Enhanced Safety Measures for Higher-Risk Machinery and Combustible Dusts from 1 January 2025
The Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce (MAST) will be introducing enhanced measures to strengthen workplace safety and health (WSH) standards for higher-risk machinery [1] and combustible dust. These measures will come into effect on 1 January 2025.
[1] Higher risk machinery refers to industrial machinery that have a higher propensity to cause serious injuries. The identified list of industrial machineries will be added in the Fifth Schedule of the WSH Act.
Enhancing the Current Regime for Manufacturing Safety
2 In 2023, machinery-related incidents accounted for about 14% of fatal and major injuries, with about 60% of these cases in the Manufacturing sector. Combustible dust hazards also pose a significant risk of fire and explosion. To address these risks, MOM is introducing enhancements aimed at improving compliance and accountability throughout the supply chain. The measures are part of the recommendations from the Inquiry Committee into the 2021 explosion at Stars Engrg.
Safe Use of Machinery
3 The list of machinery in the WSH Act Fifth Schedule will be expanded to include more classes of higher-risk machinery. The additional classes are listed in the Annex. Existing duties under sections 16 and 17 of the WSH Act will also now apply to these machineries.
4 Manufacturers and suppliers will need to ensure that machineries are designed, examined and tested to be safe when properly used, and provide information about how to use them safely. Installers and modifiers must ensure that any installation or modification carried out does not compromise the safe use of the machinery. With these new requirements, buyers of more machineries would be better assured that their purchases meet the required safety standards. If additional assistance is required, buyers can contact one of the inspection companies listed under MOM Inspection Programme for Safe Machines.
Safe Use of Combustible Dust
5 Existing requirements under the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations include control measures to prevent an explosion in the workplace arising from explosive or flammable dust. To enhance these measures:
A. Suppliers and occupiers must label packages or containers of combustible dust to state the associated hazards and communicate on its safe use in the workplace. For organic combustible dust such as flour or starch, the labelling requirement applies to packages or containers at 25kg and above.
B. Occupiers need to notify MOM and building owners/landlords if they are handling specified combustible dust at or above the threshold quantity as stipulated in the Fourth Schedule of the WSH (General Provisions) Regulations.
Driving a Culture of WSH Excellence
6 MAST member and Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Alvin Tan said " While our manufacturing sector saw sustained safety improvements from 2023 to the first half of 2024, we must not let up on our efforts. Singapore has over 7,000 manufacturing workplaces in Singapore, with many of them operating high-risk machinery and managing supplies of combustible dust. The enhanced measures we introduced will hold stakeholders throughout the supply chain accountable and ensure our workers remain safe. Together, we will build safer workplaces for everyone."
7 MAST Chairman and Senior Minister of State for Manpower, Mr Zaqy Mohamad added "The Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce remains committed to driving a strong culture of WSH excellence in Singapore. Combustible dust and industrial machinery can pose significant risks to workers, as seen in the 2021 Stars Engrg explosion. The new requirements announced today, were among recommendations by the Inquiry Committee into the 2021 explosion to enhance the existing regime across the supply chain. The Ministry of Manpower thanks MAST members, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for their support and commitment in strengthening worker safety, particularly in the Manufacturing sector. We will conduct checks to ensure compliance with these measures. Companies can better prepare for the new requirements by tapping on the resources available on the WSH Council’s website."
Annex
Additional classes of higher-risk machinery to the WSH Act Fifth Schedule:
(a) Sheet benders and sheet rollers;
(b) Lathes and milling machines;
(c) Machines designed for industrial use for any of the following purposes:
(i) cutting, including table saws and slicing machines;
(ii) packaging, including palletisers, balers and compactors;
(iii) mixing by mechanical movement, including paddle mixers and ribbon mixers;
(iv) handling or processing food, including grinders, mincers, blenders and juicers.