Statute Details
- Title: Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008
- Full Title: Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008
- Act Code: WSHA2006-S355-2008
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (sl)
- Commencement Date: 1 September 2008
- Parts: Part I: PRELIMINARY, Part II: FORMATION OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE, Part III: MEETINGS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE, Part IV: FUNCTIONS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE, Part V: MISCELLANEOUS
- Key Sections: Section 2: Definitions
- Related Legislation: Workplace Safety and Health Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 is a piece of subsidiary legislation enacted under the Workplace Safety and Health Act in Singapore. It establishes requirements for the formation and operation of workplace safety and health committees in factories with 50 or more employees.
The primary purpose of this legislation is to promote workplace safety and health by mandating the establishment of committees responsible for inspecting factories, investigating accidents, and assisting in the organization of safety-related activities. These committees serve as an important mechanism for employee involvement and collaboration between management and workers on occupational safety and health matters.
What Are the Key Provisions?
The key provisions of the Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 are as follows:
Formation of Workplace Safety and Health Committees: Under Section 4, every factory with 50 or more employees must appoint a workplace safety and health committee and a chairman for that committee. Section 5 requires the appointment of a secretary for the committee.
Composition of Committees: Section 6 specifies the composition of the workplace safety and health committee. It must include representatives from both management and employees, with the number of employee representatives being at least one-third of the total committee members.
Committee Meetings: Part III outlines the requirements for committee meetings. Sections 7 and 8 mandate that the committee must meet at least once every 3 months and that minutes of the meetings must be kept. Section 9 allows non-members to attend the meetings.
Functions of Committees: Part IV details the functions of the workplace safety and health committees. These include conducting general inspections of the factory (Section 11), inspecting the factory after an accident or dangerous occurrence (Section 12), assisting in the organization of safety-related activities (Section 14), and developing guidelines to promote safe work practices (Section 15).
Powers of Committees: Section 17 grants the workplace safety and health committees certain powers, such as the ability to access relevant information and documents, and to make recommendations to the factory occupier.
Offences: Part V establishes offences for non-compliance with the regulations, such as failing to appoint a committee or committee members not having the required basic knowledge (Section 18).
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 is divided into five parts:
- Part I: PRELIMINARY - Covers the citation, commencement, and definitions.
- Part II: FORMATION OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE - Outlines the requirements for appointing the committee and its members.
- Part III: MEETINGS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE - Specifies the meeting requirements and procedures.
- Part IV: FUNCTIONS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE - Defines the roles and responsibilities of the committee.
- Part V: MISCELLANEOUS - Includes provisions for offences, revocation, and savings and transitional matters.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 applies to every factory in Singapore where 50 or more persons are ordinarily at work, excluding those engaged in temporary work. This means that the requirements for establishing workplace safety and health committees are applicable to larger factories and workplaces in Singapore.
The regulations do not apply to smaller factories or workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. However, the Workplace Safety and Health Act, which is the parent legislation, still imposes general duties on employers to ensure the safety and health of their employees, regardless of the size of the workplace.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
The Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 is an important piece of legislation that contributes to the overall framework for occupational safety and health in Singapore. By mandating the establishment of workplace safety and health committees in larger factories, it promotes active employee involvement and collaboration between management and workers on safety-related matters.
The committees play a crucial role in identifying and addressing workplace hazards, investigating accidents, and organizing safety-related activities. This helps to enhance the safety culture within the workplace and reduce the risk of workplace accidents and injuries. Effective implementation of these regulations can lead to improved workplace safety and health outcomes, benefiting both employers and employees.
Enforcement of the regulations is carried out by the Ministry of Manpower, which can take action against non-compliant factories. Penalties for offences under the regulations include fines. The legislation is an important tool for the government to drive workplace safety and health improvements in Singapore's industrial sector.
Related Legislation
- Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations 2008 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.