Workplace Safety Assessment (Singapore)

A Workplace Safety Assessment in Singapore records the findings or particulars it documents for the purpose at hand.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) administers and enforces the WSHA through its Occupational Safety and Health Division (OSHD). MOM publishes approved Codes of Practice, including the Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management (CP:44), which sets out the methodology for identifying hazards, assessing risks, and determining controls. The risk assessment follows the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE) — in descending order of effectiveness.

All employers in Singapore are required to conduct risk assessments, but the WSHA imposes enhanced obligations on specific industries. Construction sites must comply with the Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations and appoint a WSH Coordinator under Regulation 26. Factories handling hazardous substances must comply with the Workplace Safety and Health (Major Hazard Installations) Regulations and the Environmental Protection and Management Act (Cap. 94A). Shipyards must comply with the Workplace Safety and Health (Shipbuilding and Ship-Repairing) Regulations.

A Workplace Safety Assessment must be reviewed at least once every three years, or whenever there is a significant change in the work process, equipment, or workplace layout, or after a workplace accident. The assessment must be documented, kept for a minimum period of three years under the Risk Management Regulations, and made available for inspection by MOM inspectors.

The Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC), a tripartite body established by the Government, NTUC, and SNEF, publishes industry-specific guidelines, training resources, and established procedures guides. WSHC administers the bizSAFE programme — a five-step certification scheme that helps companies build WSH capabilities, starting from top management commitment (Level 1) through risk management (Level 3) to WSH management system implementation (Level Star). Many clients, government agencies, and main contractors in Singapore require their contractors and suppliers to hold a minimum bizSAFE Level 3 certification, which requires a completed risk assessment. Under Singapore law, the common-law requirements for a valid contract — offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations — and Section 8 of the Employment Act 1968 (Cap. 91) govern the core requirements for this type of document.

A Workplace Safety Assessment is needed in Singapore whenever an employer must identify and control hazards in the workplace to comply with the WSHA and protect employees, contractors, and visitors.

When a company commences operations at a new workplace — whether a factory, warehouse, office, retail outlet, or construction site — the employer must conduct a baseline risk assessment before work activities begin. The Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations require risk assessments for all reasonably foreseeable hazards associated with the work activities conducted at the premises.

When a construction project starts, the builder or main contractor must conduct a thorough risk assessment covering all work activities, including work at height, crane operations, excavation, confined space entry, hot work, and the handling of hazardous materials. The Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requirements mandate risk assessments at the project planning stage.

When an employer introduces new machinery, equipment, chemicals, or work processes, the existing risk assessment must be updated to account for the new hazards. MOM's Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management (CP:44) requires employers to review and revise risk assessments whenever there is a significant change in the workplace.

When a workplace accident, near-miss incident, or dangerous occurrence takes place, the employer must review the risk assessment to determine whether the existing control measures were adequate and whether additional measures are required. Section 12(3) of the WSHA requires employers to take corrective action when hazards are identified.

When a company pursues bizSAFE certification — required by many public sector and private sector clients — the company must complete a risk assessment at Level 3. The risk assessment must be conducted or reviewed by a MOM-registered WSH professional (WSH Officer, WSH Auditor, or WSH Consultant) and submitted to the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) for validation. Under Singapore law, the common-law requirements for a valid contract — offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations — and Section 8 of the Employment Act 1968 (Cap. 91) govern the core requirements for this type of document.

A properly conducted Singapore Workplace Safety Assessment should contain the following elements, in compliance with the WSHA and the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations.

Company and Workplace Details: The employer's full legal name and Unique Entity Number (UEN), the workplace address, the nature of business operations, and the number of employees at the assessed workplace. The assessment should identify the WSH Officer or risk assessment team leader responsible for conducting the assessment.

Work Activity Identification: A thorough list of all work activities performed at the workplace, grouped by department, process, or location. Each activity — from office work and forklift operation to chemical handling and work at height — must be assessed individually for associated hazards.

Hazard Identification: For each work activity, a systematic identification of all reasonably foreseeable hazards, including physical hazards (falls, struck-by, caught-in, electrical), chemical hazards (toxic exposure, flammable materials, corrosives), biological hazards (infectious agents, allergens), ergonomic hazards (repetitive motion, manual handling, poor workstation design), and psychosocial hazards (workplace violence, excessive workload). MOM's Code of Practice CP:44 provides a hazard identification checklist.

Risk Evaluation: A quantitative or qualitative assessment of the risk associated with each identified hazard, using the likelihood-severity matrix recommended by CP:44. The risk level (high, medium, or low) determines the priority and urgency of control measures. High-risk activities require immediate corrective action.

Control Measures: For each identified risk, the existing control measures and any additional measures required, following the hierarchy of controls prescribed by the WSHA: elimination of the hazard, substitution with a less hazardous alternative, engineering controls (guarding, ventilation, isolation), administrative controls (safe work procedures, training, signage, permit-to-work systems), and personal protective equipment (PPE). The assessment should specify the responsible person and the implementation timeline for each control measure.

Communication: The method by which the risk assessment findings and control measures will be communicated to employees, contractors, and visitors. Section 12(2)(c) of the WSHA requires employers to provide employees with adequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to carry out their work safely. The assessment should be shared with all affected workers and displayed at the workplace.

Review Schedule: The date of the current assessment, the scheduled review date (at least every three years under the Risk Management Regulations), and the triggers for an ad hoc review (workplace accident, change in work process, introduction of new equipment). Organisations using forms-legal.com can set up review date reminders.

Documentation and Record-Keeping: The completed risk assessment must be documented in writing and retained for at least three years under the Risk Management Regulations. MOM inspectors may request to inspect the risk assessment during workplace audits.

Governing Law: A reference to the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 (WSHA), the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations, and the Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management (CP:44). Under Singapore law, the common-law requirements for a valid contract — offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations — and Section 8 of the Employment Act 1968 (Cap. 91) govern the core requirements for this type of document. Under Singapore law, Section 169 of the Companies Act 1967 (Cap. 50) and Section 4 of the Stamp Duties Act (Cap. 312) govern the core requirements for this type of document.