Workplace Safety Law To Cover More Industries From 1 March

6 more new industries will be covered under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act starting from 1 March 2008. They are the hotels and food and beverage, transport, landscape care and maintenance, healthcare, veterinary, and waste and water management industries.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that need funding for risk-management costs can apply for the Risk Management Assistance Fund (RMAF), which co-funds up to 70% of the consultancy cost, capped at S$3,500 per company.

SMEs can also join bizSAFE, a programme introduced by the WSH Advisory Committee to improve workplace safety and health standards. Under bizSAFE, companies are granted Singapore Standard 506 or a similar international standard after undergoing a 5-step process.

The Act requires employers to log all accidents including minor and near misses, investigate the causes and prove that measures are being taken to prevent similar mishaps. Businesses also have to report to the Commissioner of WSH when a worker is hospitalised or given 3 or more days of medical leave.

A person found responsible for safety lapses can be fined a maximum of S$200,000 or face jail time of 2 years, or both. Companies can be fined up to S$500,000 for first-time offenders. Fines are doubled for second offenders.