(Photo taken pre-COVID-19)

As mall operators, we prioritise the health and safety of the communities that visit our premises. To make this happen, there is a team of silent heroes behind the scenes who are committed to upkeeping safe spaces for our tenants, shoppers, and visitors. From ensuring the cleanliness of our malls, to maintaining the malls’ systems and facilities, our staff are dedicated to delivering the best experiences with our shoppers’ safety and well-being in mind. Their jobs can be dangerous at times, requiring them to work at heights or lift heavy objects, which is why we place an equally significant importance on the health and safety of our staff. 

Earlier this year, The Straits Times reported, “While the number of work-related deaths and injuries overall fell in 2020 due to the suspension of workplace activities in the middle of the year, the injury rate in the final three months of the year returned to pre-pandemic levels.” With rising cases of workplace injuries and accidents, the authorities have renewed calls for greater vigilance to assess and mitigate the risks at work. As an organisation, we are committed to improving workplace safety to create better and safer working conditions for our staff. To solidify this commitment, we have attained international and local workplace safety and health certifications, such as ISO 45001 and bizSAFE respectively.

ISO 45001 is an international standard for occupational health and safety, which aims to protect employees and visitors from work-related injuries and illnesses, while promoting their physical and mental health. To achieve this, it is crucial to limit all factors that might result in illness, injury, and in extreme cases, death, while mitigating any adverse risks on an individual’s physical or mental well-being. 

Similar to ISO 45001, bizSAFE is a nationally recognised capability-building programme that is designed to help companies build workplace safety and health capabilities. It also includes elements from SGSecure to help companies implement measures to manage potential terror threats. Both certifications are issued by the Workplace Safety and Health Council under the Ministry of Manpower.

Currently, all our malls are ISO 45001 certified and awarded the bizSAFE STAR status, which is the highest level of bizSAFE certification. As these certifications have to be renewed every three years, we have been and will be sustaining these accreditations by constantly reviewing and refining our Workplace Safety & Health Management Systems to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for all. 

Keeping our malls ISO 450001 and bizSAFE certified

ISO 45001 and bizSAFE are standards which protect the safety and health of staff, as well as persons affected by their work – which include the contractors whom we engage. One of the most important components in ISO 45001 and bizSAFE is to conduct risk assessments to identify hazards and ensure that adequate safety measures are taken. 

For ISO 45001, risk assessments are conducted for all work activities, including those done by contractors. After the risk assessment, effective risk control measures need to be implemented. To successfully receive the certification, companies will need to ensure that any machinery, equipment, and process used at work is safe, and that pathways used do not pose a risk to anyone in their premises. Staff will also need to be provided with sufficient instruction, training, and supervision to ensure that they can work safely.  

For bizSAFE, risk assessment also includes security risks posed by terror threats at the workplace. Once the threats are identified during the risk assessment phase, a robust contingency response plan needs to be implemented and disseminated to staff so that they can familiarise themselves with it. Regular drills and exercises should be conducted to further familiarise staff with the plan, as well as to identify any gaps or flaws. 

Photo credit: Ministry of Home Affairs

Both ISO 45001 and bizSAFE are based on a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, which focuses on continuous improvement and enhancing of processes to mitigate risks of workplace injuries and diseases. Within the three-year period during which the certifications are valid, surveillance audits are conducted regularly to ensure that procedures are in place and improvements are made. 

Protecting our shoppers and tenants 

While ISO 45001 and bizSAFE place a heavy emphasis on staff, they also benefit the health and well-being of shoppers and tenants indirectly. In addition to conducting risk assessments, upkeeping proper maintenance records also forms part of the infrastructure for ISO 45001 and bizSAFE. For instance, the maintenance records for cooling towers, escalators, elevators, and other machinery are checked thoroughly and frequently, to ensure the air quality in our malls remain optimal and common facilities are safe to use. 

To acquire these certifications, we look into every aspect of the mall operations in detail so that they can be run efficiently and safely. As a ISO 45001 and bizSAFE-certified mall operator, we’re able to assure the public that our malls’ are safe spaces for the staff, tenants, as well as the wider community.

Achieving these certifications is just one of several steps that we have taken to ensure workplace health and safety. At Frasers Property Retail, our staff are our greatest strength, and their health, safety, and well-being are the key drivers behind our organisational strategies, policies, and procedures. By fostering a culture of care for our staff, we believe in inspiring a healthier and safer work environment for the communities we serve.