Inclusion of Mental First Aid Responder and Other Practical Skills in BizSAFE Workplace Training
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Edward Chia Bing Hui’s inquiry on incorporating mental health and practical skills, like mental first aid responder training, into the bizSAFE framework to address evolving workforce needs. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng stated that the workplace safety and health system already includes mental health, with bizSAFE audit requirements now explicitly covering psychosocial hazards. The WSH Council has updated the Code of Practice on Risk Management to include guidance on mental health talks, well-being surveys, and risk mitigation strategies within bizSAFE training. Support is also available through the iWorkHealth tool, an online psychosocial assessment under the Total WSH Programme that helps companies and employees identify common workplace stressors. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng confirmed that the suggestion for mental health first responder training will be incorporated into the Total WSH programme for all companies.
Transcript
87 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for Manpower whether Singapore’s workplace safety and health system will incorporate mental health and the addition of practical skills, such as mental first aid responder, within the bizSAFE training framework so that all companies are better prepared to handle the evolving needs of our workforce.
Dr Tan See Leng: Our workplace safety and health (WSH) system already incorporates the area of mental health and well-being.
We continue to enhance the WSH system to place more emphasis on workplace health, including mental health. For example, the WSH Council has enhanced the audit requirements for bizSAFE to make it explicit that companies need to consider personal health risk factors and psychosocial hazards when conducting risk assessments. These include assessing how mental health affects safety at work and how work affects workers’ mental health.
To support companies to update their approaches, the WSH Council has expanded the Code of Practice on Risk Management to provide clearer guidance. For example, organisations should consider organising mental health talks to educate employees on self-care tips and conducting periodic surveys of employees' mental well-being. Examples of how to mitigate risks to mental well-being have been incorporated into bizSAFE training, following the enhanced Code of Practice.
There is also a range of existing support within the WSH Council’s Total WSH Programme. This includes the iWorkHealth tool, which is an online, self-administered psychosocial health assessment tool that helps companies and their employees to identify common workplace stressors, as part of workplace health risks and hazards.
We thank the Member for his suggestion on mental health first responder training. It will be incorporated into the Total WSH programme for all companies to tap on.