CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OFFICERS FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES [ ECOs (CS) ]
1 Introduction
1.1 This Code of Practice (COP) is intended to guide Environmental Control Officers for Construction Sites [ECOs (CS)] and Occupiers in carrying out works in compliance with the Environmental Public Health (Registration of Environmental Control Officers) Regulations.
1.2 The COP can be downloaded on NEA website. For clarifications on the COP, please enquire via the NEA online feedback form at www.nea.gov.sg.
2 Definitions
2.1 In this Code, unless otherwise specified: -
2.1.1 "works", in relation to a construction site, means-
(a) the erection, construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of buildings, structures or roads;
(b) the breaking up or opening of, or boring under, any road or adjacent land in connection with the construction, inspection, maintenance or removal of works;
(c) demolition or dredging works; or
(d) any other work of engineering construction.
2.1.2 "Full-time Environmental Control Officer for Construction Site" means an ECO (CS) employed on a full-time basis in the construction site for which he or she is employed for at least 40 hours per week.
2.1.3 "Part-time Environmental Control Officer for Construction Site" means an ECO (CS) employed on a part-time basis in the construction site for which he or she is employed for at least 15 hours per week.
2.1.4 "Contract sum", in relation to a construction site, means the total value of the works to be carried out on the construction site as stated in the applicable contract.
2.1.5 Pointers under Section 5 and 6, which are marked with " # " refer to mandatory duties of an ECO (CS) or Occupier under the Environmental Public Health (Registration of Environmental Control Officers) Regulations. Other legal obligations under Control of Vector Pesticide Act and Environmental Protection and Management Act are also to be complied with.
3 Construction sites requiring ECO (CS)
3.1 Occupiers of construction sites are required to employ either a part-time or fulltime ECO (CS) depending on the contract sum of the construction works as shown in the table below:
4 Registration of ECO (CS)
4.1 Applicant with the requisite qualifications must complete a training course and pass the exam for ECOs before he can be registered as an ECO (CS).
4.2 Registration and renewal of registration shall be made via the Whole-of Government business licensing portal GoBusiness, at https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/licences, and accompanied with a licence fee. A Certificate for Registration for ECO (CS) (Appendix 1), which is valid for a stipulated licence period, will be issued upon approval.
4.3 It is an offence under the Environmental Public Health (Registration of Environmental Control Officers) Regulations for the Occupier of a construction site to employ an ECO (CS) who does not have a valid Certificate of Registration. Likewise, it is an offence for an ECO (CS) to work in a construction site if he does not possess a valid Certificate of Registration.
4.4 An ECO(CS) shall produce his/her Environmental Control Officer Certificate of Registration for inspection, when required by authorized officers.
5 Role and Duties of ECO (CS)
5.1 In general, the role of an ECO (CS) is to work with the Premises Manager (PM)/ Occupier of the construction site to comply with environmental laws, advise PM/ Occupier on environmental remediation measures, carry out site inspections and to engage workers and stakeholders on maintaining good environmental health standards.
5.2 The environmental issues which the ECO (CS) are required to pay attention to are:
1 Vector Control
2 Food Hygiene
3 Waste Management
4 Noise Management
5 Air Pollution and Dust Abatement
6 Earth Littering
7 Water Pollution and Earth Control
8 Sanitary Facilities Management
5.3 The duties of an ECO (CS) shall include the following:
(a) Work with the PM/ Occupier of the construction site to draw up, implement and monitor effective environmental management plans, including reviewing them when necessary: • Prepare and submit to the PM/ Occupier of the construction site, the Site Environmental Control Programme (SECP) in accordance to the format in Appendix 2, before work commences at the worksite. The SECP shall outline the environmental management plans to be executed; and # • Prepare and submit to the PM/ Occupier of the construction site, the Site Environmental Control Report (SECR) in accordance to the format in Appendix 3 once every two weeks. The ECO shall assess the environmental efforts carried out, and review the effectiveness of these measures.
(b) Inspect the construction site to ensure all facilities, equipment and operations do not pose any environmental health hazard;
(c) Inspect the on-site canteen, if any, and dining areas to ensure that good hygiene practices are being observed, and the areas are well maintained with good housekeeping. #
(d) Identify and discuss environmental health irregularities or potential lapses with the Occupier of the construction site, and recommend corresponding measures to prevent or rectify such concerns;
(e) Attend to all feedback on any irregularities and inform the Occupier of the construction site accordingly;
f) Assist the authorities to investigate outbreaks of infectious, vector-borne or food-borne diseases at the construction site; and
(g) Organise campaigns, training courses and other activities, where required, to develop and sustain the interest of workers in maintaining good environmental health standards.
6 Duties of Occupier of Construction Site
6.1 The PM/ Occupier is responsible for all irregularities and violations at his work site and shall carry out the following: Site Environmental Control Programme (SECP) and Report (SECR)
(a) Submit the SECP prepared by the ECO (CS) to the Director-General of Public Health (DGPH) before work commences at the worksite;
(b) Countersign the SECR prepared by the ECO (CS), file and make the reports available for inspection by the DGPH or any public health officer at any time; and to
(c) Work with the ECO (CS) to implement the recommendations made under the SECP and SECR. # Notification of Employment of ECO (CS)
(d) Notify the DGPH on any changes in employment in ECO (CS) on the construction site via a partial re-submission of the SECP [change in ECO(CS)];
(e) Notify the DGPH in writing within 14 days of termination of employment of ECO (CS) #
(f) Employ another ECO (CS) within 14 days upon termination of employment, suspension or cancellation of registration of the ECO (CS) employed for the construction site; and
(g) Employ a temporary ECO (CS) for the construction site when the existing ECO (CS) working at the construction site is on leave or absent for more than 5 days. #
Others
(i) Work with the ECO (CS) in maintaining good environmental health standards at the worksite;
(j) Facilitate the work of the ECO (CS) by providing the necessary resources including facilities, equipment and information necessary to carry out environmental management work effectively and efficiently; #
(k) Permit ECO (CS) to attend courses, seminars, conferences and meetings as and when required by the DGPH and to reimburse them as required under the law; and
(l) Require every personnel employed on the construction site to observe good environmental health practices.
7 Penalties
7.1 The ECO scheme is regulated under the Environmental Public Health Act. It is an offence for the ECO (CS), or PM/ Occupier of the construction site, to contravene or fail to comply with any of the clauses stated in the Act or its subsidiary legislations. The various offences that are relevant to the ECO (CS) and the PM/ Occupier of the construction site, are as shown in Appendix 4.
8 Guide on Recommended Practices in Construction Sites
1 The following are recommended practices in construction sites to keep the worksite free from environmental health hazards. ECO (CS) should apply suitable measures for their construction sites and ensure compliance with any other relevant Code of Practices and legal requirements for the respective environmental issues.
8.1 Vector Control
8.1.1 The ECO (CS) and PM/ Occupier should identify high-risk areas and operations, throughout each stage of the construction project, that may result in breeding of vectors. The ECO (CS) and PM/ Occupier shall draw up and implement an effective vector control programme, which outlines vector surveillance and control measures to eliminate, reduce and/or manage such risks.
8.1.2 Comprehensive vector control services must be engaged from the start of the project and carried out at least once a week. The Occupier must engage a competent NEA-registered Vector Control Operator (VCO) from the list of registered VCOs on https://nea.gov.sg/our-services/pest-control/pest-controloperators. The scope of work and responsibilities of the VCO should be spelled out in the contract. A template contract “Specifications for mosquito and rodent surveillance and control at construction sites” is available at https://nea.gov.sg/our-services/pest-control/rodent-control.
8.1.3 The PM/ Occupier should maintain good records of the vector control programme and vector control service reports from the VCO.
8.1.4 The performance of the VCO should be evaluated regularly. If the VCO service is unsatisfactory, the PM/ Occupier should terminate the contract and engage another VCO.
8.1.5 It is recommended that the worksite is divided into zones based on the number of workdays in a week (e.g., a maximum of 6 zones assuming a 6-days work week or 7 zones for a 7-days work week). The in-house Environmental Control Team should then be deployed to cover one zone per day to ensure good surveillance and housekeeping weekly
. 9 Mosquito Control
• Regular checks should be conducted at least once a week at all areas, as part of source reduction measure to detect the stagnation of water and mosquito breeding.
• Good housekeeping should be maintained to prevent stagnation of water among receptacles and litter
. • High-risk areas and operations, as well as appropriate preventive and control measures, are further outlined in detail in Appendix 5.
• Sand granular insecticide should be applied to water collected in perforated bricks. Exposed brick holes should be sealed up with cement.
• Anti-mosquito oil or NEA registered larvicide should be applied to stagnant water at least once a week. The application should be repeated after wet weather as the oil and insecticides would be washed away by the rain.
• Thermal fogging should only be carried out by licensed VCO, using a suitable NEA registered insecticide. Fogging should only be carried out when the adult mosquito population is high or when there are mosquitoborne diseases transmission near construction sites. Routine thermal fogging as a preventive measure is not encouraged.
• If the site is situated in a malaria-sensitive area, the licensed VCO should carry out quarterly residual-spraying at the foreign workers quarters and site offices for the inner walls and at least once a month for the outer walls Control of Rodents, Flies and Cockroaches
• Good housekeeping is achieved by keeping worksite litter-free and eliminating all harborage grounds.
• Refuse bins should always be covered and emptied at the end of each day
• Food are properly stored, and organic wastes are properly disposed in covered refuse bins, so that vectors do not have access to them.
• The canteen, dining areas and workers quarters are kept free from pests by ensuring good food handling and storage, and good housekeeping.
• Regular checks for burrows should be conducted. The ECO (CS) and Occupier should work with the VCO to ensure active burrows undergo proper treatment until the rat population is wiped out, and then sealed properly.
• Check and seal potential rat entry points by using wire mesh, metal guards, etc.
• Should sludge be used for landscaping, the sludge should be covered with a layer of topsoil at least 5 cm thick to prevent breeding of flies. 10 Control of Infectious Disease
• Temperature checks for fever should be conducted daily for staff and visitors entering the construction site during dengue/ chikungunya/ zika outbreak periods or if there are cases in or in the vicinity of the site.
• Staff and visitors displaying symptoms of infectious diseases i.e. fever, should not be allowed to enter and/or work in the construction site.
• The PM/ Occupier should maintain records of all workers working at the construction site, including its employees and workers of sub-contractors. All foreign workers should be screened for history of malaria and blood films taken to exclude parasite carriers.
• The PM/ Occupier should monitor workers after their discharge from infectious diseases (e.g. period of one month for P. falciparum, and period of six months for P. vivax).
8.2 Food Hygiene
8.2.1 On-site canteens (if any) must obtain a licence from the Singapore Food Agency prior to its operation and the licence is to be renewed regularly. Operators have to comply with all related requirements and regulations. They may refer to the following link for more information on licensing: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/food-retail/licensing-permits/food-shop-licence
8.2.2 All food handlers working at the on-site canteen must attend and pass the Basic Food Hygiene Course and register with the Singapore Food Agency.
8.2.3 Food sold on the worksite should be prepared within the licensed premises or obtained from licensed sources. Only potable Public Utilities Board (PUB) water can be used for all food preparation.
8.2.4 All liquid food wastes must be drained into the sewerage system and not into open drains. Food handling and storage
8.2.5 All ready-to-eat cooked food must be handled with tongs or other suitable utensils. In the event when tongs or suitable utensils are not suitable for use, food handlers are required to wear disposable gloves while handling cooked or ready-to-eat food. The disposable gloves must not be reused and should be disposed of after each use.
8.2.6 Food must not be prepared or stored in or near toilets or on the floor.
8.2.7 All refrigerators/freezers/chillers must be maintained in good working order and provided with temperature gauges. Food should be stored in chillers that are maintained between 0oC and 4oC, and in freezers that are maintained at 12oC and below.
8.2.8 Food products or food ingredients must be kept in clean covered containers and stored at appropriate temperatures.
8.2.9 Food displayed for sale must be adequately covered. 11 Personal hygiene
8.2.10 Food handlers must not place their fingers to their mouth, eye, ear, nose or scalp when preparing or handling food; they must also not eat, chew, smoke, spit, cough, sneeze or comb their hair when preparing or handling food.
8.2.11 Food handlers must wash their hands thoroughly and frequently before and after preparing food and after visiting the toilets. This is necessary even when the food handler wears gloves for food handling.
8.2.12 Food handlers must protect any open wound or lesion on their hands with waterproof dressings.
8.2.13 Food handlers must not prepare or handle food if they feel unwell (for e.g. vomiting, diarrhea or fever) or if they have infected wounds, skin infections or sores. Equipment
8.2.14 All equipment, crockery and utensils must be kept clean and properly maintained at all times. Defective equipment/ utensils/ crockery that are chipped and cracked should not be used.
8.2.15 Separate chopping boards, tongs, scoops, forks, gloves or other utensils should be used for handling raw, ready-to-eat and cooked food to prevent cross contamination.
8.2.16 Exhaust fans and grease filters should be serviced regularly to ensure they are in good working condition. Cooking hoods should be clean and free from oil drips, hardened grease and soot stains.
8.3 Waste Management
8.3.1 Engage only licensed general waste collector for the collection and disposal of waste generated. Ensure a valid written agreement for the waste collection services and invoices are available for reference when required. The construction waste/debris should be sent to a licensed general waste disposal facility for further processing.
8.3.2 All designated waste collection points must be easily accessible by the waste collection vehicle.
8.3.3 Use dedicated bins to store recyclables, non-incinerable waste, incinerable waste and putrefiable waste. The bins shall be of a shape, size and design as may be approved by the DGPH from time to time.
8.3.4 The number of bins provided for each type of waste must be adequate. There should be no spillage of waste around any bin at any time.
8.3.5 Putrefiable waste should be removed daily to prevent any environmental health issue. All putrefiable waste should be bagged before disposal into bins. All bins for putrefiable waste should be of SS EN 840 standard wheeled bin with maximum size of 660 litres and properly covered when not in use.
8.3.6 Construction wastes/ debris should be stored in skips placed at a location easily accessible to waste removal vehicles. 12
8.4 Noise Control
8.4.1 Advise the occupier to reduce noise generated at the worksites by taking the following measures: i. use quieter equipment and methods to reduce noise generated from the construction site; ii. restrict noisier activities like piling, concreting and demolition to day-time; iii. use pre-cast concrete panels; iv. use noise barrier and noise curtains to help reduce the noise generated; v. use electricity supply from SP Power Grid instead of generators, where possible. If generators are used, they should be of the silent type and be sited away from residential areas; vi. maintain and service all equipment and machinery regularly to reduce noise and smoke emission; vii. engage affected residents of the construction work and keep them informed of impending noisy construction works, especially at night. Wherever possible, avoid noisy activities late at night;
8.4.2 Construction works are prohibited from being carried out on Sundays and Public Holidays for sites that are located within 150m from noise sensitive premises, unless it is for safety reasons or for emergency works;
8.4.3 The main contractor of the construction site must also ensure that their subcontractors comply with the noise limits
8.4.4 Occupiers must update NEA when there are changes to the key personnel on site (i.e. Project Manager, ECO (CS), Safety Officer etc.)
8.4.5 Make arrangements to set up noise monitoring meters to continuously measure and record the noise levels over a period of 12 hours, 1 hour and 5 minutes in dBA.
8.4.6 The type of noise meters to be installed and the permissible noise limits are as follows:
8.4.7 Occupiers using standalone noise meters are required to submit the noise monitoring charts on a weekly basis to the Pollution Control 2 Division. Occupiers using real time noise meters are required to submit to PCD the username and password.
8.4.8 Occupiers using real time noise meters are required to be familiar with predictive readings to ensure compliance to the noise limits
8.4.9 It is the occupier’s responsibility to ensure that the noise meters are monitoring the noise levels continuously and are in working condition at all times.
* Leq 12 hours, Leq 1 hour and Leq 5 min are the equivalent continuous noise levels over a period of 5 minutes, 1 hour and 12 hours respectively
8.5 Air pollution and Dust Nuisance
8.5.1 Open burning of construction and other wastes are not allowed at the worksite as this is an offence under the Environmental Pollution and Management Act.
8.5.2 Effective measures such as water sprinklers/spray, shielding, netting, covers/hoarding for aggregate and sand storage should be taken to minimise dust pollution caused by construction or demolition works. The netting or barriers on the scaffolding of the construction site shall be of suitable height for effective containment of dust and debris.
8.5.3 All construction debris should be properly stored and removed for disposal quickly. They should not be left to accumulate at the site.
8.5.4 Debris chutes to transfer construction debris efficiently from higher floors to the ground floor should be provided to prevent dust nuisance. The internal of the chutes shall also be lined with suitable material to prevent noise pollution. 8.5.5 Construction sites with concrete batching plants must have a Written Permission (WP) from the Director, Pollution Control 1 Division to occupy and operate as a Scheduled Premises. The occupier operating the concrete batching plant must comply with all the conditions stipulated in the WP. 14
8.5.6 All construction equipment and machinery must be well maintained and should not emit dark smoke.
8.5.7 The use of generators should be minimised by setting up permanent power supply with the electricity provider. Generators should be sited at locations that minimise the smell and noise nuisance affecting nearby residential premises or other sensitive receptors.
8.6 Earth littering
8.6.1 Lorries should not be overloaded while transporting earth, debris, etc. as this may lead to spillage and littering of roads.
8.6.2 All vehicles carrying refuse, sand, earth, gravel, clay, stone, or any other similar material must be completely and adequately covered as stipulated in Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations 14(2) and Road Traffic Rules (R18), before they leave the construction site.
8.6.3 A paved wash bay is to be provided for washing of vehicles (e.g. lorry tyres and undercarriages) before they leave the worksite. All washings from the wash bay should be channeled to a silt trap.
8.7 Earth Control Measures
8.7.1 The site operator/owner shall submit a detailed Earth Control Measures (ECM) proposal, endorsed by a Qualified Erosion Control Professional (QECP) to the relevant authorities for an approval.
8.7.2 A system of ECM including silty water treatment plant, holding pond, temporary perimeter lined cut-off drains, silt fences and silt traps is to be implemented within the worksite in accordance with the approved ECM plan before commencement of any earthworks or construction works to prevent the wash down of silt, earth, and debris from the worksite into the public drains and adjacent premises.
8.7.3 Water run-off from the worksite is to be channeled to the holding pond and silty water treatment plant for treatment and is not to be discharged directly into the public drains.
8.7.4 Earth control measures including the silty water treatment plants, holding pond, temporary perimeter lined cut-off drains, silt fences and silt traps are to be maintained and desilted regularly.
8.7.5 Earth surfaces or slopes adjacent to any drain shall be closed turfed, paved or covered with appropriate materials.
8.7.6 Minimise the extent and duration of any exposed bare erodible surface in construction site by adopting proper construction staging and work sequencing. Bare surfaces shall be covered up with appropriate materials before rain and daily works should be halted to reduce the volume of silty water to be contained and treated. As a good practice, all bare surfaces should also be covered up at the end of each work day in anticipation of any rain event after working hours.
8.7.7 The treatment of silty water shall be closely monitored, and the treatment shall be stopped immediately if silty water is being discharged to the public drain.
8.7.8 Drains in the vicinity of the worksite shall not be silted, altered or obstructed due to the construction works.
8.7.9 The discharge from any construction sites into public drains shall not contain Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in concentration greater than the prescribed legal limits.
8.7.10 The ECM shall not be removed before the completion of work. The site operator/owner shall inform the relevant authority prior to removal of the ECM on completion of the project.
8.8 Prevention of Water Pollution
8.8.1 All wastewater generated at the construction site must be properly treated and disposed of. No discharge of sewage or other untreated wastewater into drain or land is allowed.
8.8.2 Oil and chemical in drums, carboys, containers, etc. shall be stored in a designated storage area within a building or covered shed with concrete floors and facilities to contain any leak or spillage.
8.8.3 Waste oil and chemicals generated from site activities shall only be sent to a licensed toxic industrial waste collector for proper disposal.
8.8.4 A full containment bund wall should be provided for bulk storage oil tanks, including skid tanks. A collection sump should be provided to collect any spillage. All leaks and spillages in the storage area or construction site shall be collected and sent to a licensed toxic waste collector for proper disposal.
8.8.5 Any repair or servicing of vehicle, which requires waste oil to be disposed of should only be carried out if there are facilities to contain the waste oil.
8.8.6 Soil treatment is to be carried out only by trained operators of registered pest control companies. The operators shall comply fully with the water pollution control requirements for the use of termiticides in anti-termite soil treatment issued to the companies by the Pollution Control 1 Division, National Environment Agency.
8.9 Sanitary Facilities
8.9.1 All toilet facilities are to be connected to sewer or holding tank/ temporary septic tank approved by the Sewerage Department, Public Utilities Board. Where septic tank(s)/ holding tank(s) and/ or chemical/ portable toilet(s) are provided, they are to be regularly maintained. There should be no discharge of wastewater from the holding tank into the watercourse or controlled watercourse.
8.9.2 Ensure good drainage is provided for all temporary structures and connect drains to a proper outlet to prevent water ponding in the toilet facilities.
8.9.3 Toilets must be provided with amenities such as toilet paper, soap, litter bins and hand dryer and be kept clean at all times. They must not be used for storage purpose.
8.9.4 Adequate and proper sanitary facilities in working condition should be provided at the worksite and discharge points to be connected to septic tanks for disposal. The number of sanitary facilities required can be found in the Code of Practice on Environmental Health available at NEA Website
