Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations

Workplace Safety and Health Act

(Chapter 354A, Section 65)

Rg 4

G.N. No. S 137/2006

REVISED EDITION 2007

(1st October 2007)

[1st March 2006]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“dentist” means a registered dentist under the Dental Registration Act (Cap. 76) who has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act;

“first-aid” means —

(a)	in cases where a person needs help from a medical practitioner or nurse, treatment for the purpose of preserving life and minimising the consequences of bodily injury until such help is obtained; or
(b)	treatment of minor bodily injury which does not require treatment by a medical practitioner or nurse;

“hospital” means any premises used or intended to be used for the reception, lodging, treatment and care of persons who require medical treatment or care or who suffer from any disease, injury or disability of mind or body, and includes a maternity home and a nursing home;

“medical clinic” means any premises used or intended to be used by a medical practitioner, a dentist or any other person —

(a)	for the diagnosis or treatment of persons suffering from, or believed to be suffering from, any disease, injury or disability of mind or body; or
(b)	for curing or alleviating any abnormal condition of the human body by the application of any apparatus, equipment, instrument or device requiring the use of electricity, heat or light,

but does not include a hospital;

“medical practitioner” means a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174) who has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act.

[S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

Application

3. These Regulations shall not apply to —

(a)	any hospital; and
(b)	any medical clinic. [S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

Provision of first-aid boxes

4.—(1) Every workplace shall be provided with a sufficient number of first-aid boxes.

[S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(2) Where a workplace is located in a building, each floor of the building shall be provided with a sufficient number of first-aid boxes.

[S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(3) Every first-aid box provided in a workplace shall —

(a)	be adequately equipped;
(b)	be properly maintained;
(c)	be checked frequently to ensure that it is adequately equipped and that all the items in it are usable;
(d)	be clearly identified as a first-aid box;
(e)	be placed in a location that is well-lit and accessible; and
(f)	be under the charge of a person appointed by the occupier of the workplace. [S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(4) Nothing except appliances or requisites for first-aid shall be kept in a first-aid box.

First-aiders

5.—(1) Where more than 25 persons are employed in a workplace, there shall be appointed in the workplace as first-aiders who shall be readily available during working hours such number of persons as complies with the ratio of one first-aider for every 100 persons employed in the workplace or part thereof.

[S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(2) Every person appointed as a first-aider under paragraph (1) shall —

(a)	have successfully completed a training course acceptable to the Commissioner; and [S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]
(b)	undergo such subsequent re-training in first-aid treatment as the Commissioner may require.

(3) Where there is a shift work schedule in a workplace, the ratio of the number of first-aiders available on each shift to the number of persons employed at work on that shift shall comply with the ratio specified in paragraph (1).

[S 514/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(4) Every first-aider shall maintain a record of all treatment rendered by him.

(5) A notice shall be affixed in every workplace stating the names of the first-aiders appointed under paragraph (1).

First-aid room

6. Unless otherwise permitted by the Commissioner in writing, where there are more than 500 persons at work in a workplace, there shall be provided and maintained a first-aid room of such standard as may be approved by the Commissioner.

First-aid for exposure to toxic or corrosive substances

7.—(1) Where any person in a workplace may be exposed to toxic or corrosive substances, the occupier of the workplace shall make provision for the emergency treatment of the person if so required by the Commissioner.

(2) Where the eyes or body of any person in a workplace may come into contact with toxic or corrosive substances, the occupier of the workplace shall ensure that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body are provided and properly maintained within the work area for emergency use.

Offences

8.—(1) An occupier of a workplace who, without reasonable excuse, fails to ensure that regulation 4(1), (2), (3) or (4), 5(1), (2), (3) or (5), 6 or 7(1) or (2) is complied with in relation to the workplace shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)	to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; or
(b)	if the occupier of the workplace is a repeat offender, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(2) A first-aider who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes regulation 5(4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

(3) In paragraph (1), “repeat offender”, in relation to an offence, means an occupier of a workplace who —

(a)	is convicted, or found guilty, of an offence specified in the first column of the Schedule (called the current offence); and
(b)	has been convicted, or found guilty, of an offence specified opposite the current offence in the second column of that Schedule, on at least one other earlier occasion within the period of 5 years immediately before the date on which the person is convicted, or found guilty, of the current offence.

[S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]

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