At NTUC’s “U Safe Forum & Awards 2019” held this morning, NTUC recognised 11 deserving unions, unionised companies, and NTUC U SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) partners for championing progressive workplace practices and creating safer and healthier workplaces for workers. This is the highest number of awards given out to date.
This year’s awards are conferred on unions that have actively promoted and supported workplace safety and health (WSH) initiatives; unionised companies who have harnessed technology to improve WSH outcomes, as well as U SME partners that have actively partnered the NTUC to advance workers’ WSH training and upgrading to enhance the safety, health and wellbeing of employees. (See Annex B for the full list of awardees)
The U Safe Award (Advocate Category) recognised three unions who have strongly advocated and promoted WSH guidelines and best practices to management partners and members, thus building up a WSH culture that is both progressive and pervasive. For example, to encourage adoption of Total WSH, the Building Construction And Timber Industries’ Employees Union (BATU) worked with the WSH Council to identify suitable companies, and rallied workers to participate in various broad-based activities such as weight management and smoking cessation to promote workers’ health and safety. Since 2012, the union has also partnered stakeholders such as the NTUC U Care Centre and the WSH Council to engage some 3,000 outsourced cleaners in school every year on WSH practices. (See Annex A for more details)
This year, a new awards category was launched to better acknowledge the efforts of unionised companies that have joined hands with NTUC-affiliated unions to drive WSH initiatives at the workplace and improve WSH performance through the adoption of technology.The U Safe Award (Champion Category) recognised five unionised companies, one of which is Keppel FELS Limited. The company has proactively innovated its processes to make work easier, smarter and safer for its workers. For example, using its iDiver – Robotic diver to perform hazardous underwater inspections, Keppel FELS has been able to eliminate the need for personnel to undergo high-risk exposure performing underwater surveys, bringing about costs savings and increasing employee motivation and morale. (See Annex A for more details)
Three U SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) partners were awarded under the U Safe Award (U SME Partner Category). One such example, is Fong’s Engineering and Manufacturing Pte Ltd, which is not only a U SME partner under the Singapore Precision Engineering & Technology Association (SPETA), but also unionised under the Metal Industries Workers’ Union. Through the adoption of the 6S (otherwise known as 5S + Safety) system, which lists out the principles of Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise, Sustain and Safety, the company has been able to promote an efficient working environment while establishing a sustainable culture of safety. The company has also established an inhouse WSH committee, to facilitate regular engagement and sharing with workers on work issues and WSH best practices. (See Annex A for more details)
Mr Desmond Choo, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General and Policy Division Director said, “It is very heartening to gather today to honour these 11 awardees who are committed to WSH. The well-being of our workers is a top priority for all in the Labour Movement. Regardless of whether you are a worker, a union leader or an employer, we must take responsibility for our own safety and the safety of fellow workers. The Labour Movement will continue to rally our workers to take greater ownership of safety; improve their WSH competencies and push for greater adoption of technology to make every workplace a safer and healthier workplace.”
The awardees received the Awards from Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Manpower, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, who was also the Guest-of-Honour. Held at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability, some 500 guests, comprising awards recipients, LM leaders, tripartite partners and WSH practitioners were in attendance, where they were also treated to a display of WSH exhibits and forum discussions on Singapore’s WSH 2028 and “We Choose Zero” vision.
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