Two new award categories this year to recognise environmental sustainability solutions
and safety practices in building Active Mobility infrastructure
69 contractors, operators, organisations and individuals have been recognised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) today for their outstanding workplace safety, health and environment management practices in 2020 at the 23rd Annual Safety, Health and Environmental Award Convention (ASAC). The theme for this year’s convention – “Adapting to New Norms and Continual Training for a Safer and More Productive Workforce” – reflects the challenges of navigating COVID-19 challenges in the past year. It acknowledges the efforts and achievements of companies in adapting and ensuring business continuity during the pandemic in a safe and environmentally-conscious manner.
Championing innovative solutions to promote environmental sustainability
2. In addition to building a safe and healthy workplace, ensuring environment sustainability has become increasingly important. A new award category – Environmental Sustainability Innovation Award – was introduced this year to recognise contractors for their innovative practices at worksites to improve environmental protection and sustainability, as well as to enhance the living environment of our stakeholders near LTA construction sites.
3. Shincon Industrial Pte Ltd and Penta Ocean Construction Co Ltd – Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte Ltd Joint Venture won the inaugural award for adopting innovative and environmentally-sustainable solutions for their projects. For example, Shincon Industrial Pte Ltd used portable protective flooring to build a temporary footpath when contracted by LTA to carry out infrastructure enhancements under the Seletar flyover. This solution is lighter compared to a conventional concrete footpath and can be reused at other construction sites. The material used also minimises damage to the turf as it is designed with airholes to allow ventilation and sunlight to pass through for grass beneath to grow. Please refer to ANNEX A for a photo of the portable protective flooring.
4. Penta Ocean Construction Co Ltd – Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte Ltd Joint Venture was recognised for implementing a new type of retractable noise barrier (Silent Up) for the construction of the North-South Corridor between Suffolk Walk and Novena Drive. Made of a lightweight plastic material, this noise barrier can be easily deployed at locations with space constraints without the use of machinery. It is an efficient solution that helps to address the perennial challenge of construction in dense and built-up environments. Please refer to ANNEX A for a photo of the silent up noise barrier.
5. In support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, LTA is also spearheading efforts to minimise the carbon footprint in our construction projects. This includes keeping track of and analysing construction materials used, in order to identify major sources of carbon emission, using sustainable materials to replace conventional cement material and reducing construction waste.
Recognising workplace safety practices across more construction projects
6. The second new award category – the Construction Safety Award (Active Mobility) – aims to recognise the efforts by contractors who have contributed significantly towards promoting safe work practices when building and implementing Active Mobility (AM) infrastructure such as cycling paths. Eng Xian Construction Pte Ltd won the inaugural Construction Safety Award (Active Mobility) under a contract to build public bicycle parking spaces island wide. The company was lauded for its exemplary work in ensuring that all their worksites are accident-free.
7. In tandem with promoting safe and environmentally sustainable work practices among our contractors, LTA is also embarking on the use of technology to enhance construction safety. For example, video analytics with closed circuit television cameras is used to complement and automate LTA’s site supervision for the construction of Cross Island Line Phase 1. This will aid the remote monitoring of high-risk work areas and prevent unauthorised entry into construction sites or restricted zones.
8. Besides Shincon Industrial Pte Ltd, Penta Ocean Construction Co Ltd – Bachy Soletanche Singapore Pte Ltd Joint Venture and Eng Xian Construction Pte Ltd, 66 other organisations also received accolades across the 22 award categories ranging from Construction Safety Excellence to ensuring Public Transport Safety.
9. Please refer to ANNEX B for the list of winners and ANNEX C for LTA’s initiatives to promote environmentally sustainable work practices and adoption of technological innovations to promote construction safety.
About ASAC
10. ASAC was inaugurated in 1999 to recognise contractors who have been proactive and successful in promoting Workplace Safety and Health management practices at their worksites, ensuring high health, safety and welfare standards of workers, and giving due consideration to protecting the public and the environment.
