Launched in 2006, it aims to raise the standards of WSH in priority areas that contribute to the bulk of workplace fatalities and injuries.

Under ProBE, the WSHC actively engages the industry to raise the WSH competencies and awareness so that stakeholders can better manage the WSH risks in their own workplaces. Thereafter, the MOM will enforce to ensure that appropriate measures have been put in place to improve safety standards in these work areas.

Since the introduction of ProBE in 2006, a total of nine priority programmes were targeted for intervention. These included Work on Scaffolds, Work in Confined Spaces, Work in the Metalworking Industries, Work at Height, Forklift operations, Use of Lifting Equipment, Work in Noisy Environment, Work involving Machines Dangerous to Hands and Work involving Flammable and Hazardous Substances. During this period, more than 6,200 companies were engaged through the various ProBE activities. The programme has succeeded in reducing fatalities, building capabilities and heightening awareness in many of the targeted areas.

Outcomes for ProBE 2008

ProBE 2008 focused on three priority areas: (1) Work involving Machines Dangerous to Hands; (2) Work involving Flammable and Hazardous Substances; (3) Work at Height.

ProBE-Machines Dangerous to Hands promoted the safe use of machinery that is potentially dangerous to workers' hands. These include power presses, cutting, bending, stamping and woodworking machines. Three technical forums were organised by WSH Council with SPRING and industry partners, the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMa) and the Bedok Safety Group (BSG). In terms of enforcement, more than 100 metalworking and manufacturing companies were inspected to check on adequacy of standards of machinery safety. Arising from the inspections, a total of 260 contraventions were uncovered. The top three violations, which accounted for more than 50% of all contraventions, were related to:

• Failure to conduct assessment of the safety and health risks posed by the use of such machinery;
• Failure to establish and implement a proper procedure to shut down or disable the machinery when it is not in use or when it is put under maintenance or repair to prevent inadvertent use by unauthorised persons; and
• Absence of proper and secured machine guarding to protect workers against dangerous parts while operating the machinery.
With the ProBE initiative, the number of permanent disablements, which comprised mainly amputations of the upper limbs, had reduced by 19%, from 163 injuries in 2007 to 132 in 2008.

ProBE-Flammable and Hazardous Substances raised awareness on safe work procedures and risk assessment when using these substances. It also shared learning points from incidents involving fires, explosion and exposure to harmful substances. The WSH Council organised forums with the Association of Singapore Marine Industry (ASMI), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and National Fire and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council (NFEC). MOM conducted more than 200 inspections targeting mainly the shipyards and manufacturing sectors. From the inspections, a total of 495 contraventions were uncovered.

The top two contraventions were:

• Failure to conduct assessment of the safety and health risks posed by the work; and
• Failure to provide and maintain means of extinguishing fire in a factory. ProBE-Work at Height adopted a more concerted effort to educate stakeholders, particularly the supervisors and workers on the ground. The WSH Council launched a Work at Height programme in November last year. A comprehensive self-help Work at Height kit was distributed to companies, with a technical advisory for safety personnel, a guidebook for supervisors as well as a handy guide, illustrative posters and videos for workers. So far, 50 large and medium-size construction companies have used the kits to organise in-house Work at Height campaigns to educate their employees and subcontractors on working safely at height. The WSH Council has also distributed an illustrated Work at Height Handy Guide to over 160,000 workers to educate them on staying safe while working at height.

215 inspections were carried out, targeting primarily construction worksites. A total of 524 contraventions were found in the following areas:

• Absence of an effective barrier to prevent falls through an open side or opening, or the absence of toe-boards and guard-rails;
• Failure to conduct assessment of the safety and health risks posed by the work; and
• Absence of proper access from one level of a scaffold to another.

The number of fatalities involving work at height and flammable and hazardous substances fell 20% - from 30 deaths (2007) to 24 (2008). Please see Figure 1 below for details: