Office of Risk Management & Compliance


NUS Physical Safety Programme


The NUS Physical Safety Programme provides a structured system to address the physical hazards arising from activities in NUS.

It aims to protect the safety and health of the staff, students and visitors in NUS.


Roles and Responsibilities

The NUS Physical Safety Programme is a collaborative effort by the following offices/departments:

  1. The Safety & Health, Office of Risk Management and Compliance (ORMC) is the general administrator of this programme by providing policies, standards and guidelines.
  2. The Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) served as an advisory to review standards and guidance documents.

Please contact the following personnel pertaining to the NUS Physical Safety Programme:

S/N Types of enquiries: Contact Person
1
  1. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock-out & Tag-out)
  2. Noise and Vibration Monitoring and Management
  3. Working at Height
  4. Permit to Work Systems
  5. Lifting Activities Using Cranes
  6. 3D Printing
 Mr Danny Toh
Senior Associate Director
Email: dannytoh@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: 6516 4131
2
  1. Electrical Safety Programme
  2. Safe Use of Uninterruptible Power Supply

 Mr Danny Toh
Senior Associate Director
Email: dannytoh@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: 6516 4131

Physical Safety Programme Elements and Resources

All Principal Investigators (PIs) & supervisors have to conduct risk assessments, develop SOPs and establish roles and responsibilities for implementing safety and health control measures in their workplace.

The University Physical Safety Programme resources are as follows:

Elements Resources
1. Electrical Safety Electrical Safety Standard for Laboratories and Workshops Revised* (27 Apr 2021)
Electrical Safety Standard for AV Consoles
Electrical Safety Briefing
Summary of changes to Electrical Safety standards on 27 April 2021
2. Safe Use of UPS Standard for the Safe Use of Uninterruptible Power Supply Revised* (27 Apr 2021)


3. Noise and Vibration Monitoring and Management		  Noise & Vibration Monitoring and Management Standards for NUS Workplaces

Noise & Vibration Reports and Forms
Noise Monitoring Report (Sample)
Noise Exposure Assessment Form (Sample)
Request for Noise Monitoring Form (Sample)
4. Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock-out & Tag-out) Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock-out & Tag-out) Safety and Health Quick Guide



5. Working at Height (WAH)		 Working at Height Safety and Health Quick Guide

Working Safely on Roofs - WSH Council
Guideline on Working Safely on Roof
Checklist on Working Safely on Rooftops
6. Hot Work Hot Work Safety and Health Quick Guide
7. Lifting Activities Using Cranes Lifting Activities Using Cranes Safety and Health Quick Guide
8. Confined Space Entry Confined Space Entry Safety and Health Quick Guide 
9. 3D Printing 3D Printing Health and Safety Quick Guide



Summary of Key Safety & Health Requirements and Appointment Holders for High Hazard Physical Activities New* 08 Nov 2022


    S/N   High Hazard Activity Key Safety & Health Requirements              Key Appointment Holder  
1
  

Confined space entry		 1. Risk assessment (RA)
2. Confined space entry permit
3. Competency certificates/training records
4. Consultation/communication with stakeholders
5. Emergency response plan and confined space rescue drill record
6. SOPs/SWPs
7. Gas testing equipment		 1. Competent personnel performing the work ©
2. Confined space supervisor ©
3. Confined space safety accessor ©
4. Confined space rescue team ©
5. Confined space attendant
6. Authorised manager
2

Control of Hazardous Energy (Lock-out & Tag-Out)
1. Risk assessment (RA)
2. Consultation/communication with stakeholders
3. Lock-out & Tag-out (LOTO) Procedure
4. LOTO devices		 1. Personnel performing work
3


Hazardous working at height (>3m) performed in a construction site, involved hazardous substances or building operation/engineering construction
1. Risk assessment (RA)
2. Hazardous work at height permit
3. Fall prevention plan (FPP)
4. Competency certificates
5. Consultation/communication with stakeholders
6. SOPs/SWPs
7. PPE inspection record		 1. WAH Worker ©
2. WAH Supervisor ©
3. WAH Safety Assessor ©
4. WAH Manager ©
4



                               Hot Work



1. Risk assessment (RA)
2. Hot work permit
3. Competency certificates/training records
4. Consultation/communication with stakeholders
5. SOPs/SWPs
6. Fire-fighting equipment
7. Gas testing equipment (If needed)
1. Competent personnel performing the work ©
2. Fire Watch ©
3. Authorised manager
5




                     Lifting activities using crane
               
1. Risk assessment (RA)
2. Lifting plan
3. Lifting Permit
4. Communication plan
5. Traffic control plan
6. Competency certificates
7. Consultation/communication with stakeholders
8. Certificates for lifting equipment
9. PPE issuance record
10. Crane safety checklist		 1. Lifting supervisor ©
2. Crane Operator ©
3. Signalman ©
4. Rigger ©
5. NUS lifting coordinator
6. Authorised person
© Appointment that requires competency and skillset through specialised training.

FAQs

Q1: Is there a height requirement that defines a person is working at height?
Ans: There is no height requirement that defines a person is working at height. A person is working at height if he/she could fall from a distance and would reasonably likely be injured or cause another person to be injured due to the fall.

Q2: Does all working at height needs a permit to work?
Ans: Hazardous work at height permit is required if the hazardous work at height (work at height where person could fall 3 meters or more) is performed in a construction site or any premises where persons are employed in the handling, processing, manufacturing or use of any hazardous substances; or any building operation or work of engineering construction (e.g. repair or maintenance of a building). In addition, for work at heights where risks of falling more than 3 metres have been mitigated through adequate and effective edge protection, a permit-to-work may not be required, unless the Employer or Principal deemed it should not be exempted (may not apply to work on fragile surfaces).

Q3: What is considered as an exposure to excessive noise level in a workplace?
Ans: Under the Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) Regulations, a person shall be deemed to be exposed to excessive noise if he is exposure to an equivalent sound pressure level exceeding 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour work day.

Q4: When should Lock-out Tag-out (LOTO) be performed?
Ans: LOTO is the process to isolate hazardous energy or material of an energized system, preventing the system's hazardous energy or material from accidental activation and impacting the safety and health of any personnel.
For any energized systems that involve the use of hazardous energy or material, a risk assessment shall be performed to determine the risk controls and whether LOTO procedure is applicable for maintenance, commissioning, and decommissioning. The vendor should be consulted and the operating manual of the energized system should be reviewed to determine the need for LOTO.

Q5: Can electrical plugs with overseas configuration (eg. Flat blade plug, schuko plug) be use in the laboratory?
Ans: Electrical plugs with overseas configuration are not suitable for the socket outlets in NUS. When these plugs are plugged directly into the socket outlets in NUS, it may cause overheating and can result in fires. If the equipment is within the warranty period, user shall seek vendor’s help to change into a plug suitable for use in Singapore. If the equipment is no longer covered under warranty, kindly engage a licence electrical worker (LEW) to change out the plug.