Public Consultation on Proposed WSH Asbestos Regulations

Ministry of Manpower - Occupational Safety and Health Division

Consultation Period: 24 Jun 2013 - 21 Jul 2013

Status: Closed

Summary

The Ministry of Manpower is inviting members of the public to give feedback on the proposed WSH (Asbestos) Regulations.

Detailed Description

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER (OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH DIVISION)
 
Public consultation on proposed Workplace Safety and Health (Asbestos) Regulations
 
Consultation Period: 24th June to 21st July 2013
 
AIM
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is inviting members of the public to give feedback on the proposed Workplace Safety and Health (Asbestos) Regulations.
 
BACKGROUND

2.      The WSH (Asbestos) Regulations are meant to replace the Factories (Asbestos) Regulations.  The Factories (Asbestos) Regulations were enacted in 1980 to protect workers from exposure to asbestos in factories which use or manufacture asbestos products.  The regulations require persons undertaking any process involving asbestos in a factory to notify the Chief Inspector of Factories (now Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health) before starting work.  They also specify measures to reduce asbestos exposure.  The Factories (Asbestos) Regulations were last amended in 1989 to require contractors, employers and occupiers to take reasonable steps, which include analysing the materials, to ascertain whether any process in the factory involves asbestos.

3.      MOM’s review of the existing Factories (Asbestos) Regulations found that provisions for addressing exposure to asbestos in asbestos removal work (i.e. demolition, alterations and maintenance work) could be improved.  As the bulk of asbestos-related work now involves the removal of in-place asbestos-containing material (ACM) rather than manufacturing of ACM, it is necessary to amend the existing legislation to protect those carrying out demolition, alterations and maintenance work involving ACM.  The proposed enhanced regulations – i.e. mandatory licensing of asbestos removal contractors and appointment of competent persons, coupled with establishment and implementation of plan of work and specific requirements for asbestos removal work – aim to control exposure to asbestos during removal work, and to prevent asbestos-related diseases.
 
KEY CHANGES
 
Coverage of the proposed Regulations
4.         The WSH (Asbestos) Regulations will apply to all workplaces where work involving asbestos is or is to be carried out.
 
Licensing of asbestos removal contractors
5.         In view of the risks involved, asbestos removal work should be carried out by an approved asbestos removal contractor (AARC).  The AARC has to appoint a competent person who is adequately trained to plan and supervise the asbestos removal work.
 
Plan of work for asbestos removal work
6.         Asbestos removal work is considered to be a high-risk activity that requires thorough planning and risk management prior to starting work.  Hence, a proper plan of work must be developed and implemented for all asbestos removal work. 
 
7.         For demolition or renovation work, one consideration in the plan of work is to remove the in-place asbestos before such work starts.  This will help to protect workers from being unknowingly exposed to asbestos.
 
Updating technical requirements for asbestos removal work
8.         The control measures specified in the current Regulations target mainly work involving manufacturing and installation of ACM rather than asbestos removal work.  As such, they may not adequately protect workers carrying out asbestos removal work.  Removal of in-place ACM requires different types of control measures, e.g. wetting of dusty work, maintaining a negative pressure within the enclosed work area, and provision of decontamination facilities.
 
9.         The draft Regulations are attached in Annex A.
 
PERIOD OF CONSULTATION

10.       The consultation exercise will last for four weeks, from 24th June to 21st July 2013.

FEEDBACK CHANNEL

11.       We seek your support to ensure that the consultation exercise is productive and focused. We would like to request that respondents follow these guidelines:

(a)   Identify yourself and the organisation you represent (if any) – This will help us understand the impact of the proposed changes on different stakeholder groups.
(b)   Make your comments clear and concise.
(c)  Focus your comments on how the provisions and features can be improved or made clearer.
(d)   As far as possible, explain your points with illustrations and examples.
 
We would also appreciate it if you could provide your feedback using the template at Annex B.
 
12.       Your feedback is important to us. To enable your feedback to reach us more quickly, we strongly encourage you to submit your feedback through this email address: mom_oshd_consultation@mom.gov.sg, with the subject heading “Consultation on WSH (Asbestos) Regulations”.

 13.       Alternatively, you can also send your comments to us via:

(a)   Fax          :    6535 6726; or
(b)   Post         :    Ministry of Manpower
                             Occupational Safety and Health Division
                       1500 Bendemeer Road #03-02
                             Singapore 339946.
                             Attn: Ms Charlene Liew

SUMMARY OF RESPONSES

14.       We regret that we will not be able to individually acknowledge or address every comment we receive.  However, we will consolidate and publish a summary of the key comments received, together with our responses, on the REACH website following the close of the consultation exercise.  The summary will not disclose the identity of person(s) providing the feedback, to maintain confidentiality of the feedback received.

DOCUMENTS TO DOWNLOAD
15.       For your convenience, the relevant documents relating to this public consultation exercise can be downloaded for further reference.
 
References
Related Documents:
Annex A – Draft WSH (Asbestos) Regulations
Annex B – Template for feedback

Annex A – Draft WSH (Asbestos) Regulations [PDF, 232 KB]

Annex B – Template for feedback submission [DOCX, 15 KB]