Statute Details
- Title: Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015
- Full Title: Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015
- Act Code: WSHA2006-S428-2015
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (sl)
- Commencement Date: 1 August 2016
- Parts: Part 1: PRELIMINARY, Part 2: DUTIES OF DEVELOPER, Part 3: DUTIES OF DESIGNER AND CONTRACTOR, Part 4: MISCELLANEOUS
- Key Sections: Section 2: Definitions
- Related Legislation: Planning Act, Strata Management Act, Workplace Safety and Health Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 are a set of regulations enacted under the Workplace Safety and Health Act of Singapore. The purpose of these regulations is to improve workplace safety and health by imposing duties on developers, designers, and contractors to consider and address safety and health risks during the design and construction of structures.
The regulations apply to large-scale development projects undertaken by developers, where the contract sum for the construction work is $10 million or more and the project involves development under the Planning Act. They also apply to projects to modify existing permanent structures where a design-for-safety register has been kept.
The key focus of the regulations is on the "design for safety" approach, which requires developers, designers, and contractors to proactively identify and mitigate safety and health risks throughout the lifecycle of a structure - from design and construction to maintenance and demolition. This represents a shift from a reactive approach to workplace safety towards a more preventative one.
What Are the Key Provisions?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 impose several key duties on developers, designers, and contractors involved in applicable construction projects:
Duties of Developers: Developers must ensure that the design of any structure takes into account the safety and health of affected persons, such as construction workers, maintenance staff, and eventual occupants. They must appoint competent designers and contractors, and facilitate design-for-safety review meetings to identify and address safety and health risks. Developers must also maintain a design-for-safety register documenting the safety considerations throughout the design and construction process.
Duties of Designers: Designers must identify and address design risks that could impact the safety and health of affected persons. They must provide information to the developer on residual design risks that cannot be reasonably eliminated. Designers must also cooperate with the developer and contractors to ensure safety and health considerations are properly implemented.
Duties of Contractors: Contractors must implement the safety and health measures specified in the design plan, and inform the developer of any design risks they identify during construction. Contractors must also cooperate with the developer and designers to address safety and health issues.
The regulations also place duties on registered proprietors and subsidiary management corporations of subdivided buildings to ensure safety and health considerations are maintained after a structure is completed.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the regulations can result in criminal penalties, including fines of up to $20,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 are divided into four main parts:
Part 1 - Preliminary: This part sets out the citation, commencement, and definitions used in the regulations.
Part 2 - Duties of Developer: This part outlines the various duties and responsibilities of developers in relation to the design for safety of structures.
Part 3 - Duties of Designer and Contractor: This part specifies the duties of designers and contractors in identifying and addressing safety and health risks.
Part 4 - Miscellaneous: This part covers the duties of registered proprietors and subsidiary management corporations, as well as the offences and penalties for non-compliance.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 apply to developers undertaking large-scale construction projects in Singapore. Specifically, the regulations apply to projects that:
- Are undertaken by a developer in the course of their business
- Involve construction work with a contract sum of $10 million or more
- Involve development under the Planning Act
The regulations also apply to projects to modify existing permanent structures, where a design-for-safety register has been kept under the regulations.
The duties and responsibilities under the regulations extend to designers and contractors involved in the applicable construction projects, in addition to the developer.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 are an important piece of legislation that aims to proactively address safety and health risks in the construction industry. By placing duties on developers, designers, and contractors to consider safety and health factors during the design and construction process, the regulations seek to reduce the number of workplace accidents and injuries associated with construction work.
The "design for safety" approach is a significant shift from the traditional reactive approach to workplace safety, where issues are often only addressed after an incident has occurred. By requiring stakeholders to identify and mitigate risks upfront, the regulations help to create safer working environments and reduce the overall cost and impact of workplace accidents.
Effective implementation of the regulations can lead to tangible benefits, such as fewer worker injuries and fatalities, reduced construction delays and rework, and lower insurance and liability costs for construction projects. Ultimately, the regulations contribute to a safer and more productive construction industry in Singapore.
Related Legislation
- Planning Act
- Strata Management Act
- Workplace Safety and Health Act
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.