SAFE (Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment) Measures
SAFE (Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment) Measures
What are SAFE Measures in the context of Singapore?
SAFE Measures also known as “Safety Accountability, Focus and Empowerment Measures” is a national initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore to strengthen Workplace Safety and Health (WSH), especially in high-risk sectors like construction and manufacturing.
These measures have been institutionalized to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by ensuring that safety is not just a checklist, but a core responsibility shared by all levels of a company – from the top management to ground workers.
What does each letter in the SAFE framework stand for?
The SAFE framework stands for:
● S: Safety: It means that companies and top management must take full responsibility for the safety outcomes. Senior leaders like CEOs and directors are required to conduct safety time-outs to pause operations and reassess safety controls.
● A: Accountability: It means making safety a leadership priority, not just a supervisory task.
● F: Focus: It refers to integrating safety into every stage of operations, from procurement to execution. Firms must evaluate safety risks right from the tendering and contracting stage. This helps prevent hazards before they emerge and ensures that safety is not treated as an afterthought.
● E: Empowerment: All workers and safety personnel should be empowered with the skills, training, and authority to uphold safety on the ground. This includes better onboarding for new workers, refresher training, and upskilling of WSH Officers.
What industries are primarily targeted under Singapore’s SAFE measures?
The SAFE measures primarily target high-risk industries such as construction and manufacturing, where workplace accidents, injuries, and fatalities are more frequent. These sectors involve hazardous work environments, making it crucial to strengthen safety ownership, integrate safety planning, and empower workers at all levels to reduce risks effectively.
Who are the stakeholders accountable under SAFE measures, and what is their role in workplace safety?
Under the SAFE measures, accountability for safety spans the entire organisational hierarchy:
● Top Management, e.g., CEOs, and Board Directors, are responsible for setting the tone at the top by prioritising safety in decision-making. They must conduct Safety Time-Outs (STOs) and lead safety culture by example.
● Middle Management, e.g., Project Managers, and Site Managers, are tasked with integrating safety into daily operations, ensuring that safety plans are implemented effectively, and maintaining compliance at the ground level.
● Supervisors and Team Leaders serve as the direct link between management and workers. They must actively monitor work conditions, enforce safety rules, and encourage hazard reporting.
● WSH Officers and Coordinators provide expert guidance on risk controls, training, and regulatory compliance. Their role includes conducting audits, offering technical safety input, and supporting incident investigations.
● Workers and Frontline Staff are expected to take ownership of their own safety and that of their peers. They should be empowered through training to speak up, stop unsafe work, and report hazards without fear.
Together, these stakeholders form a shared safety ownership model, ensuring that safety is not just a departmental function but a collective responsibility.
How does AI video analytics enhance workplace safety under SAFE measures, and what role does the Video Surveillance System (VSS) play?
AI video analytics, when integrated with a Video Surveillance System (VSS), plays a key role in supporting SAFE measures by providing real-time monitoring, automated hazard detection, and data-driven insights. It helps organisations identify unsafe behaviours, like improper PPE use or unsafe vehicle movement, enforce safety protocols proactively, and generate reports for accountability. By enabling continuous and intelligent surveillance, Video Surveillance System (VSS) that is powered by AI, supports both top-down accountability and on-ground empowerment – core pillars of the SAFE framework.
Article by
Barnali Sharma
Content Writer
Barnali Sharma is a dedicated content contributor for viAct. A university gold medalist with an MBA in Marketing, she crafts compelling narratives, enhances brand engagement, and develops data-driven marketing campaigns. When she’s not busy working her content alchemy, Barnali can be found commanding stages with her public speaking or turning data into stories that actually make sense -because who said analytics can’t have a little creativity?