1. Towards Vision Zero – Singapore’s Next Lap
A Great Workforce A Great Workplace
Towards Vision Zero – Singapore’s Next Lap
Er. Ho Siong Hin
Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, Singapore
IALI Secretary General
28 Aug 2014

2. About Singapore
GENERAL & EMPLOYMENT (2013) Land Area (Sq Km) Total Population (‘000) 5,400 Employment (‘000) 3,443
KEY SECTORS
Construction
Services Sector
Manufacturing
Transport
& Storage
Shipbuilding & Ship-repair
Petrochemical and Oil

3. WSH From 2006 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 WAH Masterplan
CultureSAFE
Launch of CultureSAFE Programme
Development of WAH competency framework and industry engagements
WAH Regulations
WSH (WAH) Regs
Workplace Health
WH involving Asbestos
National GHS Taskforce
Globally Harmonised System
WSH Act extended to cover 6 new sectors
Formation of the Workplace Safety & Health Council
WSHC
Extension of WSH Act
Work Injury Compensation Act replaces the Workmen Compensation Act
WIC Act
WSH Act
Launch of WSH2015
A strategy for workplace safety and health in Singapore
Review & Enhance WSH2015
PM refreshes target: 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 by 2018
Embodiment of WSH Framework in Legislation
Launch of WSH2018
Enhanced national strategy for workplace safety and health
Launch of Strategy and Roadmaps
Workplace Health strategy and Sectoral Roadmaps to support WSH2018
Amendment of WSH Act
WSH Institute
Formation of the WSH Institute
Extension of WSH Act to all Workplaces
Amendment of WICA Act
Revisions to the WIC Act

4. Singapore’s WSH Performance
There have been improvements but stagnation in recent years ……
Plateau for the past 2 years
In 2005:
Target of 2.5 per 100, 000 employed persons by 2015
In 2008:
Target of 1.8 per 100, 000 employed persons by 2018
In 2004, we set a target of 2.5 per 100k. You may ask - shouldn't it be zero fatalities?
For the Ministry of Manpower, in her policy formulation and development of engagement and enforcement activities, we were focused on achieving zero injuries and ill health. However, for the public messaging, a target was communicated. This was felt to be the appropriate SMART goal to use at that time. Of course, the more mature sectors were asking why it was not zero. Since the majority of industries are still not as enlightened, setting a zero target at that time would probably result in much frustration as they see themselves not achieving it year after year. However, over time, this target was reduced and is currently at 1.8 per 100,000 by 2018.
While we have significantly reduced the workplace fatality rate since 2004, we have been seeing a plateau in the WSH performance in the recent years. We recognise that it is timely to do more... To engage the hearts and mind of the people.

5. WSH Model for Singapore
Progressing WSH in Singapore
INDUSTRY PARTNER
Educating & Engaging Stakeholders, Promoting WSH
WSHC
Workplace Safety & Health Council
THINK TANK
Providing Insights to Chart New Grounds for WSH Excellence and Innovation
WSHI
Workplace Safety & Health Institute
OSHD
Occupational Safety & Health Division
REGULATOR
Legislation, Policies, Compliance Assistance & Enforcement
In the past, the focus had been on safety and enforcement
Today we have shifted towards more engagement and partnership with increasing focus on workplace health.

6. A National Strategy - WSH 2018
A National Strategy For WSH In Singapore
Vision
A Safe and Healthy Workplace for Everyone
and a Country Renowned for Best Practices
in Workplace Safety and Health
Strategic Outcome 1
Reduction in Workplace
Fatality and
Injury Rates
Strategic Outcome 2
WSH is an
Integral Part of
Business
Strategic Outcome 3
Singapore is Renowned
as a Centre of Excellence
for WSH
Strategic Outcome 4
A Progressive and
Pervasive
WSH Culture
Strategy 4
Develop
Strong Partnerships
Locally and Internationally
Strategy 1
Build
Strong Capabilities
to Manage WSH
Strategy 2
Implement
an Effective
Regulatory Framework
Strategy 3
Promote
Benefits of WSH
and Recognise
Best Practices

7. “ ” “ ” “ ” Strong and Consistent Commitment by Top Leadership
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
At the Launch of WSH Council in 2008
but each time somebody was maimed or killed, it was a tragedy for the worker and his family. This was on our conscience… We should aim to have one of the best workplace safety records in the world. ”
Workplace safety is both the right thing to do for our people….… transforming mindsets and creating a pervasive and progressive culture that places workers’ safety and health first “
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam
At the Singapore WSH Conference 2012 ”
Good workplace safety practices are really the core of any profitable and thriving business…… Behind every statistic…..it is a person that we have lost “
Ag Minister MOM, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin
At the BizSAFE Convention 2013 ”

8. What’s Next?
Need to do more to engage the hearts and minds, beyond management systems, beyond compliance
“To match the standards of the developed countries, ... to discuss what are sensible targets to set - ambitious but achievable, not just focused on fatalities but also on workplace injuries and occupational diseases - and define and work towards new goals.”
To bring us to the next level of WSH performance, the focus now has to extend beyond compliance of legislation and implementation of management systems. The ‘software aspect’ needs to be addressed and this requires a shift in paradigm to focus on shaping values and mindsets that all work injuries and ill health are preventable i.e. to engender a Vision Zero mindset.
Last year, our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong gave us a new challenge  “...to match the standards of developed countries, sensible targets which are ambitious but achievable; that it shouldn't be just focused on the fatalities, but to start addressing other factors such as workplace injuries and occupational diseases.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Workplace Safety and Health Campaign
20 May 2013

9. Our Vision Zero Journey
5. Sought advice on implementation strategies from international WSH thought leaders and experts
2. Built consensus and understanding – everyone should return home from work safe and sound
May IAP for WSH
Strategy Document on Vision Zero
Sep SWSHC
Aug 2013 DGUV Prevention Year Book
3. Further socialised the ground on the Vision Zero concept
Apr – Nov 2013 WSH Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Vision Zero
Dec 2012 Conducted international scan of national WSH strategies
1. Gathered industry input and opinions
4. Backed with national-level commitment
Sep
The Next WSH Frontier Forum
Mar 2014 COS SPS Speech in Parliament

10. Major Challenges Ahead
Different interpretations of Vision Zero - does Vision Zero mean zero incidents (a numerical target)?
Distrust of the purist views on Vision Zero
Dissimilar levels of WSH maturity and industry-readiness
How to effect a mindset shift
Fault finding  Developing solutions
“Vision Zero requires the adoption of a mindset where all injuries and ill health arising from work are preventable. The pursuit of Vision Zero is not about focusing solely on meeting the target of zero accidents. A Vision Zero-minded person would strive to prevent all work injuries and ill health without compromise.”

11. Vision Zero Scaling towards the mindset that ...
Strategy 3: Showcasing and Recognising Industry Best Practices in Vision Zero
Plan 3: Mentoring and Facilitating Progress
Strategy 2: Promoting Changes in Behaviour and Attitudes
Plan 2: Influencing through Visible Business Benefits
Scaling towards the mindset that ...
all work related injuries and ill health are preventable
Strategy 1: Addressing Common Misconceptions of Vision Zero for WSH
Plan 1: Socialising the Ground 11

12. 3. Competency building and evidence-based policies and programs
The Next Lap
3. Competency building and evidence-based policies and programs
Initiatives to socialise the ground on Vision Zero...
Vision Zero
Mindset;
Incidents
preventable
WSH as CSR initiative
for community
Grouping of
VZ Leaders
WSH factored into Insurance premium
1. Promoting greater awareness
Best sourcing
(public and pte)
New Award
for Leaders
WSH research
2. Conducive business eco-system
NWSH
Awards
I would like to thank Dr Walter Eichendorf, a member of our International Advisory Panel for proposing that Singapore should start on the Vision Zero journey. To find out more about Vision Zero, we checked how other countries interpret these two words. We found that there were many interpretations. Some had incorporated it into their national strategy, for others it was a program. We proceeded to engage our stakeholders to have a common understanding on what would be the Singaporean interpretation of this term 'Vision Zero‘ and to create greater buy-in into this concept.
We brought this concept to our policymakers, our enforcement and engagement officers and worked to align the interpretation of this term. Next we brought it to our external stakeholders, industry leaders and WSH professionals. In all, we asked about 200 persons on their views of what VZ should be. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that 90+% think that it is the right mindset. From the consultation exercise, the consensus was that the Vision Zero call-to-action that Singapore is embarking on is about pushing for the mindset that all work injuries and ill-health are preventable, for companies and individuals to aspire for zero harm, and to take action to make it happen.
To make this mindset pervasive in Singapore, we have identified initiatives to socialise the ground; 1. to promote greater awareness amongst leaders and the community at learge; 2. to create the eco-system which provides tangible rewards to companies which demonstrate a Vision Zero mindset; 3. to build competency and to conduct research to provide the evidence for policies to support Vision Zero.
Executive leadership
program
Today:
Compliance mindset; Incidents inevitable
ATP courses
2014 12
Beyond 12

13. Conclusion
While the focus on workplace and traffic safety and health could evolve year after year based on new and emerging concerns, the underlying concept of Vision Zero is powerful and timeless.
The onus on prevention in workplace safety and health is for everyone to play a part, to make it mainstream.
Vision Zero has no boundaries.
We are preparing the ground for Singapore’s next lap to achieve further improvements in workplace and work traffic safety outcomes
Our closing thoughts are as follows..

14. Let us take concrete actions to achieve Vision Zero
Join us in Singapore in 2017