Framework for Safety & Health Risk Management in

DSO

OSH Seminar For Healthcare & Laboratory Workers

Wendell Harms

Chief Occupational Safety & Health OfficerDSO National Laboratories

Roadmap

• What does DSO do?• Unique challenges• Our programs for risk management• Lessons from our experience

DSO - Who we are

• S’pore’s foremost defence R&D organisation• Defence capabilities extended to support other

national agencies– eg, homeland security

• R&D competencies divided into 5 core areas:– Guided Systems– Electronic Systems– Information– Sensors– Defence Medical & Environmental Research

Research Areas & Associated Hazards

Guided Systems• Autonomous unmanned systems• Aerodynamics, flight control, navigation, guidanceElectronics Systems• Radiofrequency, microelectronics, antenna design,

electromagnetics, lasersSensors• Radar, acoustics, electro-optics, underwater sensorsDefence Medical & Environmental Research• Chemical & biological warfare agents, combat care,

human effectiveness, bioengineering

Staff Profile

Technical Support Staff

17%

Research Engineers &

Scientists70%

Corporate Staff13%

(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)

Technical Support Staff

17%

Research Engineers &

Scientists70%

Corporate Staff13%

(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)(Close to 1300 staff in DSO today)

Masters34%

PhD12%

Degree54%

(Close to 900 (Close to 900 RSEsRSEs))

Masters34%

PhD12%

Degree54%

(Close to 900 (Close to 900 RSEsRSEs))

Staff Profile

Unique Challenges

• Diverse research areas à diverse list of hazards, some in “specialised” areas

• Chartering new research territories à unknown hazards

• Project based research à changing hazard profile

• External field trials à less controlled conditions• High level of securityà hazard/risk appreciation

DSO Safety Organisation

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Program Directors /

Centre Head

Lab Head / Program Manager (LH/PM)

Project Mgr / PI

Staff

Specialist Safety SubComm(Electromagnetic Radiation)

Specialist Safety SubComm(Chemical-Biological-Radiological)

Specialist Safety SubComm(Explosives/Guided Systems Platforms)

Chief Occupational

Safety & Health Officer

(COSHO)

DSO Workplace Safety Committee (WSC)

Workplace Safety

Officers

DSO Occupational Health Panel

DivisionDirectors

Risk Management

Risk Identification

Risk Assessment

Risk Control

Risk Assessment for Specialised Areas

Specialist Safety SubCommittees• Review safety of trials/experiments with

significant risk• Develop & review Safety Regulations in

specialised areas– Microwave, Lasers, Human Pathogens, etc

Risk Assessment for Specialised Areas

Lab Head/PrgmMgr

Approve Safety

SSSCAssess SafetyC(moderate

injury)

DirectorApprove Safety

SSSCAssess SafetyB(serious injury)

CEOApprove Safety

SSSCAssess SafetyA(fatality)

Trial/Expt SafetySafety StepRisk Cat

Risk Management for General Workplace Safety

Safety Regulations– Pressurised Systems, Mechanical Handling,

Chemicals, Noise, etc– Approved by Workplace Safety Committee

Risk Assessment with COSHO endorsement– required for certain areas which need specific advice– Hazardous chemicals, pressurised systems, mobile

crane lifting

Chemical Risk Assessment

• Stipulated in Chemicals Safety Regulations

• Users to submit Hazardous Chemical Declaration Form for review by COSHO

• Qualitative Risk assessment performed, additional safety advice issued

• Approval by line mgt consistent with risk level

Chemical Risk Assessment

• Where necessary, exposure monitoring conducted

• Helps to identify medical surveillance requirements (more later)

• Considers emergency preparedness as well

Hazard ID Program

Safety & Health inspection program• Scheduled, periodic inspections of labs &

other work areas• Risk based approach for frequency

– High risk – 4 mth– Medium risk – 6 mths– Low risk – 1 yr

Annual Hazard Declaration• Lab Heads to declare hazardous

activities/equipment to COSHO• Serves as “hazard inventory”• Kept up-to-date by annual declaration• Accountability by line management

Hazard ID Program

Occupational Health Program

Occupational Health Panel• Comprise WSC Chairman, COSHO,

Occupational Health Advisor & HRD• Regular review of medical surveillance

results & requirements, & work-related cases

• Regular surveillance visits of lab facilities

Lessons from our experience

• Risk Assessment need not always conform to typical Job Hazard Analysis format– can be built into safety mgt framework, eg,

Regulations, inspection program, safety committees

• According responsibility for safety approval to line management is crucial –ownership & accountability

• Success of Risk Assessment program is highly dependent on line function’scompliance & involvement

Lessons from our experience

Thank you!Thank you!