Occupational Health & Safety
Occupational safety and health at work are always our top priority in daily operation. We aim at accomplishing all our undertakings safely and efficiently with due consideration of the environment. In this regard, we allocate adequate resources and provide necessary training to our staff. We also established various safety committees to improve our performance continually.
Governance and Supervision of Health and Safety
To monitor and audit the safety and health performance of the Department, DSD Safety Steering Group chaired by Deputy Director of Drainage Services was established. Regular meetings were held amongst the Division Heads to report and review the in-house safety policy and procedures as well as deliver new safety directives within the Department from time to time.
To enforce health and safety practices in projects, we have collaborated with projects consultants and contractors to promote safety awareness to site staff. Latest information and alerts on construction site safety were disseminated to them through our Divisional Safety Coordinators timely.
In 2012, we were awarded with the (OHSAS) 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification to manage and control our workplace safety in a systematic manner.
Promotional Activities of Health and Safety
We believe that safety promotion is important to enhance safety awareness of individuals and to instil a safety culture among staff. During the year, we organised and participated in various health and safety promotion activities, campaigns and award schemes which are highlighted as follows:
- Participation of 34 projects in the DEVB's Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme (CCSAS) 2012;
- Participation of 53 projects in the DSD's Construction Sites Housekeeping Award Scheme (CSHAS);
- Organised four safety talks and two training centre visits for in-house colleagues, Resident Site Staff and contractors' staff on site safety in confined space and safety working near electricity supply lines; and
- Partnering with contractors and consultants of the HATS Division in holding a HATS Tunnel Safety Campaign to promote tunneling works safety.
In-house Occupational Health and Safety
We have established four committees to monitor and safeguard the health and safety of our staff. These include Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Committee, Site Safety and Environmental Management Committee, Sewage Treatment Works Safety Management Committee and Direct Labour Force Safety Management Committee. These committees consist of members from different discipline and grades of staff from DSD. Meetings are held regularly to review if further improvement and enhancement of our health and safety management system are required.
