ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY REGULATIONS IN SHIPYARDS

Dr Toh Keng Kiat asked the Minister for Labour whether more effective enforcement of safety regulations will be carried out in shipyards in order to prevent further accidents due to explosions and flash fires.

Dr Toh Keng Kiat (Nominated Member): Sir, on behalf of Dr Soin, Question No. 5. May I have your permission to ask Question No. 6 in my name now?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

The Minister for Labour (Dr Lee Boon Yang): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to answer Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together since they cover the same area?

Mr Speaker: All right.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, the Ministry's approach to safety in shipyards and, for that matter, any other factory or worksite, is to impose and enforce all practicable safety precautions. We systematically review and amend safety regulations, so that workers can work in a safer environment.

Unfortunately, from time to time, lapses in compliance and human errors have resulted in accidents, sometimes with fatal consequences. In 1992, there were two major shipyard accidents involving the loss of 14 lives and 75 workers suffering injuries. The Government convened two Committees of Inquiry to look into the causes and circumstances of the accidents. The Committees conducted thorough investigations and hearings. They recommended enhanced safety measures for hot works, chemical usage and audit of safety management system. In May 1993, my Ministry ordered Sembawang Shipyard, where both accidents took place, to comply with all the recommendations. The shipyard had done so, including conducting an external safety audit.

In addition, the Ministry organised a study mission to Japan to study safety management in Japanese shipyards. Senior management of major shipyards and representatives of the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) joined the mission to study first-hand the Japanese safety management system.

The Ministry organised a Workshop on Accident Prevention in Shipyards in October 1993 to discuss and disseminate the recommendations of the Committees, and the findings of the study mission. Senior managers of shipyards and union representatives took part and agreed to implement these recommendations in their own shipyards.

Subsequently, the Department of Industrial Safety (DIS) monitored monthly progress in implementing the safety recommendations. The regular monitoring and enforcement visits showed that the major shipyards have implemented practically all the recommendations of the Committees of Inquiry. Shipyards are also in the process of implementing the recommendations of the study mission to Japan.

The only major recommendation of the Committees of Inquiry which is still not fully implemented is the conduct of safety audits by external auditors with specific experience in auditing safety systems of shipyards. So far, only Sembawang Shipyard had conducted such audit. ASMI is actively sourcing for consultants to draw up standard auditing procedures, which the other shipyards could use for their external safety audits.

The Ministry has also conducted a comprehensive review of existing safety provisions for shipyards. The recommendations of the two Committees of Inquiry on measures to prevent fire and explosion have been incorporated in a new set of safety regulations. In addition, the review also covers other hazards, such as those arising from the use of scaffolding, lifting equipment and electrical installations. These regulations will be gazetted shortly.

Apart from these steps to tighten regulation of safety management, the Department of Industrial Safety conducts regular inspections of shipyards to ensure that they comply with accepted safety practices and procedures. In 1993, the Department of Industrial Safety conducted 1,223 inspections of shipyards. Shipyards which had violated safety regulations were issued with notices of non-compliance or composition fines. For more serious violations, shipyards were prosecuted in court. In instances where the workplace was grossly unsafe, stop work orders were issued to force the shipyard to improve safety measures before work resumed.

I was therefore deeply saddened by the report of the tragic accident in Jurong Shipyard in the morning of 8th February this year. Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the family of the nine workers who died in the accident and the two injured workers.

I have appointed a Committee of Inquiry to determine the causes and circumstances leading to the accident and to recommend appropriate preventive measures. Shipyard managements must rigorously implement safety measures and stringently enforce compliance by their workers and employees of their sub-contractors. Workers must also understand that when they are working in hazardous conditions, disregarding safety precautions can be disastrous both to themselves and to fellow workers nearby.

I hope that the three accidents which occurred so close together will remain a painful and vivid reminder for a long, long time to all shipyard managements and their workers to work safely.