Construction sites pose serious risks to individuals working in and around the area. Although the number of fatal accidents in Singapore’s construction sector declined in recent years, from 8.1 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2010 to 5.5 per 100,000 last 2014, the government continues to reinforce all efforts, promoting safety campaigns to reduce workplace casualties. On July 7, 2015, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say announced new policies regarding safety in construction projects. The Design for Safety (DFS) regulations aims to reduce fatalities to 1.8 deaths per 100,000 workers by 2018.

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Address: 50 Tuas Avenue 1 Singapore 639527
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2. Construction sites pose serious risks to individuals working in and around the
area. Although the number of fatal accidents in Singapore’s construction sector
declined in recent years, from 8.1 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2010 to 5.5
per 100,000last 2014, the government continues to reinforce all efforts,
promoting safety campaigns to reduce workplace casualties.
On July 7, 2015, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say announced new policies
regarding safety in construction projects. The Design for Safety (DFS)
regulations aims to reduce fatalities to 1.8 deaths per 100,000 workers by
2018.
Towards Safer Construction Sites
Projects that have contract values of SG$10 million or more are required to
comply with the new regulations, as these developments are the primary
contributors to approximately80% of the most serious cases of construction
accidents in the industry. Under the new policy, workers managing and
maintaining the projects must include ‘safety features from the design stages
by developers and designers.’
Developers must implement a DFS review system at every phase of the
construction project to identify and manage risks. They should also establish a
DFS register to caution workers about safety hazards. The DFS register also
takes note of risks that are impossible to manage through design adjustments.
Project managers will have to disseminate this information to all workers and
employees.

3. The Safety-First Culture
It is important for all members of the construction industry to understand that
a safe work environment is a priority that requires consistent cooperation from
each employee. Safety should not just be a concept, but a reality each
employee understands and experiences; a core value ingrained into the
company culture.
Consistent safety training programs
are essential. These programs open
channels of communication,
promoting discussions on safety in
the worksite and creating an
atmosphere of collaboration among
employees. Moreover, it upgrades
knowledge and skills of workers,
which contributes to improved
productivity and increased
efficiency.
The new safety regulations in
Singapore’s construction industry
ultimately aim to instil the
importance of safety-first culture
across all organisations. Construction
sites may be among the most
dangerous work environments, but
the risks can be effectively
minimised by properly complying
with regulations and making safety
not just a principle, but also an
experienced reality.

4. RESOURCES:
http://www.galmon.com
http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/design-safety-rules-bigger-building-projects
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140810173234-246778642-safety-first-creating-
a-workplace-health-and-safety-culture-and-its-challenges