TRAINING ON SAFETY FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Manpower whether he will make it compulsory for workers at construction sites to undergo more intensive training in safety before they are allowed to work at such sites in view of the rising number of fatal accidents involving construction workers.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Currently, it is already a requirement for all workers to undergo compulsory safety training before they start work in a construction site. Under the Factories (Safety Training) Order, any worker employed in manual labour to carry out construction work in a building operation or work of engineering construction site shall attend and successfully complete an approved safety training course for construction workers. This course, the Safety Orientation Course (or SOC), is a one-day programme, and is designed to introduce workers to common hazards associated with construction activity. The workers are instructed on what they should do to protect themselves against these hazards. Typical hazards such as falling from height, falling objects, electricity and hazards associated with use of machinery are highlighted to the workers. They are then taught of how they could protect themselves from these hazards. The Course also teaches them how to use Personal Protective Equipment properly.

To help construction workers benefit more from the safety-training courses, the Ministry has prepared a booklet that gives in pictorial form, details of the lessons they would learn during the course. This booklet, available in 6 languages including English, Mandarin and Bangladeshi, is issued to all workers attending the course.

The current safety training course will provide workers with basic safety knowledge for work. Other than the compulsory course, under the law, employers are also obligated to further train their workers, if these workers are engaged in operating machines, or working at processes which may cause harm to them. Workers must be instructed on the dangers associated with these machines or processes, and be informed of the measures that they need to take to protect themselves from harm.