Occupational Safety & Health Management Division

Register of Safety & Health Regulations Applicable to Laboratories

This table provides an overview of national safety and health regulations and internal standards applicable to NUS.
Staff are kindly advised to consult their respective Faculty Workplace Safety and Health Officers for more information. Information about OSHE’s programmes and services can be found at the following website (http://www.nus.edu.sg/osh/).

Act/Regulation

Regulatory Body

Key Requirements Applicable to Staff

Licenses/Permits Required

1	Workplace Safety & Health Act
a	WSH (General Provision) Regulations 2006
b	WSH (First Aid) Regulations 2006
c	WSH (Incident Reporting) Regulation 2006
d	WSH (Risk Management) Regulation 2006

MOM

	Provides general requirements on safety and health issues related to the workplace such as - Use of hazardous materials - Use of pressure vessels
	Provides requirements of first-aid facilities (first-aid box, first-aiders) in the workplace
	Provides requirements for notification and reporting of death and dangerous occurrences and reporting of injuries and occupational diseases
	Provides requirements of risks assessments / management to be carried out for all lab-based activity
	For more details

Autoclaves and pressure vessels must be inspected frequently by a professional engineer

2	Petroleum And Flammable Materials (PFM) Regulations

SCDF

	Regulates import, transport and storage of petroleum and flammable materials
	List of chemicals falling under regulation must be stored within maximum permissible limit and storage requirements stipulated by SCDF
	For NUS storage limits of PFMs, refer to
	For More Information

Inventory declaration of PFM in a prescribed NUS format to OSHE

3	Chemical Weapons Convention Chemical Weapons (Prohibition) Act Storage, Use and Disposal Requirements

Singapore National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention
(NACWC)

	Regulates chemicals classified under chemical weapons
	The list of chemicals can be found
	All chemicals must be stored, used and disposed in accordance to the requirements of the regulations
	These chemicals must not be bought or used without approval and license applied for through OSHE
	A copy of the act can be downloaded

	NA(CWC) licence
	Notify NUS OSHE on CWC quantities

4	Poisons Act

HSA-CDA

	Regulates substances classified under Poisons (potent medical substances)
	The list of poisons can be found
	All poisons must be kept under lock and key in a designated poison cupboard
	Records of toxins and flammable chemicals must be kept

Poisons licence, held by faculty

5	Environmental Protection & Management Act
a	Environmental Pollution Control (Hazardous Substances) Regulations
b	Environmental Pollution Control (Ozone Depleting Substances) Regulations

NEA

	Regulates purchase and use of toxic and environmentally hazardous chemicals.
	The list of chemicals can be found
	For quantity limits, please visit
	All hazardous chemicals must not be bought or used without approval and license applied for through Faculty Safety and Health Officers For more information

Hazardous substance permit, held by faculty

6	Environmental Public Health Act
a	Environmental Public Health (General Waste Collection) Regulations
b	Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations

NEA

	Regulates disposal of toxic and environmentally hazardous chemicals
	Only licensed waste collector must be engaged to collect hazardous waste generated
	All generated toxic & hazardous waste must be treated & properly packed in specified containers with appropriate labeling
	For more information

NUS staff to only engage licenced waste collectors

7	Sewerage & Drainage Act
	Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations

PUB

	Regulates the discharge of waste water into public sewers
	The regulations specify allowable limits for trade effluent discharge into the public sewer
	The requirements of the regulations can be found

NUS staff and students not to dispose hazardous materials into the sewer

8	Misuse of Drug Regulation

HSA

	Provide for possession, supply, import, manufacture and record keeping of controlled drugs
	Serves to regulate the legitimate use of controlled drugs by Professionals
	For the list of controlled drugs and more information on this act

License to import and export controlled drugs

9	Radiation Protection Act
	Radiation Protection (Non-ionizing) Regulations
	Radiation Protection (Ionizing Radiation) Regulations
	Radiation Protection (Transport of Radioactive Materials) Regulations

NEA-CRPNS

	Specifies requirements for use and storage of ionizing radioactive materials/ irradiating apparatus and non-ionizing equipment such as ultraviolet sunlamps, microwave ovens, medical and industrial ultrasound apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, entertainment lasers and high power lasers
	Research personnel using any radioactive material/irradiating equipment as well as non ionizing equipment and laser must be adequately trained
	Research personnel working with ionizing and/or non ionizing radiation must be medically certified & monitored
	For more information

Different classes of licenses - competency level, use,
transportation or equipment based

10	Biological Agents and Toxin Act

MOH

	Regulate the possession, use, import, transfer and transportation of biological agents (BAs) and toxins that are known to be hazardous to human health in Singapore
	Approval is required for the possession, import, handling and transportation of scheduled biological agents and toxins
	Proper decontamination is required for all waste prior to disposal
	The list of Biological agents and toxins can be found here

Agent specific license issued by MOH to PIs

11	WHO guidelines for Biosafety

MOH

	National guidelines for biosafety adopted by MOM
	The guidelines are defined in the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 3rd edition A copy of the manual can be found

N.A

12	GMAC Guidelines

GMAC

National guidelines covering research and commercial release of agriculture-related Genetically Modified organisms (GMOs):
	Singapore Biosafety Guidelines for Research on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
	Singapore Guidelines on the Release of Agriculture-Related Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
	GMAC endorsement is required for importation of GMOs or GMO-derived products prior to import permit approval by the relevant regulatory agencies (e.g. the MOH or AVA)
	The guidelines are available here

GMAC notification/ approval required for conducting medium to high risk projects and for importation of GMOs or GMO-derived products

13	Guidelines, Arms and Explosives (Amendment) Act, Chap 13

SPF

	Regulate the use of 15 chemicals that are classified as Explosive precursors. Previously 13 of the precursors were regulated by NEA
	The applicant will be the one directly involved in the handling of the explosive precursors
	It is a requirement that the holder of the license has relevant experience and knowledge in handling the explosive precursors and a register book shall be kept and maintain on the data of the explosive chemical For more information

Licence is held at the faculty level

Regulatory body:

1	GMAC	- Genetic Modification Advisory Committee ( http://www.gmac.gov.sg )
2	HSA	- Health Sciences Authority ( http://www.hsa.gov.sg )
3	MOH	- Ministry of Health (http://www.biosafety.moh.gov.sg/bioe/index.do)
4	MOM	- Ministry of Manpower (http://www.mom.gov.sg )
5	NACWC	- National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (http://www.nacwc.gov.sg)
6	NEA CPRNS	- National Environmental Agency (http://www.nea.gov.sg ) - Centre for Radiation Protection & Nuclear Science
7	PUB	- Public Utilities Board (http://www.pub.gov.sg )
8	SCDF	- Singapore Civil Defence Force (http://www.scdf.gov.sg )
9	SPF	- Singapore Police Force (http://www.spf.gov.sg)