the report within 10 days of the diagnosis notify as soon as is reasonably practicable For examples of the types of workplace incidents which are reportable, please see Annex C.

7 6 How do I notify or make a report? Accidents And Incidents Which Require Notification As Soon As Is Reasonably Practicable Notify the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health as soon as is reasonably practicable, by telephone or fax: Telephone : Fax : Your notification should include the following information: the date and time of the accident/ incident; the place of the accident/ incident; the name and identification number of the deceased/ injured, if any; the name of the employer and occupier; brief description of the accident/ incident; nature and severity of injury; your name and contact details. All Cases Submit the report to the Commissioner for all cases within 10 days using the ireport system on the Internet at the following web address: Please refer to the user guide on the ireport at the same web address to find out how to use the system. You will need the following information to submit your report using ireport: particulars of the incident, including what happened, where it happened, and how it happened;

8 7 particulars of the injured or deceased (if applicable); particulars of the employer, including the employer s name, organisation identification number such as factory number or ACRA number, and contact details; particulars of the occupier of the incident premises including the occupier s name, and organisation identification number such as factory number or ACRA number. How should I keep records? If you are an employer or occupier, you are required to keep a record of any notification or report made under these Regulations. Each record must be kept at your place of business for a period of at least 3 years from the time of report. Is a separate report required under the Workmen s Compensation Act if a report under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations has been made through ireport? The reporting of any incident under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations and/or under the Workmen s Compensation Act should be made through ireport from 1 Mar The 9th Schedule (for reporting under the previous Factories Act) and Form A (for reporting under the Workmen s Compensation Act) are no longer valid and should not be used. You will be prompted to indicate in ireport whether you are reporting under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations, the Workmen s Compensation Act, or both. You only need to submit a single report through ireport when reporting an incident under both Acts.

9 8 What are the penalties for not following requirements under the Regulations? As an employer or occupier, if you fail to make a report as required under the Regulations, you will be liable to: a fine of up to $5,000 for a first offence, a fine of up to $10,000, or a jail term of not more than 6 months, or both for the second and subsequent offence. On the other hand, if you make a false notification or report of any workplace accident, dangerous occurrence or occupational disease to the Commissioner, you will also be liable to a fine of up to $5,000, or a jail term of not more than 6 months, or both. Where can I obtain further information? Further information can be obtained from the following sources: Web-site : mom_oshd@mom.gov.sg Telephone : Mailing Address : Occupational Safety and Health Division Ministry of Manpower 18 Havelock Road #03-02 Singapore You can also obtain the latest occupational safety and health information by subscribing to the OSH Alert. Access the web-site address provided above for more details.

10 9 Annex A Dangerous Occurrences Reportable Under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations Explosion or Fire a. Explosion or fire in a room or place in which persons are at work, and which results in damage to the structure of the site, or to any machinery or plant there. The explosion or fire must have been due to the ignition of dust, gas or vapour, or the ignition of any substance made of or containing celluloid. The incident must have also resulted in the complete suspension of ordinary work at the site or stoppage of machinery or plant for at least 5 hours. b. Electrical short circuit or failure of electrical machinery, plant or apparatus, which results in an explosion, fire or structural damage, and involves its stoppage or disuse for at least 5 hours. c. Explosion or fire affecting any site in which persons are at work and causing complete suspension of ordinary work in the site for at least 24 hours. Collapse of Structures or Equipment a. Failure or collapse of formwork or its supports. b. Whole or partial collapse of a scaffold exceeding 15 metres in height, or a suspended or hanging scaffold from which any person may fall more than 2 metres.

11 10 c. Collapse or failure of lifting equipment Lifting equipment refers to a crane, derrick, winch, hoist, piling frame or any appliance used in raising or lowering persons or goods. The collapse or failure of any load-bearing part of lifting equipment, except the breakage of the chain or rope slings, is also considered to be a dangerous occurrence. In the case of a crane, a dangerous occurrence includes instances in which it is overturned. Machinery Damage a. Bursting of a revolving vessel, wheel, grindstone or grinding wheel moved by mechanical power. b. Explosion or failure of the structure of a steam boiler, receiver or container used for the storage at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure of any gas or gases (including air) or any liquid or solid resulting from the compression of gas. Flooding Accidental seepage or entry of seawater into a dry dock or floating dock causing flooding of the dry dock or floating dock.

12 11 Annex B Occupational Diseases Reportable Under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations 1. Aniline poisoning 2. Anthrax 3. Arsenical poisoning 4. Asbestosis 5. Barotrauma 6. Beryllium poisoning 7. Byssinosis 8. Cadmium poisoning 9. Carbamate poisoning 10. Carbon bisulphide poisoning 11. Chrome ulceration 12. Chronic benzene poisoning 13. Compressed air illness 14. Cyanide poisoning 15. Epitheliomatous ulceration (due to tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil or paraffin or any compound, product or residue of any such substance) 16. Hydrogen sulphide poisoning 17. Occupational skin diseases 18. Lead poisoning 19. Liver angiosarcoma

13 Manganese poisoning 21. Mercurial poisoning 22. Mesothelioma 23. Noise-induced deafness 24. Occupational asthma 25. Organophosphate poisoning 26. Phosphorous poisoning 27. Poisoning from halogen derivatives of hydrocarbon compounds 28. Repetitive strain disorder of the upper limb 29. Silicosis 30. Toxic anaemia 31. Toxic hepatitis

14 13 Annex C Examples of Reportable Accidents or Incidents S/ No Case Description Reportable 1? Who Should Report? He Should 1. A construction worker slips and falls, resulting in a fractured leg. He is subsequently given 2 weeks of medical leave. Yes The employer of the construction worker Complete and submit the report within 10 days of the accident to the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health. 2. A mobile crane used at a worksite topples but causes no injuries. Yes The occupier of the work-site Notify the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health as soon as is reasonably practicable. Complete and submit the report within 10 days of the incident to the Commissioner.

15 14 S/ No Case Description Reportable 1? Who Should Report? He Should 3. A student on industrial attachment gets injured and is subsequently given 5 days of medical leave. Yes The employer of the student Complete and submit the report within 10 days of the accident to the Commissioner. 4. Debris from a building under construction falls from the top floor and kills a passerby. Yes The occupier of the construction work-site Notify the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health as soon as is reasonably practicable. Complete and submit the report within 10 days of the accident to the Commissioner. 5. A self-employed person injures himself at work and requires one week of medical leave. Yes The occupier of the workplace Notify the Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health as soon as is reasonably practicable; Complete and submit the report within 10 days of the accident to the Commissioner 6. A patient dies as a result of inappropriate treatment at a hospital. No N.A. N.A.

16 15 S/ No Case Description Reportable 1? Who Should Report? He Should 7. A member of the public slips and trips while on an escalator in an office building due to a malfunction of the escalator. 8. A bus driver gets injured in a road traffic accident while driving a bus and is given 1 week of medical leave. 9. A kitchen worker cuts his finger while shredding meat. He is subsequently given 2 days of medical leave. No N.A. N.A. No N.A. N.A. No N.A. N.A. 1 Please note that the examples given here refer only to reportability under the Workplace Safety and Health (Incident Reporting) Regulations. Some cases, such as cases #8 and #9 may be reportable under the Workmen s Compensation Act if the injured is a workman as defined in the Workmen s Compensation Act. Compiled by Ministry of Manpower March 2006

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