bizSAFE

Introduction

There is no conflict between workplace safety and health (WSH) and profitability. A safe and healthy business is also a productive and profitable business. When accidents occur at workplaces, workers and their families suffer as a consequence. The employers also suffer loss of business and profitability. Workplace deaths, injuries, and illnesses are expensive for a business. One serious workplace injury can greatly impact the bottom line of a business and its reputation. Employers who implement an effective safety and health management system can expect to reduce injuries and illnesses. The costs associated with these injuries and illnesses, including workers’ compensation payments, medical expenses, and loss in productivity can be very much reduced.

The world’s best enterprises believe that investing in workplace safety and health makes good business sense. It increases productivity, enhances the corporate image and makes a positive statement about the values of the enterprise. Good WSH standards contribute to a enterprise’s competitiveness. Consumers and enterprises are more likely to do business with enterprises that practise good WSH. With more and more big corporations outsourcing their businesses, this is particularly important for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that account for a large proportion of the outsourced market.

Safety is everyone’s business, but the leader of an enterprise is responsible to set the direction under which safe practices are implemented, practiced, documented and improved on a continuing basis. How committed are you to worker safety? Let’s ensure that every worker under your care returns to his home and family, whole and unharmed.

Why adopt bizSAFE?

Six new sectors were covered in the expanded Workplace Safety and Health Act in March 2008. They included:

Services allied to the transport of goods, such as logistics, freight forwarding and cargo surveying services;
Landscape care and maintenance service activities, such as grass-cutting;
Water supply, sewerage and waste management, such as refuse disposal;
Hotels and restaurants;
Healthcare activities such as hospitals; and
Veterinary activities.

Workplaces in these new sectors are expected to follow the key principles of the WSH Act that advocates reducing risks at source, increasing stakeholders’ ownership and adopting a performance-based approach.

bizSAFE is a programme tailored to assist the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) build up their workplace safety and health capabilities. It provides a 5-step approach to help SMEs progress, from top management demonstrating their commitment towards WSH, to acquiring Risk Management (RM) and Workplace Safety & Health Management System (WSHMS) capabilities. In the process, participating SMEs gain recognition and benefits of having a comprehensive WSH system in place.

The Benefits of bizSAFE?

The bizSAFE programme promotes workplace safety and health (WSH) through the recognition of your safety efforts. In this programme, there are five different levels to achieve. To start, your enterprise’s top management must show the commitment to WSH. The efforts must be continued till the achievement of a good WSH management system.

When your enterprise attains any bizSAFE level, your enterprise will be able to display the relevant bizSAFE logo on the business collaterals (such as letterhead, name card, etc) to showcase your commitment to safety. With bizSAFE membership, your enterprise may enjoy other business privileges and advantages offered by bizSAFE partners who participate in this program, which may include the various governmental agencies, big corporations and even suppliers.

How MFE International can help you apply for BizSAFE?

MFE International is a BizSAFE approved training provider and we can help you apply for BizSAFE

Level 1

To start the bizSAFE journey, your enterprise’s top management start with a bizSAFE workshop for CEO/Top Management conducted by MFE International. Upon completion of the workshop, your company will be granted bizSAFE Level 1.

Going on to Level 2 and 3

For Level 2, your enterprise must select a Risk Management (RM) Champion. MFE International will train this RM Champion on Risk Management. At the end of the course, the RM Champion must chart out the RM Implementation Plan. MFE will help to review the RM Implementation Plan. Your enterprise will then be upgraded to bizSAFE Level 2.

In order to attain bizSAFE Level 3 status, MFE International will help your enterprise to look for an approved independent auditor to assess the implementation of your enterprise’s RM Plan. Subject to the auditor’s report that your enterprise has met the requirements of the WSH (RM) Regulations, the Enterprise may then be recognised as bizSAFE Level 3.

The journey continues

For Level 4, your enterprise must select a Workplace Safety and Health Management System (WSHMS) Programme Lead to attend the MFE International bizSAFE course on WSHMS. With the acquired knowledge, MFE International will support the WSHMS Programme Lead to:

plan for the development and implementation of the WSMS to meet the requirements of SS506 or OHSAS 18001
carry out a gap analysis to identify the gaps in your comapny safety management system viz-a-viz SS 506 or OHSAS 18001
design and develop a WSH Implementation Plan to comply with SS506 or OHSAS 18001

Your company can then apply for BizSAFE level 4

In order to apply for a bizSAFE Star, MFE can help you:

support the WSHMS Programme Lead to implementation the WSHMS company-wide
carry out an audit to ensure the company's WSMS comply with SS506 or OHSAS 18001
Help you to look for an independent third party certification company to certify that your WSHMS meets SS506 or OHSAS 18001.