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Framework for Safety & Health Risk Management in
DSO
OSH Seminar For Healthcare & Laboratory Workers
Wendell Harms
Chief Occupational Safety & Health OfficerDSO National Laboratories
Roadmap
• What does DSO do?• Unique challenges• Our programs for risk management• Lessons from our experience
DSO - Who we are
• S’pore’s foremost defence R&D organisation• Defence capabilities extended to support other
national agencies– eg, homeland security
• R&D competencies divided into 5 core areas:– Guided Systems– Electronic Systems– Information– Sensors– Defence Medical & Environmental Research
Research Areas & Associated Hazards
Guided Systems• Autonomous unmanned systems• Aerodynamics, flight control, navigation, guidanceElectronics Systems• Radiofrequency, microelectronics, antenna design,
electromagnetics, lasersSensors• Radar, acoustics, electro-optics, underwater sensorsDefence Medical & Environmental Research• Chemical & biological warfare agents, combat care,
human effectiveness, bioengineering
Staff Profile
Technical Support Staff
17%
Research Engineers &
Scientists70%
Corporate Staff13%
(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)
Technical Support Staff
17%
Research Engineers &
Scientists70%
Corporate Staff13%
(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)
Masters34%
PhD12%
Degree54%
(Close to 900 (Close to 900 RSEsRSEs))
Masters34%
PhD12%
Degree54%
(Close to 900 (Close to 900 RSEsRSEs))
Staff Profile
Unique Challenges
• Diverse research areas à diverse list of hazards, some in “specialised” areas
• Chartering new research territories à unknown hazards
• Project based research à changing hazard profile
• External field trials à less controlled conditions• High level of securityà hazard/risk appreciation
DSO Safety Organisation
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Program Directors /
Centre Head
Lab Head / Program Manager (LH/PM)
Project Mgr / PI
Staff
Specialist Safety SubComm(Electromagnetic Radiation)
Specialist Safety SubComm(Chemical-Biological-Radiological)
Specialist Safety SubComm(Explosives/Guided Systems Platforms)
Chief Occupational
Safety & Health Officer
(COSHO)
DSO Workplace Safety Committee (WSC)
Workplace Safety
Officers
DSO Occupational Health Panel
DivisionDirectors
Risk Management
Risk Identification
Risk Assessment
Risk Control
Risk Assessment for Specialised Areas
Specialist Safety SubCommittees• Review safety of trials/experiments with
significant risk• Develop & review Safety Regulations in
specialised areas– Microwave, Lasers, Human Pathogens, etc
Risk Assessment for Specialised Areas
Lab Head/PrgmMgr
Approve Safety
SSSCAssess SafetyC(moderate
injury)
DirectorApprove Safety
SSSCAssess SafetyB(serious injury)
CEOApprove Safety
SSSCAssess SafetyA(fatality)
Trial/Expt SafetySafety StepRisk Cat
Risk Management for General Workplace Safety
Safety Regulations– Pressurised Systems, Mechanical Handling,
Chemicals, Noise, etc– Approved by Workplace Safety Committee
Risk Assessment with COSHO endorsement– required for certain areas which need specific advice– Hazardous chemicals, pressurised systems, mobile
crane lifting
Chemical Risk Assessment
• Stipulated in Chemicals Safety Regulations
• Users to submit Hazardous Chemical Declaration Form for review by COSHO
• Qualitative Risk assessment performed, additional safety advice issued
• Approval by line mgt consistent with risk level
Chemical Risk Assessment
• Where necessary, exposure monitoring conducted
• Helps to identify medical surveillance requirements (more later)
• Considers emergency preparedness as well
Hazard ID Program
Safety & Health inspection program• Scheduled, periodic inspections of labs &
other work areas• Risk based approach for frequency
– High risk – 4 mth– Medium risk – 6 mths– Low risk – 1 yr
Annual Hazard Declaration• Lab Heads to declare hazardous
activities/equipment to COSHO• Serves as “hazard inventory”• Kept up-to-date by annual declaration• Accountability by line management
Hazard ID Program
Occupational Health Program
Occupational Health Panel• Comprise WSC Chairman, COSHO,
Occupational Health Advisor & HRD• Regular review of medical surveillance
results & requirements, & work-related cases
• Regular surveillance visits of lab facilities
Lessons from our experience
• Risk Assessment need not always conform to typical Job Hazard Analysis format– can be built into safety mgt framework, eg,
Regulations, inspection program, safety committees
• According responsibility for safety approval to line management is crucial –ownership & accountability
• Success of Risk Assessment program is highly dependent on line function’scompliance & involvement
Lessons from our experience
Thank you!Thank you!