NTU Occupational Health & Safety and Environment (HSE) Policy
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in recognizing its corporate responsibility commits to take all reasonably practicable means to provide a safe and healthy environment for all staff, partners, students and visitors.
NTU further commits to strive for progress with consideration to environmental sustainability.
Objectives
Comply with HSE legislations and adopt or formulate relevant HSE procedures;
Establish, implement, audit and maintain a HSE management system;
Communicate requirements to staff, students, partners and visitors;
Identify and manage workplace and environmental risks proactively (risk management) and mitigate HSE risks;
Measure and evaluate HSE performance regularly - continual improvements and benchmark;
Provide appropriate HSE training, information and supervision;
Report and investigate promptly ALL incidents and accidents to determine the root cause(s) and take appropriate actions to prevent recurrence;
Improve and continually review infrastructural facilities and research projects to address HSE risks;
Inculcate the sense of shared stewardship of HSE matters among faculty, staff and students; and
Provide appropriate resources to achieve these objectives.
Accountability
Delegation of Work vs Duties and Responsibilities
SAFETY STEWARDSHIP AND LINE OF PROSECUTION
Establish SMS Offer Advise Monitor Effectiveness
Body Corporate
Officer/Occupier
“OHS Safety”
HSE Steering Committee
“Safety Officer” + Safety Rep
School Safety Committee
Employer
Supervisor/PI
Worker/Student
Safety Sub Committees
General Legal Requirements (Singapore)
Deans and Chairs
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Employment Act Work Injury Compensation Act Workplace Safety & Health Act Fire Safety Act Prohibition of Smoking (In Certain Places) Act
Every person must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety and health: • •
At every workplace Of every worker (including students & visitors)
Strong Singapore Legal WSH Framework
Similar to UK and Australia but with enhanced penalties. Not Prescriptive as EPA or OSHA in US.
Workplace Acts & Regulations
WSHA Part IV Clause 12 Para 1 Duty of Employer: It is the duty of every employer to take, so far as is reasonably practicable, such measures as are necessary to ensure the safety and health of his employees at work. Students in lab work or assignment under instruction = employees without pay or persons under training.
Duty of Care
As Dean and Chair
Employers and Principals are required to undertake:
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Providing and maintaining a safe work environment
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Ensuring adequate safety measures are taken at work
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Ensuring persons are not exposed to hazards arising from the areas under the employer’s control
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Developing and implementing emergency procedures
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Providing adequate instructions, information, training and supervision to employees
Facts:
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Accidents do happen in Universities.
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Depending on situations, people can be severely injured or die.
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If this happens here we can be held liable if we do not have a strong management system.
Our great threat
Money
Down Time Investigation
Legal Aspect
Prosecution under Legal Framework
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Multiple persons for the single offence
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Single person for multiple offences
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Single person for multiple Acts and Regulations
Torts - Duty of Care
In Essence
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Have a Safety Committee (>25) and a Safety Officer or Safety Representative
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Know the Risk Profile of your school/department - Do Risk Management
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Ensure Emergency procedures are in place - OFA, FW, FC, Spill Team, AED
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Provide training - encourage to attend
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Incident Reporting
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Outreach program
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Review your safety program, ever so often, in your management meeting
