Improving WSH for the

Waste Management Industry

A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Tan Pe Ter
Senior Manager (Planning & Evaluation)
Workplace Safety and Health Institute

www.wsh-institute.sg

Overview

About WSH Institute

Singapores WSH Framework
Progressing WSH in Singapore

OSHD

WSHC

WSHI

Occupational Safety & Health Division

Workplace Safety & Health Council

Workplace Safety & Health Institute

REGULATOR

INDUSTRY
PARTNER

THINK TANK

Legislation, Policies,
Compliance Assistance &
Enforcement

Educating & Engaging

Stakeholders, Promoting
WSH

Charting New Grounds

for WSH Excellence and
Innovation

A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

About WSH Institute

WSH Institute was formed in Apr 2011 as
recommended in the WSH 2018 national strategy
As part of our endeavour to
establish Singapore as a Centre of
Excellence for WSH, we will develop
an Institute dedicated to WSH ....
The Institute can also explore
establishing a link with global risk
observatories and share research
findings on new and emerging WSH
hazards unique to Asia.
- Extracted from Workplace Safety and Health Strategy
2018
A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

What we do
Our Vision: A leading institute for WSH knowledge and innovations
Our Mission: Enhancing WSH through knowledge, innovations and solutions

A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Overview

Background
The Industry

Waste management industry is governed and regulated by the Waste and

Resource Management Department (WRMD) of the NEA
About 300-400 licenced general waste collectors in Singapore
Incineration plants receive between 200 and 900 waste trucks per day
More than 60 cases of bin falling incidents were reported incinerator plants
from 2009-2011

How it started

Between 2009 and 2011, incineration plants witnessed a number of

workplace incidents resulting in injuries to workers.
Mainly involved truck-mounted refuse bins dropping from the trucks during
the process of discharging refuse.
Back injuries and disorders from bin drop incidents
Other body injuries from manual handling work
Industry sought help from MOM & WSHI on recommending interceptive
solutions
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Potential Impact to stakeholders

Lost capacity
and
productivity
Fatal or
serious
injuries

Repair, recovery
costs and
compensation
Disruption to
road traffic
from queues

Economic
loss, delays
and longer
queues

Delay in waste collection.

Potential
compromise to
Public hygiene/
health from
delays in
collection

Traffic disruption around incineration plants

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

What was done?

Identifying the Problem / Issue

i.
ii.

The WSH Institute identified the key stakeholders in the waste management
industries and interviewed the relevant industry representatives
Further information on the needs and challenges surrounding the container
falling issues were gathered from the government agencies, waste collection
companies, and the incineration plant operators.

Formulating the Research Objectives

i.
ii.

iii.

To understand key contributing factors to the

string of incidents at waste-to-energy plant;
To identify and recommend options (both
short/medium term and long term solutions) on
how the safety of the waste collection,
unloading and incineration plant could be
improved; and
To propose a framework to set safety standards
and raise the productivity and professionalism
of the waste management industry
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

What was done?

Formulating
3. Select
andMethods
consulting on the Recommendations

i.
ii.

iii.

Various possible contributory factors such as engineering design, human

factors and operational framework were investigated in detail.
The root cause of the waste container incidents was attributed to the sudden
opening of the central lock of the hook loader during tipping operations.
(human error, mechanical failure and control system failure)
To resolve the issue holistically, 17 recommendations (for short, medium or
long term durations) with details of key follow-ups were suggested.

Engineering
Human
Factors

Operational
Framework
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Schematic of parts in hook loader

Image
courtesy of
Palfinger
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Schematic of various modes

(a) Platform

(b) Loading

(c) Container Mounted

(d)Tipping

Image courtesy of Palfinger

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

The agreed recommendations

Key3.
Recommendations
Select Methods

Num
Recommendation
Short Term
Safety Alert to be issued to drivers and workers informing them on
1 the critical features of vehicle, and common poor and good practices.
2

Sample Visual Vehicle Inspection at Weighbridge

Introduce job aid for visual inspections of rear locks for waste
collectors and/or Drivers

Introduce visual inspection of container condition and compatibility

waste collectors and/or Drivers

5
6

Review discharge of waste at IPs SOP

Review incident data to see which make of hook loader was involved
in the bin-falling incident
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

The agreed recommendations

Key3.
Recommendations
Select Methods

Num
Recommendation
Medium Term
7 Introduce container certificates as part of licensing
8

System to penalise companies with persistent over-loaded trucks

records

Introduce a zero tolerance policy on bin falling incidents

10 Code of practice for safe unloading of waste - Safe selection,

operation, maintenance and inspection of hook loaders
11 Joint Inspection Visits by Government Agencies
12 Introduce systematic consideration of human factors in accident
and incident investigation
13 Review the Workforce Skills Qualification
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

The agreed recommendations

Key3.
Recommendations
Select Methods

Num
Recommendation
Long Term
Contract and licensing arrangements - Allow the Incineration Plant
14 Managers to have a greater control of safety issues on waste
operations on their sites
15

Enhancing Fail-safe design of Hook loader

16

Introduce Walking floor designs for trailers for refuse unloading

process

17

Revision of scope of the Lifting Regulations

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Outcomes and benefits to stakeholders

Stakeholder
Driver &
refuse crew

Expected and Recorded Outcomes

Employer of
driver or
crew

Incineration
plants

NEA
MOM
LTA

WDA
General
Public

Safer bin tipping process

Potentially higher income for paid-by-trip drivers, as they can cover more trips
as a result of shorter queues and safer and more efficient disposals
Less MC days due to injuries/ill health from previously unsafe practices
Avoidance of remedial costs from recovering fallen bins or trucks and
administrative costs from accident investigations
Faster turnaround to clients (waste generators) requests
A significant 50 % reduction in number of containers falling incidents, from 2010
to 2012 after key measures were put in place
Improved productivity of incineration plants with less downtime
A holistic framework that helps their various stakeholders better understand,
manage and prevent major workplace disruptions hence improving productivity,
safety and health of workers.
Increased detection rate of overloaded heavy vehicles with better intelligence
gathering.
Enhancement to specific areas of their current WSQ syllabus for drivers and
crew to improve the management of safety and health as well as operational
effectiveness.
More on-time waste collection and better quality to life and environment.
Less traffic disruption on public roads around incineration plants due to queues
of heavy vehicles.
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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Overview

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Pictorial Safety Guide for

General Waste Collectors
WMRAS, in collaboration with
the National Environment
Agency, Ministry of Manpower
and Workplace Safety and
Health Council jointly produced
a Safety Guide for General
Waste Collectors. (Photographs
with courtesy from Veolia
Environmental Services
Singapore)
Downloadable from WMRAS
website
http://www.wmras.org.sg/957

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Contents of the Pictorial Safety Guide

Pre-Operation
Vehicle Checks

Personal
protective
Equipment
(PPE)

Steps in
Loading &
Unloading of
Bins

Guide

Safe Removal
of Cover from
OTC

Steps in
Discharging
Waste

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Contents of the Pictorial Safety Guide

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Contents of the Pictorial Safety Guide

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

Partners, Stakeholders and

Sponsors

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations

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A Leading Institute for WSH Knowledge and Innovations