MERS-CoV -Health Advisory (June 2015)

Health Advisory (June 2015)

          The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend the application of any travel or trade restriction to areas affected by MERS-CoV. However, to reduce the risk of exposure to MERS-CoV, we advise Singaporeans and other residents travelling to affected areas to maintain their vigilance and adopt the following health precautions when overseas:

·         Observe good personal hygiene at all times;

·         Practise frequent hand washing (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are soiled);

·         You may consider wearing a surgical mask in crowded places and avoid close contact with persons suffering from acute respiratory infections (e.g. someone who is coughing);

·         Avoid contact with camels and other live farm or wild animals, including not visiting camel farms. If contact has been made, thoroughly wash hands with soap.

·         Adopt good food safety and hygiene practices and avoid consuming unpasteurised milk, undercooked meats, raw fruits and vegetables (unless they have been peeled), or unsafe water.

·         Avoid visiting healthcare institutions in the Middle East and South Korea, unless it is necessary to do so.

 

2           On their return from a MERS-CoV affected area, Singaporeans and other residents should monitor their health closely for two weeks. Singaporeans and other residents need not self-quarantine themselves upon their return if they have no symptoms of illness. However, they should wear a surgical mask and seek medical attention promptly if they become unwell with fever and cough and if they had recent travel history (within two weeks) to any areas reporting human cases of MERS-CoV. They should inform the doctor of the areas that they had travelled to. Truthful declaration of travel history is important. They may also be isolated for observation and further investigations, which may take up to 48 hours.

3           As the situation is evolving, MOH will provide updates should there be any further measures implemented according to our public health risk assessments. Singaporeans and other residents should refer to this MOH webpage on MERS-CoV for the latest health advisory.

MERS-CoV

Background

The Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus which causes acute respiratory illness in infected patients. The virus was first reported by the WHO on 22 September 2012, and thus far all cases worldwide remained associated with the Arabian Peninsula. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which are known to cause illness in humans and animals. Human coronaviruses usually cause mild respiratory illnesses like the common cold, with the exception of the MERS-CoV and the SARS coronavirus which can cause severe illness.

Potential conflicts of interest - WSH professionals

WSH Professionals warned to stay clear of activities with potential conflicts of interest

Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Professionals, including WSH Officers and WSH Auditors, are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards in their professional practices and should stay clear of any activities with potential conflicts of interest.   For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a WSH Officer, tasked by the Occupier to review and approve risk assessments submitted by the Occupier’s subcontractors, was also engaged in a commercial arrangement with the same subcontractors under his charge to conduct a risk assessment on their behalf. This situation creates at least two potential conflicts of interest: (i) the WSH Officer will be reviewing and approving his own risk assessment conducted on behalf of the subcontractor; and (ii) he is in a position of authority to influence the subcontractor to engage his consultancy services.   The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigated one such case recently and took enforcement actions against the WSH Officers involved. The Ministry takes a serious view on WSH Professionals who do not conduct their work with due regard for the professionalism of their practice. The Ministry will not hesitate to take actions against WSH Professionals who are found guilty of any misconduct. Penalties include revocation, blacklisting, suspension, and/or prosecution of the WSH Professionals.   Other situations with potential conflicts of interest include: • The WSH Professional tasked to oversee/appoint a WSH service provider concurrently has commercial arrangements with the service provider. • The WSH Auditor or his close relation has a management role or holds an equity interest at the company where he is conducting a WSH audit. • The WSH Auditor himself, or the WSH Auditing Organisation from which he is employed, is involved in the establishment/implementation of the safety and health management system of the company where he is conducting a WSH audit. • The WSH Auditor himself, or the WSH Auditing Organisation from which he is employed, provides any WSH Officer or Coordinator to the company where he is conducting a WSH audit.

Gazette of WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015

The WSH (Design for Safety) Regulations has been gazetted and published on 10 July 2015. It will come into operation on 1 August 2016.   The key provisions of the proposed WSH (DfS) Regulations are:   1. To place duties on developers and designers The proposed Regulations will place duties on developers and designers to identify and address foreseeable risks throughout the lifecycle of a construction project. Where risks cannot be mitigated by design interventions, it will have to be communicated to those involved in the construction project.   2. To require implementation of a DfS review process throughout every phase of the construction project The implementation of a DfS review process throughout every phase of the construction project (or whenever design changes are made) would ensure that risks in the design are highlighted and managed in a systematic and coordinated way. By making it a mandatory requirement, we can ensure that time and resources are set aside to address the WSH risks at the design and planning stage.   3. To require a DfS register for all construction projects To ensure vital information is communicated downstream, the regulations will require proper record keeping of WSH risk for future reference via a DfS register. The DfS register will record (i) safety and health issues identified during the design reviews and actions taken; and (ii) risks that cannot be removed through design changes. The DfS register should be a live document which will be updated as and when new WSH risks are identified.   4. To allow developers to appoint a DfS professional Developers have the option to discharge their duties, such as the facilitation of the DfS review process and the preparation of a DfS register, to a DfS professional. Nonetheless, to ensure that developers take responsibility for the risks they create, they would have to make arrangements to ensure that the DfS professional carries out his assigned duties with due diligence.   5. To mandate it for projects with contract value of $10 million and above For a start, we propose for the Regulations to apply only to projects with contract value of $10 million and above. Over the last two years, about 80% of fatal accidents and dangerous occurrences in the construction industry were contributed by projects with contract value of $10 million and above.