Instructions on Safe Use of Personal Mobility Devices

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Manpower for employees who are required to use bicycles or personal mobility devices (PMDs) in the course of their work, how does the Ministry ensure that (i) they are adequately instructed by their employers on the road traffic rules and safe use of bicycles or PMDs; (ii) employers have a system of monitoring their employees on such compliance; and (iii) employers provide adequate insurance for their employees in respect of injury, death and third party claims arising from any accidents while using bicycles or PMDs in the course of work.

Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), all companies are required to ensure the safety and health of their workers. This includes providing them with adequate safety measures, instructions, training and supervision. This obligation extends to their use of bicycles or PMDs in the course of work.

In addition to WSHA, the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council has provided specific details of the companies’ responsibility in its "Guidelines on Traffic Safety Management". For example, companies should have a risk management process to identify and mitigate risks to riders, ensure proper training and adopt best practices, such as providing incentives for safe behaviour. Failure to comply with these guidelines can be used as an aggravating factor against companies in Court in the event of work-related accidents and injuries.

With the Active Mobility Bill passed in Parliament earlier this year, the WSH Council is working with the Land Transport Authority to release new WSH guidelines on employers’ responsibility to ensure safe and responsible use of bicycles and PMDs for work purposes.

To ensure compliance of traffic safety by employers and workers, MOM inspects workplaces providing dispatch, food delivery and logistics services, as well as other companies assessed to have a high risk of traffic injuries or fatalities. In 2016, 101 of such companies were inspected and 63 Notices of Non Compliance were issued to 38 companies with poor traffic safety management. As there has been increased use of bicycles and PMDs in dispatch and food delivery services, we have stepped up our inspections on such companies.

Any employee injured in the course of work is entitled to compensation under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). This includes injuries and deaths arising from the use of a bicycle or PMD.

If a third party has been injured as a result of a worker’s actions, MOM will investigate the company and worker for possible breach under the WSH Act. The injured third party may also take up civil claim against the company or worker through the legal process.