NUS safety and health governance
A structured route for Academic Supervisors to establish, implement and maintain an effective Safety & Health Management System for research, teaching and related activities in NUS workspaces.
Scope
The scheme applies to Academic Supervisors who oversee research or teaching activities in laboratories, workshops, field settings and related workspaces.
Academic staff appointed as a principal investigator, laboratory supervisor, programme leader or equivalent, who meet one or more of these conditions:
Exception
Academic Supervisors whose research and teaching activities are purely non-laboratory based and involve computer use only are not required to participate in the certification scheme.
Research, teaching and related work under the Academic Supervisor’s oversight.
Laboratories, workshops and field settings, including shared, core, animal and collaborator-controlled spaces used for the work.
To manage safety and health risks systematically and demonstrate compliance with applicable workplace requirements.
Academic Supervisor pathways
Select the pathway that reflects your current certification status.
Work closely with your Department Safety Coordinator throughout preparation and audit. Refer to the Guide to Safety & Health Management for new Academic Supervisors.
Confirm all workspaces and activities in scope. Develop and implement the SHMS within six months of commissioning the laboratory workspace.
Attend departmental training or complete Safety and Health Management System (OSHSMS01) and Risk Management for Laboratories (OSHGEN06) on Canvas.
Set up access to the Workplace Safety & Health Information Registry in EHS360. For assistance, contact your Department Safety and Health Coordinator.
Prepare the required documentation in the Workplace Safety & Health Information Registry within EHS360.
Work with your Department Safety Coordinator and contact ORMC Audit to agree on an audit date.
Review the documents with your Department Safety Coordinator and submit them to ORMC at least two weeks before the audit.
ORMC reviews implementation of the SHMS. An audit typically takes up to half a day.
A Letter of Certification is awarded when effective implementation has been demonstrated. Certification may support grant-release submissions.
Maintain the Safety & Health Management System until the next audit. View the ongoing requirements for certified Academic Supervisors.
Records readiness: SHMS documentation should be kept current in WSHIR and ready for ORMC auditor review four weeks before the audit.
Keep the SHMS current, report material changes and continue to meet surveillance-audit requirements.
Notify ORMC by submitting an amendment to the PRA in iRIMS-IBC (Hazard Safety) when there is a:
For research grants, report the following using iRIMS-IBC (Hazard Safety):
Maintain current SHMS documentation in WSHIR and support surveillance audits at the frequency applicable to the host department.
Notify ORMC when an Academic Supervisor will leave NUS so certification records and workspace responsibilities can be updated.
Serious safety and health non-compliance or a reportable accident may result in certification suspension and withholding of new-grant approvals until ORMC verifies the corrective and preventive actions.
Ongoing requirement: Certification has no fixed expiry while the Academic Supervisor remains in service with NUS. See surveillance audit frequencies and continuing requirements.
Training
Academic Supervisors may instead attend equivalent SHMS training sessions scheduled by their department.
Introduces the management-system approach used to organise safety and health responsibilities, controls, records and review.
Open Canvas →Supports the assessment and control of laboratory risks that underpin an effective SHMS.
Open course →After certification
Certification has no fixed expiry while the Academic Supervisor remains in service with NUS, but surveillance and change-management requirements continue.
Academic Supervisors with research grants should notify ORMC when relevant circumstances change, including:
Certification may be suspended following serious safety and health non-compliance or a reportable accident involving the Academic Supervisor. New grants may not be approved until ORMC verifies the corrective and preventive actions and reinstates certification.
| NUS Safety & Health Award category of host department | Normal surveillance frequency |
|---|---|
| Commendation or Excellence | No surveillance audit |
| Commitment | Once every 6 years |
| Recognition, or did not participate | Once every 3 years |
These frequencies took effect on 15 April 2020. Surveillance may increase to once every three years where the previous ORMC audit had notable findings or high-impact incidents occurred during the preceding three years.
Frequently asked questions
Need help?
For general questions about the certification scheme or EHS360, contact ehs360@nus.edu.sg. To arrange an audit, contact ormcaudit@nus.edu.sg.