Construction Companies Transporting Workers in Rear Decks of bizSAFE Level 3-certified Lorries and Risk Management Audits Carried Out
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Rachel Ong’s inquiry into the percentage of bizSAFE Level 3-certified construction companies transporting workers on lorries and whether audits incorporate safety requirements effective from January 2023. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng stated that while specific data is not collected, over 50% of construction firms are bizSAFE Level 3-certified, with renewals occurring every three years. He explained that bizSAFE audits prioritize a company’s top three risks, while the Ministry of Manpower conducts separate inspections to ensure compliance with legal requirements like "Vehicle Buddies" and driver rest breaks. Furthermore, the Land Transport Authority mandates that lorries be fitted with canopies and higher railings, and that front cabins be fully occupied before using rear decks. Employers are advised to refer to the Inter-Agency Advisory on Safe Transport of Workers, as non-compliant companies will be issued notices to comply.
Transcript
27 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has data on the percentage of construction companies which transport workers in rear decks of lorries that are bizSAFE Level 3 certified; (b) whether the risk management audits on such companies for bizSAFE certification incorporate checks on the new legal requirements and recommended practices set out by the interagency advisory on safe transportation of workers effective 1 January 2023; and (c) if so, whether companies which have been certified before 1 January 2023 will be re-audited.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not collect data on the percentage of construction companies which transport workers on rear decks of lorries that are bizSAFE Level 3-certified. However, more than 50% of all construction companies are at least bizSAFE Level 3-certified.
bizSAFE is intended to help companies build their workplace safety and health (WSH) capabilities using a Risk Management approach, and renewal for bizSAFE Level 3 is done every three years.
The bizSAFE audit focuses on ensuring that companies have adequate risk management systems and processes in place to identify, address and eliminate WSH risks to their workers, including those transported on rear decks of lorries. bizSAFE auditors will focus on what they assess to be the top three risks for each company, which may or may not include lorry transport, depending on the nature of the companies’ work activities.
MOM conducts inspections to check for employers’ compliance with the legal requirements introduced since 1 January 2023, such as appointing a “Vehicle Buddy” and ensuring that dual role drivers have a rest break before driving. Non-compliant employers are issued notices and are required to comply.
Beyond MOM’s requirements, there are other safety requirements, such as requirements by the Land Transport Authority for the front passenger cabin to be fully occupied before the rear deck can be used to transport workers, and for lorries transporting workers to be fitted with canopies and higher side railings. Employers and other stakeholders should refer to the Inter-Agency Advisory on Safe Transport of Workers which consolidates new and existing legal requirements and recommended practices to enhance safety of workers on lorry transportation.