Occupational Health and Safety

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 1
Occupational health and safety
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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 2
Introduction
Occupational health is the identification and prevention of hazards resulting from
physical, chemical and other workplace risks setting up and maintaining a safe and
healthy working environment.
Occupational Health focuses on the physical and mental wellbeing of workers in
the workplace (Davoodi et al., 2017, p.136) to. It aims at preventing illnesses and
injuries resulting from work environment through promoting safe working practices,
monitoring of the workforce, finding ways of how to improve working strategies, and
encouraging continuous workplaces free from illnesses. It enhances the safety of
employees at the work area and proper health and wellness through legislation,
supporting policies, potential building and engagement programs (Zhang et al., 2018,
p.784-788). In order to achieve these objectives, various stakeholders, employers and
employees join hands in identifying any health risks arising at the working environment,
assessing and managing safety to eliminate death, ill health, and injury.
Singapore is a developing country in Southeast Asia with three million
populations and 1.75 million workforces. Many of the workers are employed in
manufacturing, services and commerce sector (Uijtdewilligen, Yin, van der Ploeg &
Müller-Riemenschneider, 2017, p.169). It is small and has limited natural resources thus
manpower being their main resource, there is a need to sustain and develop human
capital in ensuring a better economy with adequate skills and knowledge. Singapore is
in the front line in reducing workplace injuries, accidents, illnesses and deaths and
preventing the possible health risks. Due to advancement in economic activities in
Singapore from traditional heavy manufacturing to higher value-added manufacturing
research and services, health conditions resulting from work environments are coming

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 3
up. Such conditions involve work-related musculoskeletal disorders and noise-induced
deafness (Surasak Buranatrevedh, 2015, p. S64-S69). Singapore has addressed these
health issues in order to prevent chronic illnesses and improve general wellbeing of
employees by promoting health. Identifying methods for ensuring overall safety, health
and well-being of employees decreases the associated risks of poor health, injuries and
deaths thus increasing the efficiency.
Reporting of workplace accidents, injuries and diseases is a legal requirement in
Singapore under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) regulations. These
regulations ensure that all work environments are covered and employers should report
all death, injuries, hazardous happenings and Occupational Diseases related to
workplace environment to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). WSH has a big role in
determining new and emerging happenings and risks through intelligently detecting any
cases and facilitating data analysis (Hernandez & Saquido, 2018, p.282). It also
collaborates with other stakeholders in finding a possible solution to mitigate
occupational health-related risks. Efforts in ensuring a safe working environment to all
employees by WSH has experienced challenges from political support, inadequate
private and public resources that are required in trying to prevent all work-related
injuries and ill-health. (Marhavilas, Koulouriotis, Nikolaou & Tsotoulidou 2018, p.3663).
The aim of reporting is to allow a proper investigation to determine risk factors and
develop preventive measures and trends in monitoring and allow early detection of
emerging concerns.WSH is also essential since early reporting allows the affected
parties to claim for appropriate compensation and ensure easy processing of claims as
required.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 4
Theoretical approaches to management of occupational health and
wellbeing
Various theories were adopted in the study in relation to the structure, culture
and managing self’ in ensuring wellbeing of employees (Win, Balalla Lwi & Lai 2015, p.
134-138). Organizational change theory is employed in this study as it focuses on
change processes essential for development and success of initiatives in promotion of
health. It helps come up with strategies to promote wellbeing in workplaces and reduce
health hazards of concern that could deteriorate health of the workers.
Management theory and practice is also used in this study as it addresses emergency
issues like illness in workplaces (Hämäläinen, Takala & Kiat 2017, p. 3-4).
. It ensures proper planning and provides guidelines on proper operation
activities with understanding of health hazards that may easily occur.
The top two occupational health issues of concern within Singapore industry
identified are:
a) Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMDs)
b) Noise induced deafness (NID)
The top most reported occupational diseases in Singapore according to Workplace
Safety and Health Report 2018 is work WMSDs that have 326 cases including back
injury cases attributable to risks resulting from poor designing of the workplace. Noise-
Induced Deafness (NID) is ranged the second occupational disorder with 163 cases.