PROFILE of the

Chemical Industry in Singapore

Contents Introduction ~ ~

Purpose Methodology

General Information ~

~ ~ ~ ~

Products and Activities Economic Contribution Labour force Working Conditions Remuneration

Laws, Regulations and Resources ~ ~

Relevant OSH Standards OSH Resources

Work Environment Workforce Safety and Health ~ ~ ~

Accident Statistics Occupational Disease Statistics Medical Monitoring Results

Acknowledgement

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INTRODUCTION Purpose This compilation provides a sectoral profile of the chemical industry in Singapore with regard to occupational health and safety. The project represents our contribution to the work of Task Force 13 (National Profiles and Indicators) under the WHO Collaborating Centres’ Network Work Plan for 2001-2005. The Work Plan will support the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Occupational Health for All. The objective of the project is to develop a model profile that gives an overview of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) situation in a particular sector. This may provide a basis for comparison with other economic sectors within a country and, perhaps, between similar sectors in other countries. The sector chosen for this purpose is the chemical industry in Singapore. Methodology The profiling of the chemical industry covers the following activities: Manufacturing of Refined Petroleum Products, Manufacturing of Chemicals and Chemical Products, and Manufacturing of Rubber and Plastic Products, based on the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC). The SSIC is designed for use in statistical surveys and administrative systems requiring classification of economic activities. It adopts the basic framework and principles of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) Revision 3 (1990), with the necessary modifications to meet national requirements while providing for international comparability of data. The present classification takes into account the recent changes that have occurred in economic activities, in the organisation and structure of these activities in Singapore’s economy and in the need for statistics classified by economic activity. In the selection of the items and indicators for the profile, reference has been made to the approach taken in the compilation of country profiles published in the FIOH People and Work Research Reports 52 (Work and Health Country Profiles of 22 European Countries) and 55 (Proceedings of the Workshop on National and Local OS&H Profiles and Indicators), as well as the Survey on ILO Standards-Related Activities in the Area of OSH in 2002. The profile reports the latest available information obtained from relevant national authorities, including the Manpower and Health Ministries, economic and statistical agencies, and professional bodies, as well as published or existing local research material. Dr Magdalene Chan Director Occupational Safety and Health Division Ministry of Manpower WHO Collaborating Centre in Occupational Health Singapore

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Products and Activities The chemical industry in Singapore comprises the following activities: Manufacture of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel* (SSIC 23) Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products (SSIC 24) Manufacture of Rubber and Plastic Products (SSIC 25) The Chemical Industry, with an 8.7% value-added contribution, comprises 14.3% of establishments in the manufacturing sector. Some 12.5% of employed persons within the manufacturing sector come from the chemical industry which accounts for 16.9% remuneration of the manufacturing industry. The average weekly paid hours worked in the industry is 46.8 hours. *: In Singapore, activity in this SSIC is confined to refined petroleum product manufacturing Economic Contribution Table 1. Value-added by Type of Activities (2001) Value-added1 (S$’000) Chemical Industry (SSIC 23, 24 & 25) Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel (SSIC 23) Chemicals & Chemical Products (SSIC 24) Rubber & Plastic Products (SSIC 25)

2,776,558 1,290,860

Value-added as a % of the manufacturing sector (%) 8.7 4

5,277,484

16.5

958,214

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Source: 2001 Annual Census of Manufacturing Activities, Economic Development Board 1

Value-added can be explained as the return to factors of production. It is also used to measure the extent of how each economic sector, such as manufacturing or financial services, affects the country’s GDP. It is the difference between total output and the total operating cost incurred in the production of goods and services or ancillary activities, where total operating cost refers to the sum of total materials and operating cost. Note:

a) Figures refer to establishments engaging 10 or more workers b) With effect from 1999, data are classified according to Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) 2000. c) Value added by entire manufacturing industry (thousand dollars) = 31,922,780 d) Definition and concept used are generally in accordance with the United Nations’ recommendations for basic industrial statistics but with certain modifications to suit local requirements and conditions.

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Labour Force Table 2. Employed Persons Aged 15 Years and Over by Selected Industries (2002) Industry

Employed persons1

Chemical Industry (SSIC 23, 24 & 25)

45,871

Employed persons as a % of the manufacturing sector (%) 12.5

Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel (SSIC 23) Chemicals & Chemical Products (SSIC 24)

6,797

1.8

23,769

6.5

Rubber & Plastic Products (SSIC 25)

15,305

4.2

(Number)

Source: Labour Force Survey, Ministry of Manpower 1

Employed persons refer to persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference period: (i) worked for one hour or more either for pay, profit or family gains; or (ii) had a job or business to return to but were temporarily absent because of illness, injury, breakdown of machinery at workplace, labour management dispute or other reasons. Note: Employed persons aged 15 years and over by entire manufacturing industry = 367,556

Establishments Table 3. Establishments by Type of Activities (2001) Industry

Establishments1

579 18

Establishments as a % of the manufacturing sector (%) 14.3 0.4

247

6.1

314

7.8

(Number) Chemical Industry (SSIC 23, 24 & 25) Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel (SSIC 23) Chemicals & Chemical Products (SSIC 24) Rubber & Plastic Products (SSIC 25)

Source: 2001 Annual Census of Manufacturing Activities, Economic Development Board 1

Establishment is defined as a manufacturing unit engaged in one industrial activity generally in a single location. Where an enterprise is engaged in one industrial activity but operates manufacturing units in two or more different locations in Singapore, these separate units are treated as one establishment if most records are centrally kept. Such an enterprise submits a consolidated return covering all the units. Note: Definition and concept used are generally in accordance with the United Nations’ recommendations for basic industrial statistics but with certain modifications to suit local requirements and conditions. Establishments by entire manufacturing industry = 4,041

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Working Conditions Table 4. Average Weekly Paid Hours worked (2002) Average Weekly Paid Hours Worked1 Hours 46.0

All Sectors Manufacturing industry

48.9

Chemical Industry (SSIC 23, 24 & 25)

46.8

Refined Petroleum Products (SSIC 23)

43.7

Chemicals & Chemical Products (SSIC 24) Rubber & Plastic Products (SSIC 25)

45.3 49.1

Source: Labour Market Survey, Ministry of Manpower 1

Weekly paid hours refer to the total number of paid hours worked during a week by an employee. It is the sum of standard hours and paid overtime hours worked Note: a) Data pertain to private sector establishments each with at least 25 employees b) Data refer to the average for the year c) Include full-time & part-time workers. Part-time workers are employees who normally work less than 30 hours in a week, including those who work half-days or only some days per week. They exclude workers who work “on and off”, employees on short work-week and temporary employees who work the normal hours.

Table 5. Remuneration (2001)

Remuneration1 (S$’000)

Remuneration as a % of the manufacturing sector 16.9%

Chemical Industry (SSIC 23, 24 & 25)

2,145,760

Refined Petroleum Products (SSIC 23)

315,517

2.5%

1,245,987

9.8%

584,256

4.6%

Chemicals & Chemical Products (SSIC 24) Rubber & Plastic Products (SSIC 25)

Source: 2001 Annual Census of Manufacturing Activities, Economic Development Board 1

Refers to the total cost resulting from the employment of all workers in the establishment, except indirect taxes, foreign workers levy and skill development levy. Remuneration comprises wages and salaries (which include bonuses), contributions to the Central Provident Fund and pension paid by employers, and the value of other benefits provided such as food, lodging and medical care. (Definition and concept used are generally in accordance with the United Nations’ recommendations for basic industrial statistics but with certain modifications to suit local requirements and conditions) Note: Remuneration by entire manufacturing industry (thousand dollars) = 12,665,091

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LAWS, REGULATIONS AND RESOURCES

Relevant OSH Standards Persons working in the chemical industry in Singapore are protected in terms of OSH by the Factories Act, Employment Act, Workmen’s Compensation Act, Pollution Control Act, Radiation Protection Act, Fire Safety Act and its subsidiary legislation. These are administered by various Ministries including Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of the Environment (ENV), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In addition, there are a number of codes of practice and guidelines that cover a wide range of subject areas. While there is no OSH legislation specific to the chemical industry, there are requirements in the Factories Act for safety training and safety management systems for certain sectors of the industry such as oil and petrochemical industry. There are also legislative requirements, codes of practices and guidelines on the control of chemical hazards. Table 5. Specific Hazards and Relevant Standards Coverage of Specific hazards Chemical hazards

Legislation

Codes of practice / Guidelines

Factories Act Environmental Pollution Control (Hazardous substances) Regulations (ENV)

Noise and Vibration

Factories (Noise) Regulations

Guidelines on prevention and control of chemical hazards Guidelines on risk assessment for occupational exposure to harmful chemicals Guidelines for Material Safety Data Sheets Code of Practice on the Preparation and Use of Material Safety Data Sheets Guidelines on Solvent Degreasing Hearing Conservation Programme Guidelines Code of Practice on Industrial Noise Control Guidelines for Industrial Noise and Vibration Control Guidelines on Noise Labelling

Biological

Infectious Disease Act (MOH) Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (MOH)

Ergonomics

Guidelines on office ergonomics Code of Practice on manual handling

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Radiation Asbestos

Confined space work Fire Safety Environmental Pollution

Radiation Protection Act (MOH) Factories Act Factories (Asbestos) Regulations Environmental Pollution Control Act (ENV) Factories Act

Guidelines on the removal of asbestos materials in buildings Guidelines on the handling of asbestos materials Code of Practice on work in confined spaces

Fire Safety Act (MHA) Environmental Pollution Control Act (ENV)

Table 6. Specific Measures and Relevant Standards Preventive and protective measures Identification of hazards Assessment of risk and levels of exposure

Legislation

Control of hazards

Factories Act Radiation Protection Act Infectious Disease Act Factories Act Environmental Pollution Control Act (ENV) Factories (Permissible Exposure Levels of Toxic Substances) Notification Factories (Noise) Regulations Factories Act Factories (Noise) Regulations Factories Act

Prohibition or limitation of use Specification of exposure limits Monitoring of work environment Replacement of hazardous chemicals and processes Notification of hazardous work Labelling of hazardous chemicals and provision of material safety data sheets

Factories Act (link) Factories Act

Factories Act Factories (Asbestos) Regulations Factories Act

Codes of practice / Guidelines Guidelines on risk assessment for occupational exposure to harmful chemicals Guidelines on prevention and control of chemical hazards

Code of Practice on manual handling

Code of Practice on the Preparation and Use of Material Safety Data Sheets

Adequate welfare facilities Factories Act Working time arrangements, Employment Act leave, medical leave

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Medical examinations

Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations

First Aid

Factories (First Aid) Regulations

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Factories Act

Notification of accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences Safe work procedures Safety Management System

Factories Act Workmen’s Compensation Act

Safety Personnel and committees Safety Training and Education Imposition of penalties Power to prohibit work Workmen’s compensation

Guidelines for Designated Factory Doctors Guide to First Aid Facilities in Factories Code of Practice on: respiratory protective devices hearing protective devices safety glasses safety boots gloves and mittens industrial overalls

Factories Act Factories Act Factories (Safety Management System) Order Factories Act Factories (Safety Officers) Order Factories (Safety Committees) Regulations Factories Act Factories (Safety Training Courses) Order Factories Act Factories Act Workmen’s Compensation Act

Note: Items selected from Survey on ILO Standards-Related Activities in the Area of OSH in 2002

OSH Resources OSH Professionals Under the Factories Act, certain categories of factories must employ the services of specific groups of OSH professionals. All factories employing 50 or more workers must set up safety committees. Factories with 25 or more workers must have trained first aiders. Factories where workers are exposed to specific health hazards, such as noise and certain chemicals, must arrange for medical examinations by Designated Factory Doctors. There are also requirements for Registered Safety Officers. Under the Fire Safety Act, fire safety managers must be appointed in high risk installations (eg oil refineries, wafer fabrication, petrochemical and pharmaceutical plants) as well as industrial and commercial establishments with more than 5000 square meters of space.

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Table 7. Occupational Health and Safety Personnel Number involved (including those working part-time)

Number/ 1000 employed

Professional group

Year

Occupational health physicians

2002

95

2.3

Occupational health nurses

2002

25

0.6

Registered Safety Officers

2002

100

2.4

Occupational hygienists

2002

15

0.4

Labour safety inspectors

2002

20

0.5

Source / Comments

MOM. These are Designated Factory Doctors (with approved training certificates, diploma or Masters in Occupational Medicine) who have conducted statutory medical examinations for this industry. Singapore Society of Occupational Health Nurses. There is no statutory requirement for employment of OHN. MOM. Under the Factories (Safety Officers) Order, factories processing petroleum or petroleum products must employ a full-time safety officer (SO). Other factories in the chemical industry must have a part-time SO if employing more than 100 workers and a full-time SO if employing more than 500 workers. Industry estimate. There is no statutory requirement for employment of an industrial hygienist. MOM. Personnel responsible for ensuring OSH standards in the chemical industry: 16 safety and health inspectors, safety engineers 3 industrial hygiene engineers and one doctor from the Occupational Safety and Health Division.

*Denominator taken from table 2

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OSH Training Since June 2001, under the Factories (Safety Training Courses) Order, it is compulsory for workers or supervisors (including contractors) who carry out work in a factory of the oil and petrochemical industry (SSIC: 232 and 241) to undergo the Oil and Petrochemical Safety Orientation Course for Workers, and the Oil and Petrochemical Industry Supervisors Safety Course, respectively. In 2002, a total of 1,300 supervisors and 8,191 workers were trained under the above courses. Safety Management Systems Under the Factories (Safety Management System) Order introduced in 2001, factories processing or manufacturing petroleum, petroleum products, petrochemicals or petrochemical products (SSIC: 232 and 241) are required to implement a safety management system and have it audited regularly. There are about 50 such factories currently implementing this system. Other chemical factories may have other forms of SMS on a voluntary basis.

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WORK ENVIRONMENT Exposure levels of workplace hazards provide a good indicator of the conditions in the work environment. In Singapore, workplaces with specific hazards have to conduct regular industrial hygiene monitoring of exposed workers. Factories with 10 or more workers exposed to excessive noise are required to monitor the noise levels at least once every three years. Regular workplace monitoring by a competent person is required if there is exposure to toxic substances. Factory occupiers or employers must ensure that employees are not exposed to toxic substances above the Permissible Exposure Levels (PEL). Companies with chemical exposures exceeding 10% PEL are required to monitor the chemical exposure levels at least annually. The Ministry of Manpower’s Occupational Safety &Health Division conducts assessments of workplaces with significant noise or chemical hazards. Industrial hygiene data from the department’s surveillance of such high risk workplaces, as well as from factories with inplant industrial hygiene monitoring, is maintained in a National Database for Noise and Chemical Exposure. The profiles in this sectoral report are based on the industrial hygiene monitoring results in these high risk workplaces. Compared to all industries, the chemical industry has relatively higher chemical exposure levels but lower noise exposure. The main activities in the chemical industry with excessive chemical exposure are paper lamination and manufacturing of plastic materials, paints, petrochemicals and other compounds, while excessive noise levels are found mainly in plastic injection moulding and manufacturing of pigments, plastic materials and products. . .

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Chemical Exposure in High Risk Workplaces* (2003) All Industries (780)

Chemical Industry (324)

Mfg of Coke & Refined Petroleum Products (10) Mfg of Chemicals & Chemical Products (283) Mfg of Rubber & Plastic Products (31) 0% < 10% PEL

20%

40% 60% 80% % High Risk Workplaces

10% PEL - 50% PEL

> 50% PEL - < PEL

100% ≥ PEL

* The figures are based on the highest exposure level of the latest assessment Figures in brackets indicate the total number of high risk workplaces monitored.

Noise Exposure in High Risk Workplaces* (2003) All Industries (293)

Chemical Industry (60)

Mfg of Coke & Refined Petroleum Products (4) Mfg of Chemicals & Chemical Products (35) Mfg of Rubber & Plastic Products (21)

0% < 85 dBA

20%

40% 60% 80% % High Risk Workplaces

≥ 85 dBA - < 90 dBA

≥ 90 dBA - < 95 dBA

100% ≥ 95 dBA

* Noise levels averaged over a 3-year period, e.g. for 2003, the noise level is averaged over 2001, 2002 and 2003. Based on results of noise monitoring conducted every 3 years as required under the Factories (Noise) Regulations. * The figures are based on the highest exposure level of the latest assessment. Figures in brackets indicate the total number of high risk workplaces monitored.

Source: Ministry of Manpower

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Some Typical Chemicals Monitored (2000-2003): *: Chemicals underlined had one or more exposure levels found to exceed PEL. SSIC / Description 23: Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel

24: Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

Chemicals Monitored* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Benzene Ethylene glycol Gasoline Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) Methyl-tert butyl ether Naphtha Toluene Xylene 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 1,3-Butadiene 2-Butoxyethanol 2-Ethoxyethanol 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate Acetone Antimony trioxide Butyl cellosolve Benzene Carbon black Chromium, insoluble Cr VI compounds Chromium, metal and Cr III compounds Copper, fume Divinyl benzene Ethyl acetate Ethyl benzene Isobutyl alcohol Isophorone Isopropyl alcohol Lead, inorganic dusts and fumes Methyl ethyl ketone Methyl isobutyl ketone Methyl methacrylate Methylene chloride Nuisance particulates Perchloroethylene Phenol Polymer dust Silica – amorphous, silica, fume, respirable dust Silica – amorphous, silica, fused, respirable dust Silica – crystalline, cristobalite, respirable dust Silica – crystalline, quartz, respirable dust Styrene, monomer Titanium dioxide Toluene Trichloroethylene Vinyl acetate Vinyl toluene Xylene n-Butanol n-Butyl acetate n-Butyl acrylate

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25: Manufacture of rubber and plastic products

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1,1,1-Trichloroethane Acetone Benzene Cobalt, elemental and inorganic compounds Cyclohexanone Ethyl acetate Formaldehyde n-Hexane Isophorone Isopropyl alcohol Lead, inorganic dusts and fumes Manganese, dust and compounds Methanol Methyl ethyl ketone Methylene chloride Perchloroethylene Phosphorus Toluene Trichloroethylene Turpentine Xylene

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WORKFORCE SAFETY & HEALTH Accident Statistics The accident frequency rate in the chemical industry as a whole is relatively lower compared to all industries in Singapore. Within the chemical industry, factories in SSIC 24 have the highest accident frequency rates while those in SSIC 23 experience the lowest rates. The sharp increase in accident severity rate in year 2000 in SSIC 23 was due to an accident involving three deaths, each contributing to 60,00 man-days lost. Accident Frequency Rates1 Accident Frequency Rate by Industry 3

Frequency rate

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year Mfg of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel Mfg of Chemicals and Chemical Products Mfg of Rubber and Plastic Products Chemical Industry All Industries

Source: Ministry of Manpower 1

Accident Frequency Rate is defined as the number of industrial accidents per million man-hours worked. Industrial Accident is one which results in the death or the disablement of any worker which prevents him from working for more than 3 days, or one which causes injury to a worker requiring the injured to be hospitalised for more than 24 hours for observation or treatment.

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Accident Severity Rates1 Accident Severity Rate by SSIC 2500

Severity rate

2000 1500 1000 500 0 1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year Mfg of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel Mfg of Chemicals and Chemical Products Mfg of Rubber and Plastic Products Chemical Industry All Industries

Source: Ministry of Manpower 1

Accident severity rate is defined as the number of industrial man-days lost per million man-hours worked

Note: The increase in accident severity rate in year 2000 is due to an accident involving 3 fatalities, each contributing to 6000 man-days lost.

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Industrial Accidents by Degree of Incapacity1 Industrial Accidents by Degree of Incapacity (2003)

All Industries

Type of Activity

Chemical Industry

Mfg of Rubber and Plastic Products Mfg of Chemicals and Chemical Products Mfg of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

No. of Accidents Temporary disablement cases

Permanent disablement cases

Fatal cases

Source: Ministry of Manpower 1

The degree of incapacity of an industrial accident is defined as: • Fatal if it results in death; • Permanent disablement if it leads to inability to undertake any type of work or results in a reduction of earning capacity in every job the worker was able to undertake before the accident; • Temporary disablement if it incapacitates the worker from performing normal duties temporarily.

Medical monitoring Under the Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations, workers in occupations involving exposure to 19 prescribed hazards undergo compulsory medical examinations conducted by Designated Factory Doctors. The medical surveillance programme aims to detect excessive occupational exposure to specific health hazards so as to prevent overt disease. It is an important part of Singapore’s integrated surveillance strategy which involves evaluating and monitoring potential health risks, active identification of high-risk factories, biological monitoring of workers’ exposure and implementation of measures to control exposure to hazardous substances. In 2003, over 9,000 workers from more than 200 companies in the chemical industry were monitored. In terms of new work-related abnormal medical results, the overall rate has decreased in recent years, in tandem with improvements in the work environment. The majority of abnormal results were due to exposure to excessive noise. Companies in SSIC 25 had a higher percentage of workers with biological monitoring results exceeding 80% of the biological threshold limit value (BTLV). This was mainly due to lead exposure in the PVC compounding industry.

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Work-Related Abnormal Medical Results

No. per 1,000 workers examined

18.0

17.0

16.0 14.0 12.0 10.0 6.9

8.0

6.0 4.4

6.0

5.7

4.0 2.0 0.0 1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year

Results of Medical Monitoring for Noise Exposure (2003) All Industries (64,169)

Type of Industry

Chemical Industry (6,845) Mfg of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel (1,264) Mfg of Chemicals and Chemical Products (3,855) Mfg of Rubber and Plastic Products (1,726)

0%

20%

Normal results Abnormal results - Work-related

40%

60%

80%

100%

Abnormal results - Non work-related

Note: Figures in brackets indicate the total number of workers examined.

Source: Ministry of Manpower

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Results of Biological Monitoring for Chemical Exposure (2003)

All Industries (5,737)

Industry

Chemical Industry (2,085) Mfg of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products and Nuclear Fuel (668) Mfg of Chemicals and Chemical Products (1,353) Mfg of Rubber and Plastic Products (64)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

% of workers examined < 20%BTLV

20-80% BTLV

> 80%BTLV

Note: Excludes medical examinations where biological monitoring is not applicable, viz., chest xray, lung function and skin examinations for asbestos, silica, raw cotton, tar, pitch and bitumen exposure. Figures in brackets indicate the total number of workers examined.

Source: Ministry of Manpower

Occupational Disease Statistics The incidence of occupational disease is higher in the chemical industry relative to all industries. In 2003, the industry contributed to 7.7% of all occupational disease cases, with noise induced deafness being the most common disease. Within the chemical industry, factories in SSIC 24 and 25 have a higher occupational disease incidence, although in 2003, the incidence in refined petroleum products manufacturing (SSIC 23) increased as a result of 15 noise induced deafness cases detected in one company submitting medical examination results for the first time.

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Rate per 10,000 employed persons

Occupational Disease (OD) Incidence Rate 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year SSIC 23

SSIC 24

SSIC 25

Chemical Sector

All Sectors

Note: a) The source of the data on employed persons is Labour Force Survey (Ministry of Manpower), except for year 2000 where it is obtained from the Census of Population 2000 (Singapore Department of Statistics) b) The Factories Act requires factory occupiers and medical doctors to notify the Ministry of Manpower persons suspected to be suffering from any of the 31 notifiable diseases.

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Table 8. Occupational Disease1 (OD) Cases by SSIC (2003) and OD incidence rate (per 10,000 employed persons) Confirmed Disease

SSIC 23 SSIC 24 SSIC 25

Chemical All industry Sectors

Noise Induced Deafness a) Early b) Compensable Industrial Dermatitis Occupational Asthma Comrpessed Air Illness/Barotrauma

15 15 0 0 0 0

9 9 0 0 0 0

4 4 0 1 0 0

28 28 0 1 0 0

300 294 6 67 0 16

Poisoning/Excessive Absorption of Chemicals

0

4

4

8

20

a) Excessive Absorption of Chemicals

0

4

4

8

20

b) Chemical Poisoning Gassing Silicosis Asbestosis Repetitive Strain Disorder of the Upper Limb

0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0

0 1 1 0 10

0 15 (22)

0 14 (5.9)

0 9 (5.9)

0 38 (8.3)

81 496 (2.4)

Others All diseases Source: Ministry of Manpower

Figures in parenthesis refer to the OD incidence rate. 1 A confirmed case of occupational disease is one where there is definite evidence that the worker suffers from a disease which is related to his occupation.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Contributors This profile was prepared by the following staff members of the Occupational Safety & & Health Division, Ministry of Manpower: Dr Ho Sweet Far Deputy Director (Medical)

Mr Tan Kia Tang Deputy Director (Hygiene)

Dr Lee Hock Siang Specialist Medical Advisor

Ms Jaime Lim Industrial Hygiene Engineer

Mr George Na Kee Loong Manager

Ms Angela Wu Manager

We deeply appreciate the invaluable input and comments of the following agencies and individuals that have made this compilation possible: Ministry of Manpower ….. Mr Tan Yih Bin Mr Woon Jing Shing Mrs Choy-Tan Yuen Lee Manpower Research & Statistics Department Mr Go Heng Huat Mrs Lim-Foo Soon Hwa Mr Laurence Chew Mr Ang Tick Bing Mr Salleh Waren Occupational Safety and Health Division

Other Agencies ….. Ms Nah Seok Ling Economic Development Board Ms Christine Wee Ms Melissa Goh Singapore Society of Occupational Health Nurses

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