Structured Safety Training
System
Introduction
The University administration
has made it mandatory for all
staff and students, in
particular, laboratory,
technical, veterinary,
research staff and students
exposed to chemical, radiation
and biological hazards to
undergo relevant safety
training (
glossary of safety training
). In addition, the University
administration has also made
it mandatory for the Principal
Investigators/supervisors who
are supervising such
individuals to undergo safety
training.
Key Responsibilities
Departmental Heads and
Faculty Deaneries
should provide time off from
work for staff or student to
attend safety training under
the Structured Safety Training
System.
Immediate Supervisors /
Principal Investigators
have the responsibility to
a) identify the safety
training required for staff,
students, visitors,
collaborators and contractors
(henceforth referred to as
"individuals") working in
laboratories / workshops /
facilities directly under
their management, based upon
their scope of work, hazards
exposed to and working
conditions
b) undergo relevant core
safety training as identified
by NUS Senior Management
c) undergo the same hazard
specific safety training of
the staff and students as
mentioned in (a)
Staff, Students
('Individuals') will be
required to assist the
supervisor in identifying the
required safety training,
attend the relevant training,
including the refresher
training
and pass the competency test
that is set at the end of
every training course. Staff
shall attend refreshers at a
stipulated period depending on
the type of courses they are
required to attend.
Visitors and Guests
('Individuals') will be
required to assist their host
in identifying the required
safety training, attend the
relevant training and pass the
competency test that is set at
the end of every training
course.
Individuals refer to:
-
Lab, technical, veterinary
and research staff who are
performing activities*
involving use of hazardous
chemicals, biological
materials, ionizing
radiation and Class 3B or
Class 4 lasers. This
includes Research Fellows
(RF) and Research
Assistants (RA)
-
Students (FYP, UROP
Postgraduate students)
doing research projects*
involving use of hazardous
chemicals, biological
materials, ionizing
radiation and Class 3B or
Class 4 lasers.
*
Includes work conducted in
non- NUS organizations
(A-STAR, Hospitals,
Industrial Attachments, etc.
ORMC
will serve as the training
provider under the system.
ORMC will also perform regular
review of the training needs
of individuals working in NUS
and introduce or improve on
the courses to cater to
specific needs of such
individuals.
OHR
will update the training
records of staff through ORMC.
Identifying Training
Requirements
The training requirements are
categorised in a progressive
training structure to guide
you along your learning
journey. All staff and
students are expected to
progress from “Stage A” to
“Stage C” under this
structure. In addition to
assessing the core
hazard-specific courses
(chemical, radiation etc.),
the Supervisor/PI should also
determine the supplementary
training courses ('Add-ons')
to be taken by individuals.
The safety and health
requirements are divided into
3 tiers:
Stage A: Induction Training
As a new staff or student, the
first stage is to undergo
'induction' training. These
are foundation training that
provides an overview of the
requirements for working
safely in NUS.
Stage B: Hazard-specific
Training
The second stage of training
is dependent on the nature of
the research work or teaching
experiments that you are
doing. This stage is referred
to 'Hazard Specific' training
and is determined from the
outcome of your risk
assessments. Hazard Specific
Training consists of core
discipline specific courses
and additional supplementary
('Add-on') courses. For
example, individuals
performing activities
involving the use of
hydrofluoric acid will need to
attend the core discipline
specific course of OSHCHM01
Chemical Safety and the add-on
course of OSHCHM02 Safe Use
& Handling of Hydrofluoric
Acid. More information about
determining the 'Hazard
Specific' training is given in
the section below.
Stage C: Appointment-based
Training
Lastly, depending on the roles
and responsibilities you have
been assigned, for example
Fire Warden/Coordinator, First
aider, etc you would need to
undergo specific training
relevant to that role.
|
Stage A: Induction
Training
|
Title of Training
Course
(Course Code)
|
Who shall attend
|
|
Staff
|
|
NUS Requirements on
Safety, Health and
Emergency Management
(OSHGEN03) w.e.f.
03/08/2015
CHRS LMS link for
staff
|
All staff:
Compulsory
e-Orientation course
to be completed within
one month
upon joining the
University.
Staff to access
OSHGEN03 in CHRS LMS.
This course is not
accessible to
students.
|
|
Online Fire Safety
Training Course
(OSHFS01)
w.e.f. 03/08/2015
CHRS LMS link for
staff
|
All staff:
Compulsory training
course
(OSHFS01)
to be completed within
one month
upon joining the
University.
Any personnel who had
previously attended
the Fire Safety
Education Course or
the Fire Safety
Refresher Course is
exempted from taking
this online training.
However the online
training will not
exclude those who are
required to take the
Fire Safety Education
Course or Fire Safety
Refresher Course due
to their appointment,
job appointment,
course work
requirement or as
predetermined by the
respective Principal
Investigators (PIs).
This is a 16 minute
video which include a
quiz at the end.
Please complete the
assessment after
viewing the video.
Staff to access
OSHFS01 in CHRS LMS.
OSHFS01 is only
mandatory for NUS
staff. Visitors or
Students whom have
been identified by
their PIs to attend
relevant fire safety
training due to the
fire risks in their
research work may
write in to
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg
attend the Fire Safety
Education Course.
|
|
Lab (Staff)
|
|
Laboratory Safety
Induction Training
(OSHGEN01) w.e.f.
03/08/2015
|
Compulsory for:
-
ALL
new NUS staff
working in
laboratories and
workshops
This training will
give a general
overview of safety and
health in the
laboratories.
This training must be
completed PRIOR to
performing activities
in the laboratory.
|
|
Lab (Students)
|
|
Introduction to
Laboratory Safety
and Health in NUS -
Policy, Principles
and
Practice
(OSHGEN02) w.e.f.
03/08/2015
|
Compulsory for newly
matriculated
undergraduates who
will be having classes
in laboratories and/or
workshops.
Undergraduates
enrolling in the
following departments
or other departments
with laboratories
and/or
workshop-related
courses, will be
required to view the
safety induction video
prior to entry into
the laboratories or
workshops:
-
Faculty of Science
– Department of
Chemistry, Physics,
Biological Sciences
and Pharmacy
-
YLL School of
Medicine
-
Faculty of
Dentistry
-
School of Design
and Environment
-
Department of
Geography
(Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences)
-
Faculty of
Engineering
- Department of
Biomedical
Engineering,
Mechanical
Engineering,
Chemical and
Biomolecular
Engineering, Civil
and Environmental
Engineering,
Electrical and
Computer
Engineering,
Materials Science
and Engineering
Self-enrol to the course
in CANVAS
here
|
|
Recommended for New
Students
|
|
Campus Safety &
Health : Our
Responsibility
(OSHGEN10) w.e.f.
01/08/2021
|
Recommended for newly
matriculated
undergraduates.
Workplace Safety and
Health Council’s
Working Group on
Safety & Health in
Higher Education and
Research Sector’ has
successfully developed
a safety and health
e-learning package.
This training will
introduce the
fundamentals of safety
and health to all
freshmen from the 11
participating
Institutes of Higher
Learning.
Students who have
successfully completed
the programme would be
able to:
• Understand causes of
accident;
• Identify types of
hazards on campus;
• Adopt Look-Think-Do to
prevent accidents; and
• Respond to
emergencies.
|
|
Stage B: Hazard
Specific
|
|
Hazard
|
Core
|
Add-on
|
|
Chemical
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
Chemical Safety
(OSHCHM01)
*This training
is recognised
and approved
by the
Workplace
Safety and
Health
Council’s
Working Group
on Safety
& Health
in Higher
Education and
Research
Sector.
Personnel from
approved
member
organisations
are exempted
from
undergoing
this training.
Click
here
to find more
details.
|
Individuals
performing
activities
involving the
use of
hazardous
chemicals.
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
Safe Use &
Handling of
Hydrofluoric
Acid (OSHCHM02)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals
working with
hydrofluoric
acid.
|
Safe Use &
Handling of
Pyrophoric
Chemicals
(OSHCHM03)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals
working with
pyrophoric
chemicals.
|
|
Recommended
|
Who should
attend
|
Semi-Quantitative
Risk Assessment
(OSHCHM04)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals
appointed to
conduct
Semi-Quantitative
Risk Assessment
(SQRA).
|
Chemical Spill
Response
(OSHCHM05)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals who
have been
appointed to
perform chemical
spill response.
|
|
Biological
*Note: OSHBIO01 has
been replaced with
OSHBIO07 and OSHBIO08
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
Biosafety for
BSL-1
Laboratories
(OSHBIO07)
w.e.f.
11/09/2017
|
Individuals
conducting
BSL-1 work.
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
Biosafety for
BSL-2
Laboratories
(OSHBIO08)
w.e.f.
18/09/2017
*This training
is recognised
and approved by
the Workplace
Safety and
Health Council’s
Working Group on
Safety &
Health in Higher
Education and
Research Sector.
Personnel from
approved member
organisations
are exempted
from undergoing
this training.
Click
here
to find more
details.
|
Individuals
conducting
BSL-2 work.
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
Safe Handling of
Human Tissue and
Fluids
(OSHBIO03)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals
working with
materials of
human origin eg.
tissue, all cell
lines (including
commercial cell
lines), body
fluids etc.
|
Biosafety
Legislations
& Guidelines
(OSHBIO04)
w.e.f.
28/11/2024
|
New Principal Investigators, all individuals appointed to identify
and monitor legislation for the lab / departments, and all
individuals involved in importing, acquiring, transferring, or
handling biological materials.
|
Safe Needle
Usage in
Research
Laboratories
(OSHBIO06)
w.e.f.
31/12/2016
*Personnel who
have completed
SingHealth
Needle Safety in
Research
Laboratories are
exempted from
undergoing this
training. Click
here
to find more
details.
|
Individuals
working with
needles when
conducting life
science
research.
|
Safe Handling of
Non-human
Primate
(Macaque)
Derived
Materials
(OSHBIO09)
w.e.f.
01/03/2017
|
Individuals
handling
Macaque-derived
materials.
|
Viral Vector
Safety and
Regulations
Training
(OSHBIO10)
w.e.f.
01/06/2021
|
Individuals
working with
viral vectors.
|
|
Recommended
|
Who should
attend
|
Biological
Spills and
Emergency
Response
(OSHBIO05)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals
appointed to
contain
biological
spills.
|
|
|
Radiation
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
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Laser Safety
Training
(OSHRAD02)
|
Individuals
performing
activities
involving use
of Class 3b or
Class 4
lasers.
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
Safe Handling of
Radioactive
Materials
(OSHRAD03)
w.e.f.
11/09/2017
|
Individuals
performing
activities
involving use
of radioactive
materials or
equipment
containing
radioactive
materials (eg.
Gauges, Gamma
Irradiators).
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
Safe Handling of
X-ray Machines
(OSHRAD04)
w.e.f.
11/09/2017
|
Individuals
using X-ray
machines or
machines that
can produce
X-rays.
Refresher
training
requirement:
Individuals
are required
to retake this
course after
three years.
|
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
Basic MRI Safety
Training
(OSHRAD05)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals who
will be
accessing a MRI
controlled area
but NOT
operating MRI
machines/scanners.
|
MRI Safety
Training for
Operators
(OSHRAD06)
w.e.f.
01/06/2016
|
Individuals who
will be
accessing MRI
controlled areas
AND operating
MRI
machines/scanners.
|
|
|
General Safety
|
|
Compulsory
|
Who shall
attend
|
|
Respiratory
Protection
Programme
Training for
first-time
users
(OSHGEN04)
w.e.f.
01/09/2016
|
The NUS
Respiratory
Protection
Programme
training aims to
educate all NUS
staff and
students who are
required to wear
respirators in
the course of
their teaching
and research
work on the
correct use of
respirators.
|
|
Respiratory
Protection
Programme
Training for
returning
users
(refresher)
(OSHGEN05)
w.e.f.
01/09/2016
|
This Respiratory
Protection
Programme
training is for
returning users
- all NUS staff
and students to
refresh their
knowledge on the
usage of
respirators in
the course of
their teaching
and research
work one year
after attending
the NUS
Respiratory
Protection
Programme (RPP)
- First Time
User.
|
|
Recommended
|
Who should
attend
|
|
Risk
Management for
Laboratories
(OSHGEN06)
w.e.f.
10/01/2017
|
Recommended for
staff and
students who are
involved in
conducting risk
assessments for
their laboratory
activities.
Safety leads are
highly
encouraged to
attend this
training.
|
|
Risk
Management for
General
Workplaces
(OSHGEN07)
w.e.f.
28/04/2017
|
Recommended for
staff and
students who are
involved in
conducting risk
assessments for
their general
workplaces.
Safety Leads are
highly
encouraged to
attend this
training.
|
|
Field Research
Safety
(OSHGEN08)
w.e.f.
28/04/2017
|
Recommended for
staff and
students who are
involved in
conducting field
research
activities.
Field Research
Leads are highly
encouraged to
attend this
training.
|
|
Conducting
Incident
Investigation
and Root Cause
Analysis
(OSHGEN09)
w.e.f.
8/11/2018
|
Recommended for
staff and
students who are
required to
investigate
incidents as a
lead
investigator, or
as part of an
investigation
team.
|
|
|
Fire Safety
|
|
Recommended
|
Who should
attend
|
|
Customized
Fire Safety
Training
|
Faculties,
offices,
student bodies
and groups are
welcome to
request for a
specially
catered
session for
their
respective
groups
(minimum group
size of 20
staff &/or
students).
Interested
parties are to
directly
liaise with
Campus
Emergency
&
Security,
University
Campus
Infrastructure
via
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg.
|
|
|
Ergonomics
|
|
Recommended
|
Who should
attend
|
|
NUS Office
Ergonomics
Training
(OSHERGO01)
|
This course is
about awareness
of ergonomic
hazards in the
office, common
musculoskeletal
disorders
related to work,
understand good
practices of
ergonomics,
self-evaluate
your workstation
and apply
control measures
to reduce
ergonomic
hazards.
|
|
NUS Laboratory
Ergonomics
Training
(OSHERGO02)
|
This course is
about awareness
of ergonomic
hazards in the
laboratory,
common
musculoskeletal
disorders
related to work,
understand good
practices of
ergonomics,
Self-evaluate
your workstation
and apply
control measures
to reduce
ergonomic
hazards.
|
|
|
Stage C: Appointment
Based
|
Title of Training
Course
(Course Code)
|
Who should attend
|
|
Compulsory
|
|
Fire Safety
Education Course
|
Compulsory for:
1) Staff who have been
appointed to perform
the role of Building
Fire Coordinator,
Assistant Fire
Coordinator, Building
Fire Warden or
Assistant Fire Warden.
2) All laboratory
technical staff that
are handling PFM.
3) Any other
laboratory personnel
identified by their
Principal
Investigators (PIs)
whom are required to
attend this course.
* Also recommended for
NUS staff or students
who are interested in
acquiring additional
fire safety knowledge
and practical hands on
in extinguishing
incipient fires.
This general education
course provides
general awareness on
fire safety and hands
on practical training
in incipient level
fire-fighting.
Participants will
better understand how
a fire develops,
dangers associated
with fire and the
proper response when
faced with a fire
situation. Fire
practical training
will cover the use of
fire extinguishers,
fire blankets and hose
reel which are first
aid fire-fighting
equipment normally
found in all NUS
buildings.
This course belongs to
Campus Emergency &
Security, University
Campus Infrastructure.
Please contact
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg if
you have any query.
|
|
Fire Warden Training
Course
|
Compulsory for Staff
who have been
appointed to perform
the role of building
Fire Warden or
Assistant Fire Warden.
This is a half day
course that trains the
Building Fire Wardens
on their roles and
responsibilities. This
includes conducting
their own floor fire
safety inspection,
safe procedures when
mitigating a fire
alarm incident,
sharing of lessons
learnt from recent
fire incidents and
other lifesaving
skills during a fire
break out.
Participants must
successfully complete
the 'Fire Safety
Education' course or
its equivalent before
they can attend this
course. Interested
parties can sign up
for both Fire Safety
Education and Fire
Warden Course on the
same day where free
spaces are available.
This course belongs to
Campus Emergency &
Security, University
Campus Infrastructure.
Please contact
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg if
you have any query.
|
|
Fire Safety
Coordinator Course
|
Compulsory for staff
who have been
appointed to perform
the role of building
Fire Safety
Coordinator or
Assistant Fire Safety
Coordinator.
This is a full day
course that will
introduce the Fire
Safety Coordinator to
the fire safety
management system of
NUS. The course will
help guide the Fire
Safety Coordinator to
be able to prepare the
Fire Emergency Plan
(FEP), coordinate and
organize their own
annual fire drill,
carry out independent
fire safety inspection
of their own building
and understand more of
the fire safety
requirements that each
building must meet. It
also prepares the
building
representatives for
their role in campus
emergency/disaster
preparedness.
Participants must
successfully complete
the 'Fire Safety
Education' course or
its equivalent before
they can attend this
course.
This course belongs to
Campus Emergency &
Security, University
Campus Infrastructure.
Please contact
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg if
you have any query.
|
|
Fire Safety
Refresher Course
|
Compulsory for all
laboratory staff to
attend every three
years after attending
the Fire Safety
Education Course. As
per required under
local regulations such
as the Fire Safety
(Petroleum &
Flammable Materials)
Regulation 2005.
This is a two hour
course which acts as a
refresher programme
for personnel who had
attended the fire
safety education
course before. Course
starts off with a fire
safety quiz followed
by a detailed
explanation to the
fire safety related
questions that were
posed. Includes
sharing or recent
incidents, lessons
learnt and discussion
on mitigation of
different fire
scenarios. Practical
session will cover the
use of extinguisher,
fire blanket and hose
reel.
Participants must
successfully complete
the 'Fire Safety
Education' course or
its equivalent before
they can attend this
course.
Recommended for any
other staff or student
who are interested in
a refresher after
attending the Fire
Safety Education
Course.
This course belongs to
Campus Emergency &
Security, University
Campus Infrastructure.
Please contact
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg if
you have any query.
|
|
Recommended
|
|
Crisis Management:
Business As Usual
|
The 2-days Crisis
Management Course aims
to train the Unit
Incident Commanders
(UICs), Deputy
Incident Commanders,
Managers & senior
team members of your
Unit Incident &
Crisis Committee
(UICC), your staff;
and members of NUS CEM
Team on the Crisis
Management &
Crisis Communications.
Invitation for
nomination is sent to
the Unit Incident
Commanders about one
month before each
course. The nomination
of participants for
this course is through
the Unit Incident
Commander and
registration with
Campus Emergency &
Security, University
Campus Infrastructure
via
ucibox26@nus.edu.sg
|
|
Safety and Health
Management System
(SHMS) (OSHSMS01)
|
Recommended for
Principal Investigators
(PIs) and Laboratory
Supervisors, Research
Fellows/Engineers on how
to conduct risk
assessments and develop
safety management
systems for
laboratories.
|
|
Chemical Spill
Response (Hands-on)
|
Recommended for Safety
and Health
Coordinators (SHC)
where their department
has laboratories using
chemicals. This is a
“Train the trainer”
type of course to
equip the SHC to teach
staff and students in
the department how to
conduct chemical spill
response. It is a
pre-requisite for SHCs
to complete the
on-line chemical spill
course (OSHCHM05)
before they attend the
hands-on training.
|
|
Biological Spills
and Emergency
Response (Hands-on)
|
Recommended for Safety
and Health
Coordinators (SHC)
where their department
has laboratories using
biological material.
This is a “Train the
trainer” type of
course to equip the
SHC to teach staff and
students in the
department how to
conduct biological
spill response. It is
a pre-requisite for
SHCs to complete the
on-line biological
spill course
(OSHBIO05) before they
attend the hands-on
training.
|
: Online Training via
CHRS/Canvas Training
: Face-to-face /
Classroom Training
How to take training:
: E-learning courses on
CANVAS
can be taken at https://
canvas.nus.edu.sg/.
For instructions on how
to complete the safety
training through CANVAS
click
here
Need more help? Head
over to our
FAQ section
for more information.
* ORMC through its
safety assessment
schemes may prescribe
PIs to attend safety
training courses listed
above.
Other resources:
Safety and health
videos for
laboratories,
workshops and general
workplaces are
available at:
1)
Safetyhub
2)
Maxtrax Premier
Safety Training
Videos
Glossary of Safety
training
|
|