Thinking Of Becoming A Safety Officer? Here’s How

What Do You Need To Expect From A Safety Management Course?

 

Have you ever enrolled in an WSH (Workplace Safety & Health) course? If not, you may be feeling a little worried or unsure of what you’re in for. 

WSH, or Workplace Safety and Health Act of Singapore, is designed to keep employees safe in their work environment and protect employers from being sued for work-related injuries.

In general it covers the safety, health and welfare of the people who are working at a workplace. 

It is a requirement for employers to be responsible for the safety of their employees and take practical measures for the overall welfare of the workplace.

There are many classes and courses that are offered for specific positions, usually in the construction field, that must be completed to be approved by the safety guidelines and meet the requirements for risky, dangerous jobs. 

At times, failure to complete these courses could violate WSH regulations.

WSH requires that many job positions, such as riggers or signal persons, be held by someone who has completed a safety course, been tested on the requirements, and passes with a qualification to hold the dangerous job.

Generally, the main guiding principle for all courses related to safety management and training is to focus on good safety habits and specific related training to cultivate good safety habits at the workplace. 

 

 

What Does The Safety Course Cover?

 

While training modules may vary depending on the specific course, the three key elements that the courses cover are:

 

• Effectively Identify Hazards

The Safety Management Course considers various causes of hazard that could potentially cause harm including mechanical, physical, chemical, environmental, biological and organisational hazards.

The course should look at hazards from a specific industry perspective including location, activity, substance and equipment.

 

• Identifying & Assessing Risks

The Safety Management Course guides learners through the risk assessment process and uses a simple scoring system to use during assessments.

Both also seek to underline that even simple, repetitive tasks can result in serious risks.

 

• Improving health and safety performance

Looking at systems and processes, this topic looks into a wide range of workplace safety issues including inspections, permits, protective equipment, signage and emergency procedures to demonstrate how checking performance across these aspects can help reduce risk. 

 

 

Responsibilities Of A Safety Supervisor

 

A safety supervisor inspects workplaces and gives instructions to employees to ensure that people and property are kept safe at all times. 

Many safety supervisors regularly visit facilities where health and safety are a priority. 

This is so they can enforce legal regulations and help identify more effective procedures. 

 

The Three main roles for a Safety Supervisor is to:

 

• Effectively spot WSH hazards, assess and control potential risks in the construction industry in accordance with the risk management process.

• Conduct WSH inspections in accordance with organisational inspection procedures.

• Carry out incident investigation and prepare a report in accordance with legal requirements and other organisational requirements.

 

Safety Supervisor Course

 

Upon completion of the Safety Supervisor Course you will be accredited as a workplace safety supervisor.

As the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Coordinator or Supervisor, you will  be equipped with the necessary practical skills and knowledge to supervise at specific related industries.

 

How To Apply To Be A Registered Workplace Safety And Health Officer?

 

Not everyone who registers to be a workplace safety and health officer will be accepted or approved. You will first have to meet initial requirements. 

 

The main requirements you will need to meet are as follows:

 

To be at least 21years old.

Singaporeans, PRs, Employment Pass holders or S Pass holders.

Work pass holders’ occupation must be one of these:

1. Fire and Safety Officer
2. Health, Safety and Environmental Officer
3. Safety Officer
4. Workplace Safety Health Officer

Have at least one of the prescribed workplace safety and health (WSH)-related qualifications.

Have at least 2 years of relevant work experience related to the work carried out by a workplace, safety and health officer.

You will need to include documentary evidence such as a testimonial from your employer specifying clearly the period of employment where you served in a WSH-related designation.

The following work experience can be considered:

1. 1. Assistant WSHO
   2. WSH Coordinator or Safety Coordinator
   3. HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Manager 
   4. HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Superintendent
   5. HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Executive

How to apply

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Login and register via: “https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/registration-for-wsh-professionals-and-competent-persons”
2. Upload all supporting documents.
3. Pay the $110 fee online. Your application will only be processed upon payment.

If your application is successful, you will receive the outcome by mail and also receive the registration card.

It may take up to 8 weeks, after you submit all required documents before receiving your outcome. Additionally, incomplete information will delay your application.

 

 

Accepted WSH-related qualifications

 

These are acceptable WSH-related qualifications:

1. Specialist Diploma in WSH, awarded by SSG and conducted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, BCA Academy, NTUC Learning Hub and Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO)
2. Master of Science in Safety, Health and Environment Technology, awarded by the National University of Singapore
3. Bachelor of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, awarded by the University of Newcastle (Australia)
4. Bachelor of Science in Human Factors in Safety, awarded by SUSS (Singapore University of Social Sciences)
5. Bachelor of Science (Health, Safety and Environment), awarded by Curtin University of Technology (Singapore campus)
6. Bachelor of Science (Hons) Safety, Health and Environmental Management, awarded by Leeds Beckett University (Singapore campus), from September 2015

 

 

6 Safety Officer Courses Where You May Enrol

 

Ever Safe 

An organisation which offers safety management courses in construction.

Since safety management comes in lots of forms so every specific area focuses upon the ones they are in dire need of.

Ever Safe provides a safety supervisor course in construction and its details along with venue and components can be found on their official website.

 

 

SkillsFuture

Skills Future is another agency which offers safety management courses.

However, it also offers its service in construction. So the safety supervisor course will be adjusted accordingly in the field of construction.

The details of the course along with its components are present on their official website so if you have any problem or query then feel free to contact them.

 

 

BCA Academy

The BCA academy offers multiple courses of safety management. Apart from construction, you can also study about other safety management courses from this academy.

Safety Supervisor courses are also offered in all the fields mentioned on their website. So if with a query then email them or contact them on their website or official email. 

 

 

Avanta Global

The Avanta Global offers safety management in construction as well as marine management or harbour and ship management.

The course for supervisors is also offered in the respective fields of management. For more details, kindly go through their website and see whatever information you require.

 

 

NTUC Learning Hub

This offers a shipyard and supervisors’ safety courses in its respective hub. As already mentioned, a supervisor course is available as well. So you can easily apply to each depending upon your interest.

 

 

KBA 

KBA offers training courses in almost all safety management courses. It has extensive range to select from and is highly popular in Singapore. Their website contains all the vital information if you’re interested.

 

 

Conclusion

Not everyone who is directly or indirectly involved in construction or other jobs that are closely related to the WHS standards will require courses.

Many of the required qualifications are meant for supervisors, team leaders, or site managers. However, if one day you aspire and decide to be one, you may want to ensure that your foundation and basics are good.