Opening Address by Mr Raj Joshua Thomas at SIFMA WSH Forum for Facilities Management Industry 2025

20 Feb 2025 Speeches

Opening Address by Mr Raj Joshua Thomas,
Chairman, WSH Council (Facilities Management) Committee, at 
the SIFMA WSH Forum for Facilities Management Industry 2025 on
Thursday, 20 February 2025, 2.30pm

Mr Frank Ngoh, President, Singapore International Facility Management Association,
Industry partners,
Ladies and gentlemen.

1. Good afternoon and welcome to the WSH Forum for the Facilities Management Industry. I am heartened to see many of us from the FM ecosystem here today. 

2. Today’s Forum marks the first time that SIFMA is taking the lead in organising the event, in collaboration with the Workplace Safety and Health Council and Temasek Polytechnic. Industry ownership is very commendable, and I urge others to follow in SIFMA’s footsteps. An event such as this provides us with the platform to speak about and collectively address issues in workplace safety & health in this evolving industry. 

2024 WSH Performance for FM Industry

3. Over the period from 2022 to 2023, we saw a decrease in reported major injuries in FM activities. There were 43 major injuries reported in 2023 down from 60 cases in 2022.¹

4. We had hoped to sustain the improvements in 2024, however we had 48 reported major injuries in FM activities in 2024, 5 more than 2023. 

5. We must not rest on our laurels and we should continue to ensure that good WSH practices are implemented on the ground to sustain this effort and strive to reduce injury rates in the FM industry. 

6. This is why we are continuing efforts in addressing WSH focus areas through our tripartite partners to improve WSH standards across different FM subsectors.

WSH in an evolving FM industry

7. Rapid advancements in the FM industry are transforming how facilities are operated and maintained, such as the increasing use of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. Many FM service providers have leveraged robotics to complement the workforce in services industry such as cleaning, security, and food and beverage.

8. With increasing sustainability demands by consumers, the industry faces growing pressure to adopt greener practices to reduce its environmental impact. However, this shift towards greener technologies is not without risks. In a tragic accident in June 2023, a worker lost his life while installing solar panels on the rooftop of a building. The incident occurred when the worker came into contact with an exposed cable that was arcing and emitting smoke, resulting unfortunately in an electrocution.

9. As the industry embraces technology and adopts innovative processes, it is crucial to also consider their broader implications. These advancements not only offer promising opportunities and productivity improvements, but their implementation also often requires a fundamental change in infrastructure and workforce requirements. In the current dynamic environment that we are operating in, it is imperative that workplace safety and health be prioritised above all, so that our workers are protected as we adopt new technology and practices.

WSH excellence through collective industry ownership

10. Achieving good workplace safety and health outcomes requires the collaborative efforts across all levels within an organisation, from its senior management to the frontline workers.

a) Senior management must establish robust WSH policies and foster an environment where workers feel empowered to report safety concerns. As leaders, we have the responsibility and authority to set exemplary WSH standards and implement effective WSH management systems to ensure that our workers can perform their duties in a safe environment. 

b) Managers and supervisors must implement safe work procedures, encourage workers to report any unsafe situation that they see and take action to rectify these hazards promptly. Such workers should also be rewarded for speaking up for safety. 

c) Workers on the ground must follow the safe work procedures and refrain from taking short-cuts to hasten their work. As our eyes and ears on the ground, we rely on our workers to inform us of any unsafe situations that they encounter, so that we can take corrective actions and the environment safer.

11. I cannot emphasise enough that unsafe workplaces have a greater cost to our companies, in comparison to them investing in safety. There are real and potentially long-lasting issues of physical injury to workers if an incident occurs, and other negative consequences to the company.

12. In the second half of 2024, MOM had conducted over 1,000 inspections and issued fines amounting to almost $500,000. Some findings include the lack of basic safety measures or non-compliance with established measures. 

13. Errant companies have also been identified and singled out, leading to reputational costs. Service buyers in the public and private sectors are increasingly adopting stringent WSH standards in their procurement requirements and companies with poor WSH records would not be considered favourably. Hence, it makes good business sense to ensure that good WSH management systems and practices are implemented from the outset. It is also important that our workers adhere to these measures so as to ensure that the workplace remains safe.

Efforts of WSH (Facilities Management) Committee

14. Over the years, the WSH Council (Facilities Management) Committee has played a key role in raising WSH awareness, building WSH capabilities and setting exemplary practices for the industry. 

15. Last year, we partnered with various Tripartite Clusters to enhance WSH competencies in FM sub-sectors through various initiatives and sharing sessions. In 2023, we published the Guide to WSH for MCSTs to provide practical WSH information for management councils and relevant stakeholders. Further to lending insights into the roles and responsibilities of the MCSTs in safeguarding the safety and health of workers, residents, tenants and visitors, the Guide recommends safe management practices for the MCST’s reference and adoption. 

16. This year, we are focused on collaborating with various trade associations and chambers in the FM industry, to co-create WSH resources to remind workers of the common, yet unique, risks and hazards within their respective industries. I hope you will find these materials useful and will share them with your workers once they are ready by the end of the year. 

Closing

17. The speakers that we have today are experts in their fields, and I trust you will be inspired to implement good practices applicable to your companies and industries. Let us make the most of today’s sessions and continue to work towards a safer, healthier workplace. I wish you a fruitful forum ahead. Thank you.

---

¹ The FM major injury stats here are represented by ‘Real Estate Activities’, ‘Cleaning & Landscape Maintenance Activities’ and ‘Security & Investigation Activities’ published in the National WSH Statistics Report 2022 and 2023