The Singapore WSH Conference 2024

17 Sep 2024 Conference Past Event

  • Date:

    11 Sep 2024

  • Time:

    9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

  • Location:

    Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

  • Spots Available:

    1600

  • Event resources:

    Not Added Yet

Held on 11 September 2024, the 8th edition of The Singapore Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Conference attracted over 1,600 delegates from various sectors. This gathering of thought leaders, government officials, industry experts and safety professionals highlighted a collective commitment to charting the course for WSH excellence and shaping the future of business.

In his pre-recorded Opening Address, Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, emphasised the “ABC” critical for WSH excellence: 

  • Alignment: Align WSH excellence to business success. Public sector initiatives, such as the WSH Bonus Scheme, reward contractors for their commitment to WSH, demonstrating that a strong focus on WSH can lead to better business opportunities.
  • Boldness: Embrace new practices and technologies. Minister Tan called on companies to be bold in setting new safety standards and exploring innovative solutions, such as AI-driven video surveillance and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
  • Collaboration: Establish strong partnerships across sectors and stakeholders to drive WSH improvements, both within Singapore and on a global scale.

Minister Tan also announced the launch of the WSH Advocate Programme. This new programme brings together major service buyers with extensive supply chains to advocate WSH excellence by encouraging their contractors to adopt higher WSH standards. The pioneer batch of WSH Advocates includes 18 companies from the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries. For more information on the programme, please visit https://wshc.sg/wshadvocate.

 
Setting the tone for the Conference, Dr David Michaels, Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health, delivered an impactful keynote. His presentation, backed by real-world case studies, introduced six key strategies for improving safety management, as well as their impact on business productivity and success. 

One key strategy, “Cultivating a safety culture through a safe operational culture”, was illustrated by Dr Michaels’ case study of the US National Electrical Grid. Following fatal injuries, CEOs of leading firms formed a partnership with the government and unions to improve workplace safety. For two decades now, this partnership has contributed to significantly reduced fatalities – from 40 per 100,000 workers to less than 4 – and improved productivity. 


Throughout the day, delegates were actively engaged in discussions at the two plenary sessions and four symposiums. Dr Ralf Franke from Siemens AG spoke on the importance of designing and managing work environments that strengthen resources and resilience, emphasising the role of leaders in fostering a culture of care and engagement at the workplace. Building on this, Ms Chia Lye Peng of FlexoSense demonstrated how data analytics can transform WSH by tracking near-misses, and stressed the importance of top management support.


The symposiums explored critical themes, including the integration of WSH with business strategies for financial and operational benefits, maintaining sustainable and safe supply chains, addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by AI and automation, and ensuring safety for an ageing workforce.

 
A fresh and engaging addition to this year’s Conference was the integration of three skits into the programme. These performances creatively highlighted the dilemmas and anxieties faced by business owners and safety officers in their efforts to drive WSH. The skits also showcased the role of technology and innovation in addressing workplace hazards and improving safety, offering delegates an entertaining and insightful experience.