WSH Alert Accident Advisory, 30 April 2020: Cleaner found lying at staircase landing
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30 April 2020, Ref: 2021013 |
Accident Advisory: Cleaner found lying at staircase landing |
| Ref: 2021001 WSH Alert Accident Notification dated 7 April 2020 |
| On 28 March 2020, a cleaner was found lying on the staircase landing of a residential building with his cleaning equipment nearby. The injured cleaner was conveyed to the hospital where he passed away the following morning. |
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| Figure 1: Overview of the accident scene. |
Recommendations |
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Persons in control of similar workplaces and work activities such as employers, principals and contractors are advised to consider the following risk control measures to prevent similar accidents: |
| Safe work environment • Ensure staircases and staircase landings are sufficiently illuminated. Defective lightings should be replaced immediately. • Highlight the edge of steps (and slopes) to increase their visibility, for example, by painting with anti-slip paint or applying anti-slip tape. • Equip wider staircases with handrails on both the left and right sides of the staircase. For very wide staircases, consider installing additional handrails in the middle of the staircase. • Encourage workers to report to their supervisors once they encounter unsafe work conditions. |
| Safe Work Procedure (SWP) • Brief workers on possible on-site hazards, associated risks and control measures prior to starting work. • Check that workers are familiar with the SWP for working at staircases. • Place signs or stickers at staircases to remind staircase users on the importance of using handrails to prevent falls. |
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) • Provide workers with footwear that is suitable for the location of work, such as non-slip shoes. • Conduct checks to ensure that workers put on the provided footwear while at work. • Place all company-issued footwear on a regular inspection and replacement programme. |
Risk Assessment |
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Employers, principals and contractors are required to conduct a thorough Risk Assessment (RA) for all cleaning activities at work premises to manage any foreseeable risk that may arise. The RA should address, but not limited to, the following areas: |
| Ground condition Assess the ground condition at the designated work area for slip, trip and fall hazards, and look out for locations where one may easily lose balance (e.g. if workers are required to work on steps or sloping surfaces). Highlight these hazards to the worker and advise on the SWP. |
| Worker health Consider the health condition of the worker to ensure that he is sufficiently fit for the physical demands of the assigned task. Ensure workers have enough rest as fatigue can reduce one’s alertness to hazards in the work environment. |
Further Information |
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1. Workplace Safety and Health Act
2. Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations
3. Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations
4. Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management
5. WSH Council’s Guide to Workplace Safety and Health (p/19-21)
6. WSH Guidelines on Cleaning and Custodial Services
7. WSH Guidelines on Workplace Housekeeping
8. Singapore Standard SS 485: 2011 Specification for Slip Resistance Classification
of Pedestrian Surface Materials 9. Singapore Standard SS 513: 2013 Specification for Personal Protective Equipment
– Footwear – Part 1: Safety Footwear; Part 2: Test Methods for Footwear 10. Singapore Standard SS 531: 2006 (2019) Code of Practice for Lighting of Work
Places – Part 1: Indoor 11. Singapore Standard SS 531: 2008 (2019) Code of Practice for Lighting of Work
Places – Part 2: Outdoor 12. WSH Council’s Activity-Based Checklist for Slips, Trips and Falls
13. WSH Council’s WSH Checklist for Facilities Management
14. WSH Council’s 6 Basic WSH Rules to prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
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Information on the accident is based on preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Manpower as at |
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