The marine sector took several important steps towards improving safety standards with the release of the WSH 2018 for Marine Sector draft plan for public consultation as well as the signing of a Pledge for Zero Charter by 27 CEOs of various shipyards.

According to the plan, which identifies programmes and initiatives to
tackle safety challenges specific to the sector, the marine sector has
committed to halving the current industry fatality rate of 9.2
fatalities per 100,000 employees to 4.6 by 2013, and further reducing
this to 1.8 by 2018.

The industry has also committed to reducing workplace injury to less
than 200 injuries per 100,000 employees by 2013 and then down to less
than 100 injuries by 2018.

The commitment of management towards promoting workplace safety and
health (WSH) was highlighted by Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, who was
the guest of honour at the Marine CEO Summit organised by the Workplace
Safety and Health Council yesterday.

‘The commitment of stakeholders is a critical ingredient to improving
WSH performance and outcomes,’ said Mr Gan. Over 200 management
representatives from the marine industry were represented at the event.

‘Commitment to raise the bar on safety is also strong among the industry CEOs,’ he added.

At yesterday’s event, 27 CEOs led by Singapore’s two major marine
groups Keppel Offshore and Marine and Sembcorp Marine signed the pledge
to achieve a zero-injury workplace. Apart from the two groups which
bring eight companies onboard, others such as Drydocks World-SEA and ST
Marine also signed on to the charter, which will assure a safer
workplace for over 20,000 workers.

The final initiative is the Marine Industries Safety Engagement Team,
or MIndSET, led by the Association of Singapore Marine Industries
(Asmi), which brings together participating shipyards to share best
practices. The pilot programme is set to kick off in the first quarter
of 2010, involving 14 shipyards and six companies.

‘What we want to look at is a quantum leap in terms of the performance as an industry,’ said Asmi president Wong Weng Sun.

The team will conduct site walkthroughs for fellow participants, to
provide each other with an objective third-party review of areas for
improvement. They are aiming for at least three site visits per
quarter, said Asmi’s safety committee chairman Abu Bakar Mohd Nor. The
insights gained will be shared with the industry as a whole so that
contractors will be able to learn from them as well.

Asmi is also planning to set up a dedicated marine training centre for
the industry as well as a contractor management system by 2013, if not
sooner, Mr Wong added.

Source: Business Times Singapore

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