Do I need to obtain BCA’s approval for all my workers before they are allowed to commence work? If yes, how could I get the approval? [Updated on 18 May 2021]
If you are deploying workers who are work pass holders or S-Pass holders registered under the construction account with the Ministry of Manpower, your workers are permitted to commence work if their AccessCode status is ‘green’. No further application to BCA is required as permission has been given to all companies which employ foreign workers registered under the Construction Account with MOM, and which have not yet been approved as of 10 Aug 2020, to resume work (refer to circular here).
Please ensure that your workers are regularly scheduled for swab-testing for COVID-19 via the Swab Registration System (SRS).
All workers must also complete and pass an online course by 10 June 2021 (for workers who already applied for the course). More details can be found at www.bcaa.edu.sg/BESafe. The Covid-Safe Training for Workers will no longer be a requirement with effect from 1 June 2021.
For foreign workers who are not registered under the construction account with the Ministry of Manpower, no approval from BCA is required.
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Can the maintenance of Lift and Escalators (L&E) carry on? [Updated on 10 August]
Maintenance of L&E work may continue.
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Can upgrading/installation of L&E (where a permit to commence structural works from BCA is not required) resume? [Updated on 10 August]
Upgrading/installation works involving L&E that are not on a construction site and does not require a permit to commence structural works from BCA may resume. No approval from BCA is required to restart these works.
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Can installation and/or upgrading of L&Es (where a permit to commence structural works from BCA is required) resume? [Updated on 10 August]
L&E installation and/or upgrading works where a permit to commence structural works from BCA is required cannot resume/commence unless specific approval from BCA is obtained. The resumption/commencement of these works will follow a phased starting of the construction projects.
The main contractor of the project will coordinate the application to restart for all sub-contractors. You should take instructions from the main contractor of the project that you are working on. There is no need for you as a sub-contractor to separately obtain approval to start work for these projects.
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| Can I deploy a maintenance worker to do installation work, or an installation worker to do maintenance work?
No, L&E maintenance workers are only allowed to carry out maintenance work. They must not come into contact with any construction/installation/upgrading worker, nor enter any construction/installation/upgrading site as part of the Safe Management Measures (SMM) to ensure segregation of their workforce into different teams.
For installation/upgrading workers, MOM’s requirements of SMM does not encourage cross-deployment of workers on general workplaces. Notwithstanding, if cross deployment cannot be avoided, additional safeguards (e.g. staggered work hours and segregated work and rest areas) must be taken to minimise the risk of cross infection.
These workers must comply with the relevant safe worksite and safe accommodation guidelines in BCA’s COVID-Safe Restart criteria, which can be accessed here: https://www1.bca.gov.sg/docs/default-source/bca-restart/covid-safe-restart-criteria.pdf
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My company carries out both L&E maintenance and upgrading/installation, what are some of the things that I should take note of?
Employers are to house L&E maintenance workers separately from installation workers. Where possible, L&E maintenance workers should not stay in dormitories.
Employers must ensure that their workers are provided with sufficient personal protective equipment such as face masks and observe good personal hygiene (hand sanitisers). Employers must also have safe distancing measures in place when works are being carried out, where possible.
Companies with construction work permit and S-Pass holders providing services related to lift and escalators maintenance must ensure compliance with COVID-Safe Workforce and COVID-Safe Worker Accommodation/Transport Restart Criteria that can be found at https://go.gov.sg/bca-restart-criteria. |
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How will a typical L&E installation in construction sites be split into different zones?
It is recommended that a typical L&E installation with motor room be split into 3 different zones. Zone 1 – Motor Room, Zone 2 – Lift shaft including lift pit, Zone 3 – Lift car. It is also recommended that a perimeter be set minimally 2m from the lift shaft at each landing. Where this cannot be achieved due to site constraints, this perimeter should be set-up to be as large as practicable.
This recommendation is to ensure that there is sufficient space to practice safe distancing, and for workers to carry out their work effectively. L&E contractors may exercise due diligence at zoning, as conditions may differ from site to site. Nonetheless, safe distancing between workers must be observed.
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Where will safe-entry QR codes be located?
Safe-entry QR codes shall be placed at the entry points of each zone.
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How many sub-contractors are allowed in any zone at any time?
Only 1 sub-contractor shall be allowed in any zone at any time, and shall use safe-entry whenever any worker enters or leaves the zone. This is to prevent sub-contractors from mixing with other sub-contractors.
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Are my sub-contractors required to be cohorted with the rest of the construction workers working in a particular construction site?
No. They are not required to be cohorted with the rest of the construction workers if proper segregation is in place such that the L&E workers do not come into contact with the other construction workers. Nonetheless, these workers shall be subjected to the COVID-Safe management requirements as mentioned in Sections D & E above.
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What should I do if a worker displays acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms? [Updated on 10 June]
If your worker displays any ARI symptom, you must immediately isolate him from the other workers who are staying with him. These other workers and those who work with the sick worker on worksite must not be deployed for work and must stay within their accommodation.
The sick worker shall be sent to a doctor for a diagnosis. If a swab test is required by the doctor, and the result of the swab test is negative, the rest of the workers may be allowed to resume working. The sick worker will resume working only after he has fully recovered.
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What should I do if a worker is tested positive for COVID-19? [Updated on 24 August]
If a worker is tested positive for COVID-19, the employer shall immediately isolate him from the other workers who are staying with him. The employer shall notify BCA immediately of the confirmed case using this FormSG link: https://form.gov.sg/5ec748cd530c12001170e6e5.
All other workers who are working or staying with the confirmed COVID-19 worker shall not be deployed for work and shall stay within their accommodation until further instruction from MOH is given. In the meantime, the employer of these workers must ensure that their meals and daily needs are provided.
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