The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has launched a new e-service that lets developers, contractors, and members of the public view and compare construction companies’ safety track records.
Called CheckSafe, the online tool is designed to give users easy access to contractors’ workplace safety and health (WSH) history, allowing for more informed choices when it comes to contractor selection.
Meanwhile, the ministry also announced that it has ramped up enforcement efforts by implementing some 400 site inspections at high-risk sectors since mid-December 2020.
The e-service and inspections come after the resumption of workplace activities in June 2020, which saw a jump in workplace fatalities in the second half of 2020.
Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad made the announcements on 21 January 2021 at a company worksite inspection in Serangoon North.
According to an MOM spokesperson, there were a total of 31 workplace fatalities in 2020.
According to MOM, some of the key features of the CheckSafe portal include:
Speaking to members of the press, Mr Zaqy said the e-service will only show the records of firms in the construction industry for now, but other industries will be progressively added.
He shared: “We will expand it to other sectors as we move along. We hope that this will inculcate greater transparency in the industry, and an interest in service buyers to ensure they procure from safe companies.”
Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) President Chia Ngiang Hong said REDAS is supportive of the CheckSafe platform and will encourage its members to make use of it.
He said: “CheckSafe is designed to promote greater ownership of the industry’s WSH performance and will help to ensure that the various stakeholders are notified of safety track records of construction and other related companies. With this knowledge, their decision on the choice of such companies will be better informed and well guided, and likely lead to better WSH performance.”
Echoing the sentiment, Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL) President Ng Yek Meng shared that the initiative would provide greater transparency on the safety performance of all construction firms.
“It would promote greater ownership of WSH practices of individual firms in ensuring workplace safety,” he said.
Mr Zaqy was joined by the MOM safety inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Division for the worksite inspection.
Mr Zaqy added that the inspections were timely as the number of high-risk activities resuming work has increased since the circuit breaker measures have gone onto phase three.
“We are also concerned because over the last two months, we have had five fatalities within 10 days, two of which were in construction.
“Therefore, we are keen to do more enforcement, and we have done some 400 inspections in high-risk sectors since December,” he said.
MOM gave the company, Oxley Serangoon, a stop-work order during the inspection for failing to meet the WSH requirements.
The stop-work order duration will depend on the company’s ability to rectify the safety concerns raised.
