11 Nov 2017

A Glimpse to the Revision of WSH

Guidelines for Landscape and Horticulture

Works

By Mr Goh Eng Lam,

Chairman of Landscape Guidelines

Workgroup and Immediate Past

Chairman of Landscape Industry

Association of Singapore (LIAS)

An industry led WG was formed by the Construction & Landscape Sub-

Committee to review the current Guidelines to ensure that the contents

stay relevant and up-to-date

• on going

1st issue: 2008 1st revision: 2012

Development of the WSH Guidelines on

Landscape & Horticulture Work

Industry is encouraged to provide feedback to WSHC via

email at : contact@wshc.gov.sg

The WG Composition

Capacity Rep Organisation

Chairman Goh Eng Lam Landscape Industry Association Singapore

(LIAS)

Members

Ms Cynthia Lee Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council

John Tan Institute of Engineers Singapore

Lee Ming Kwang Land Transport Authority

Lee Guek HoonMinistry of Manpower

Dr Joshua Wong

Joseph ChuaNParks

Abdul Hamid

Rick Thomas

Boo Ghim YewSingapore Arboriculture Society (SAS)

Han Kin Sew WSH Council

Focus areas for review

Risk Management (RM2)

- enhancement to section 2 : Risk Assessment

Operations of MEWP, Crane & Excavators

- enhancement to section 3.2 to 3.4

Tree transplanting - lifting, rigging, securing and transporting using

trailer / lorry crane

- enhancement to section 3.6

Management of OH hazards (e.g Noise, Heat stress, Hazardous

Chemicals, Ergonomics etc)

- enhancement to section 8 & 9

Contact with Poisonous / Venomous / Stinging / Biting Animals

– enhancement to section 9.1

Confined Spaces hazards (New)

Focus areas – RM 2.0

ISSUES RM 2.0

RM is a “paper

exercise”

Effective on-site RM implementation

Over-reliance

on procedures

& PPE

Driving risk controls upstream

RM does not

consider

human factors

Consideration for health hazards &

human factors

Outcome: Work gets done in a safe manner

• Monitor and review effectiveness of risk control

- Seek feedback from users on adequacy and

effectiveness of risk controls

• Risk management initiatives communicated to all

stakeholders

• RA documents should be accessible to all stakeholders,

including workers

Effective On-Site RM Implementation

Focus areas- Operations of MEWPs, Cranes and Excavators

- enhancement to section 3.2 to 3.4

Truck mounted MEWP

must be stably positioned

to avoid hazards such as

toppling

- outrigger fully out.

- cordon off area follow

LTA’s requirements.

Lorry crane

(More will be shared by

the last speaker from

MOM later on Safe Use of

Lorry Cranes / Loaders)

Excavator

- not designed primarily

for lifting purposes

- If it was to be used as a

lifting machine, some

conditions must be met

Focus areas – Tree transplanting

Questions to address include :

• Estimation of tree weight

• Capacity of lifting equipment, lifting gear

• Width of transported tree

• Length of transported tree

• Height of transported tree

• Tree load on trailer and Capacity of trailer

The focus areas of review- Lifting, rigging, securing and transporting of trees using lorry crane /

trailer

Proposal by WG:

Lifting Plan should be developed with following

consideration:

• Estimate loads with FoS (Factor of Safety)

• Type of equipment, machine & gear with the

correct capacity

• Transportation guide adhere to LTA CoP

The focus areas - Management of OH hazards (e.g Noise, Heat stress, Hazardous

Chemicals, Ergonomics etc)

• there were concerns raised by MOM OH/OM branch

on related OH hazards for workers in the landscape

sector.

• Audit were conducted and the findings were shared at

a landscape forum in 2014.

• Section 8 & 9 will be enhanced based on the audit

findings.

The focus areas- Management of OH hazards (e.g Noise, Heat stress, Hazardous

Chemicals, Ergonomics etc)

9.5 Noise

• The work activities for landscaping can be noisy.

• Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can lead to noise-induced

deafness.

• The following table shows the typical noise levels of work activities

measured using a sound level meter.

• To understand the actual noise levels that workers are exposed to, noise

monitoring of the full work process should be conducted by a competent

person using suitably calibrated equipment.

New

Insert

The focus areas - Management of OH hazards (e.g Noise, Heat stress, Hazardous

Chemicals, Ergonomics etc)

Activity Noise Level

(dBA)

Exposure limits per day (mins)

Tree pruning 91 – 107 3 – 120

Shrub trimming ~ 92 95

Leaf/grass

clippings blowing

86 – 90 150 – 380

Grass cutting 85 – 90 150 – 480

Lawn mowing ~ 86 380

N.B. For noise levels that are above 100 dBA, workers should be provided with both

ear plugs and ear muffs, as stipulated in Singapore Standards SS 549 : 2009 Code

of practice for selection, use, care and maintenance of hearing protectors

The focus areas- Management of OH hazards (e.g Noise, Heat stress, Hazardous

Chemicals, Ergonomics etc)

Correct way of wearing disposable ear plugs

Other new addition include:

Contact with Poisonous /

Venomous / Stinging / Biting

Animals etc :

Giant honeybees may act like a

collective lung to beat the heat

Encountering red ants are a common

work hazard

Confined spaces hazards and control

measures

Tank

Manholes

Silo

No job is so important that it cannot be done

safely!

Concluding Remarks

Let’s build a sustainable

SAFE WORK CULTURE!

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE PERSONS

WORKING ON THIS SITE TO PUT THEMSELVES AND

OTHERS IN DANGER!

Go to http://wshc.sg for these resources

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Email: contact@wshc.gov.sg

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