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Issue 33 (April 2015)
SPOTLIGHT
MORE INJURIES, FEWER DEATHS ATWORKPLACES IN 2014
In 2014, Singapore's workplace fatalities dropped to 60deaths or 1.8 deaths per 100,000 employed workers,the lowest fatality rate since 2006. However, non-fatalworkplace injuries have risen by 9.3%, with Slips, Tripand Falls being the top incident type.
Find out more in the full Workplace Safety and HealthReport 2014:
Read the report here
Recommended reading from theWSH Institute Collection* at thepublic libraries 70 e-Books are available for loan
Check it out here.
Recommended Reading
.
TITLE:
View infographics
Pre-Accident Investigations: An Introductionto Organizational Safety
AUTHOR:Todd Conklin AREA OF INTEREST:Industrial Safety
For more information, please click here.
* The WSH Institute Collection is a compilation of WSH-related resources that is madeaccessible to the public through WSH Institute's collaboration with the National LibraryBoard (NLB).
1 A Total Workplace Safety and HealthService - What Are the Implications for theEmployees and Employers?
Date of publication: September 2014
Author: Chia, S.E., Chia, A., & Sng, J.
Source: Annals Academy of Medicine
Given Singapore’s aging population and increasing retirement age, there is an increasingneed for a total workplace safety and health (TWSH) service, with more focus on how healthcan affect work and vice versa. In particular, the prevalence of chronic disease is rising andits age of onset is becoming earlier, while the nature of work is becoming less physical. ATWSH programme implemented at the workplace allows better control of the disease andcan be seen as a proactive way of managing business risks from employee ill health. A localstudy in a multinational company demonstrated a savings of 1924 man-days per year after achronic disease programme was in place. Besides making a business case for health, theauthor also examined the challenges of implementation, such as a need for healthcareproviders who understand the interaction between work and health.
To read more, click here.
2 Shift work and diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of observational studies
Date of publication: November 2014
Author: Gan, Y., Yang, C., Tong, X., et al
Source: Occupational & Environmental Medicine
This meta-analysis indicated that shift work was associated with an increased risk fordeveloping diabetes mellitus (DM), especially in men and those on rotating shifts. Men had a37 percent increased risk of DM compared to 9% for women, while workers on rotating shift
had a 42% increased risk. The authors had looked at data from 12 international studieswhich included 226 652 participants and 14 595 patients with DM. It was also found that allshift work schedules, except mixed shifts and evening shifts, were associated with asignificantly higher risk of DM compared to persons with normal daytime schedules. Giventhe increasing prevalence of shift work worldwide and the heavy economic burden of DM, thefindings could provide practical and valuable clues for the prevention of DM.
To read more, click here.
3 Practical guide to leading indicators:Metrics, case studies and strategies
Date of publication: 2015
Author: Inouye, J.
Source: Campbell Institute
This review described the second phase of the research project conducted by CampbellInstitute, which aims to collect a list of leading indicators, their definitions and specific metricsfor each indicator. In order to develop a robust full matrix, the Institute conducted a series ofworkgroup discussions for each of the 3 categories (ie. operations-based, system-based andbehaviour-based”). Qualitative phone interviews were also conducted with more than 38organisations. Additionally, this article included case studies by various organisations whichdemonstrate how a particular leading indicator had produced positive outcomes in the area ofoccupational safety and health for their company. For instance, the director of CorporateHealth and Safety at Cummins shared that a leading indicator program could start small andyet have significant positive results – there was no such thing as a “perfect mix” of leadingindicators.
To read more, click here.
4 Adding inequality to injury: The costs offailing to protect workers on the job
Date of publication: 2015
Source: Occupational Safety & Health Administration
It was estimated that the total cost of work injuries and illnesses in 2007 in the United Stateswas US$250 billion. The report further highlighted that failure on the part of the employers toprevent workplace injuries and illnesses, coupled with inadequate injury compensation to theworkers, gave rise to inequality. 50% of the cost of work injuries was borne by injuredworkers and their families. Employers only bore about 20% of the financial cost through workinjury compensation, leaving the injured workers, their families, and the society to deal with alarge part of the cost, such as long term lost income and medical care costs as a result of thework injury or illness. The inequality was further compounded by findings that fewer than40% of workers applied for workers’ compensation benefits. The report also noted that thechanging structure of work with increased sub-contracting, misclassification of employees asindependent contractors and widespread use of temporary employees would create greaterchallenges to worker safety and health. The most effective solution was to place greaterefforts on injury and illness prevention.
To read more, click here.
Other Useful Resources
• Economic Cost of Work-related Injuries and Ill-health in Singapore (Workplace Safety and Health Institute) • Guide to Total Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Council)
• Guidance on the protection of the health and safety workers from the potential risks related to nanomaterials atwork (European Commission)
• Exposure to multiple hazards among Australian workers (Safe Work Australia) • A recipe for safety: Health and safety in food and drink manufacture (Health and Safety Executive)
• Effects of selected eyewear on the noise insertion loss of selected earmuffs (The Center for ConstructionResearch and Training)
• Bloodborne viruses and workplace injury risk (Nursing Times) • Calculating the cost of work-related stress and psychosocial risks (European Agency for Safety and Health at
Work)
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The Observatory for WSH Landscape (OWL) is a function of Workplace Safety and Health Institute. OWL aims toobserve, analyse and communicate changes in the workforce, workplace and working life to researchers, policymakers and industries in Singapore and Asia.
