The Commercial Diving Association of Singapore (CDAS) is supporting the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council in addressing a rise in workplace accidents within our industry. In the first half of 2024, four fatal accidents have occurred in local waters, highlighting the need for immediate action.
To improve safety, we’re calling on all companies in the industry to participate in a Safety Time Out (STO) between 14 and 31 October 2024. This is a chance to pause daily operations, assess your safety practices, and strengthen them where needed, with a focus on work at anchorages and commercial diving activities.
What to Focus On During the STO
1. On-site Inspections: Leadership teams should conduct walk-throughs of work sites, encouraging workers to report any safety concerns. It’s crucial to create an environment where workers feel comfortable raising these issues, knowing they won’t face any penalties for doing so. Make sure supervisors and managers take ownership of resolving any risks identified.
2. Review Your Safety Systems: Take this opportunity to review your existing safety protocols, update risk assessments, and ensure all employees are following the necessary precautions. Make sure everyone has had the right training and understands the safety measures in place.
3. Identify New Risks: Look for any new or unforeseen risks that might not have been included in previous safety assessments and put measures in place to handle them.
4. Employee Engagement: Hold workshops or briefings to remind everyone of the basic safety principles and their role in keeping the workplace safe.
Why a Safety Time Out is Important
Taking time to review and enhance safety measures can make a big difference in preventing accidents. Safety Time Outs help create a safer work environment by encouraging continuous safety improvements and fostering open communication about risks.
We urge all Industry Partners to take part in this STO and help strengthen the safety culture in our industry. Together, we can reduce accidents and protect our workers.
For more detailed information on resources, you can refer to the advisory from MOM, MPA and WSH here.