ACCIDENTS IN SHIPYARDS (Compliance with safety measures)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Labour, in the light of the latest accident at the Sembawang Bethlehem Shipyard which resulted in loss of lives and injury of workers, in spite of industry reviews of safety systems and implementation of updated safety rules following previous accidents in other shipyards, what further steps his Ministry will take, together with shipyard managements and their contractors, to enforce compliance with safety measures.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yiok Seng) (for the Minister for Labour): Sir, may I have your permission to answer Questions 8 and 9 together because they are related?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Mr Lee Yiok Seng: Sir, industrial accidents including those in shipyards and construction sites may be caused by many factors. Human error is certainly an important cause of such accidents.

In fact, we have found that in many fatal accidents in shipyards and construction worksites, human error was a contributing factor. Such accidents could therefore have been prevented by workers and their supervisors being more safety conscious. For instance, in the case of the fire on board the "Stolt Spur", the chemical cleaning contractor chose to use improper equipment for cleaning the boiler. In the case of the "Indiana", the workers involved failed to ensure that their immediate work area was cleared of all flammable materials. As for the case of the "British Adventure", the senior technical personnel failed to take measures to isolate the power supply and close crucial valves before initiating hot-works on the hydraulic system.

Sir, there is no conclusive evidence to show that inexperienced or new workers were largely responsible for the errors which led to the fatal accidents. Our records show that experienced workers are just as liable to commit errors and oversight. For instance, most of those who failed to take precautionary measures and were found negligent by the Committees that inquired into the "Stolt Spur", "Indiana" and the "British Adventure" accidents were not inexperienced workers.

Sir, all workers, including local and foreign workers, have to undergo a safety instruction course before they are allowed to work in shipyards. In addition, workers carrying out hot-works have to attend a special safety module which emphasises preventive measures on fires and explosions. The Ministry also conducts safety courses for Supervisors and Ship Repair Managers.

As for the construction industry, all foreign workers are required to undergo a safety orientation course before they are issued with work permits. Contractors are also required to send their local workers to the course before work is allowed to commence at their worksites.

In 1993, about 12,000 shipyard workers and 71,000 construction workers attended such courses.

Sir, the Ministry has stepped up its efforts to prevent accidents in the shipyards and construction worksites since the spate of accidents in shipyards in 1992 and 1993. The Ministry is stringently enforcing the Factories (Shipbuilding & Ship-repairing) Regulations which incorporated all the safety measures recommended by the "Stolt Spur" and "Indiana" Committees of Inquiry. Apart from many new specific safety requirements, major shipyards are now required to have their safety management systems audited.

The Ministry has also been mounting special enforcement exercises on shipyards. Those found violating safety rules were dealt with severely. Stop work orders were issued where a workplace was found to be grossly unsafe. Since January this year, 30 such orders have been issued.

Besides taking stringent enforcement action, the Ministry will continue to work closely with shipyards' managements, their contractors and the unions to promote safety and prevent accidents in shipyards. The Ministry, together with the Association of Singapore Marine Industry, the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers, and NTUC, is planning a workshop for next month to review safety management and audit system practised in the shipyards. Other similar workshops or seminars will be organised from time to time to review legislation requirements, safe work practices and safety management systems. We will make every effort to help the shipyards and their contractors to better understand their responsibilities in complying with regulations on safety in their workplace.

Sir, stringent enforcement action will also be taken at construction worksites. The Ministry will amend the Factories (Building Operations & Works of Engineering Construction) Regulations to augment the safety and health provisions at construction worksites. Among other things, contractors will be required to have their safety management systems audited.

The Ministry is currently taking action to amend the Factories Act to include more comprehensive provisions for the safety and health of workers. The maximum penalty for offences under the Act will be increased.

The Ministry will continue to enforce safety regulations and provide safety training for workers, supervisors and managers in the construction and shipbuilding and repairing industries so as to improve safety at such workplaces.

Mr Chia Shi Teck: Sir, would the Senior Parliamentary Secretary say that checking by the enforcement teams would be very effective and how many people are actually checking on worksites and the shipyards?

Mr Lee Yiok Seng: Sir, we have regular checkings. As to the number of people who are actually doing the checking, it depends on the officers and the programme. We have a very thorough programme to go round and check every one of them. I assure the House that we are very conscious of the safety of the workers.

Mr Chia Shi Teck: After so many accidents and all the reports and inquiries, there still seems to be very frequent repeats. That means the checking system should be stepped up. If they do not have enough staff, probably they should increase their staff.

Mr Lee Yiok Seng: As I mentioned just now, human error is one of the important factors that causes fatal accidents. The best way to curb this problem is through training and improving the safety measures. So we will continue to go along this line and try to minimise the human error in shipyards and construction worksites.

Mr Zulkifli bin Mohammed (Jalan Besar GRC): I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether his Ministry is satisfied that,in view of the high percentageof foreign workers now working in shipyards, they have taken adequate measures to ensurethat the safety practices and methods that have been given to these workers are strictly enforced.

Mr Lee Yiok Seng: Sir, our aim is to have zero accident. Therefore, we are making every effort to improve this situation. As I have mentioned, next month we are having a workshop to get all shipyard managements, unions, and contractors to review the safety measures and to consider which are the areas we can improve. I assure the House that we are open to all suggestions which can improve the safety of the workers.