Shouting may stop an unsafe act for a moment. But it rarely builds long-term safety behaviour. When workers are constantly shouted at, embarrassed, or spoken to aggressively, they may start to avoid the safety team instead of engaging with them. That creates a bigger problem. Workers may become less willing to: • Report near misses • Ask questions • Admit mistakes • Raise unsafe conditions • Speak up when something feels wrong A strong safety culture depends on communication, trust, and mutual respect. ✅ Correct the behaviour, not attack the person Focus on what is unsafe and what needs to change. ✅ Explain the risk Workers are more likely to follow a requirement when they understand what could happen if the control is ignored. ✅ Stay firm when necessary Being respectful does not mean being soft. Serious hazards still require immediate intervention and, where necessary, stopping the work. ✅ Listen before assuming Sometimes unsafe behaviour is linked to poor planning, lack of equipment, unclear instructions, or production pressure. ✅ Speak privately when possible Correcting someone in front of an entire workforce can create embarrassment and resistance. ✅ Build trust over time Workers who trust their WSH personnel are more likely to raise concerns before they become incidents. The goal of a safety professional should not be: “How do I make workers afraid of me?” It should be: “How do I make workers comfortable enough to tell me when something is wrong?” There may be moments when you need to raise your voice to warn someone of an immediate danger. But that is very different from using shouting as your everyday management style. Fear may create temporary compliance. Respect creates lasting safety culture. What do you think — can a safety professional be firm without shouting?

Another young worker has lost his life at a Singapore construction site. On the morning of 3 August 2026, a 23-year-old worker was inside a lorry at a worksite along Jurong Port Road when a structure fell from the fifth storey of a building under construction and struck the vehicle. The worker was trapped in the driver’s seat and was pronounced dead at the scene. MOM subsequently instructed the site occupier to stop all formwork activities while investigations continue. Although the news headline referred to collapsed scaffolding, MOM described the object involved as a formwork structure that fell while being repositioned. The exact circumstances and causes remain under investigation. This tragic incident is a reminder that risks from temporary structures do not affect only those working directly on them. Workers, vehicles and equipment positioned below or nearby may also be exposed when a structure topples, shifts or falls. Key questions every project team should review: ✅ Was the formwork erected and repositioned according to its approved design? ✅ Was the repositioning method properly planned and communicated? ✅ Were only approved components and equipment used? ✅ Was the structure adequately supported and stabilised throughout the operation? ✅ Was an exclusion zone established below and around the activity? ✅ Were vehicles and workers prevented from entering the danger zone? ✅ Were changing conditions assessed before work continued? ✅ Was competent supervision present during the repositioning activity? MOM emphasised that the risk of formwork structures toppling must be identified and controlled, including ensuring that the structure is erected and repositioned according to the approved design and that only approved equipment is used. A vehicle cabin should never be treated as adequate protection from falling structures. When overhead work, dismantling, lifting or repositioning is taking place, the area below must be treated as a potential danger zone. Proper segregation, access control and coordination between work teams are essential.

A good safety professional does not need to be the loudest person on site. They need to be the person who notices what others may overlook. For new WSH personnel, there can be pressure to speak constantly, correct every worker, and prove that you are in control. But effective safety management starts with careful observation. Before speaking, take time to understand: ✅ What work is being carried out? Observe the work sequence, equipment, workers involved, and surrounding conditions. ✅ Are the planned controls actually in place? A risk assessment may look complete on paper, but the actual site conditions may be different. ✅ What has changed since the work started? Weather, access routes, manpower, equipment, and nearby activities can introduce new risks. ✅ How are workers behaving? Small signs such as rushing, confusion, fatigue, poor communication, or repeated shortcuts may indicate a bigger problem. ✅ What is not immediately visible? Some of the most serious hazards are easy to miss—blind spots, unstable materials, damaged equipment, missing isolation, or unclear responsibilities. Observation helps you ask better questions. Instead of immediately giving instructions, you can say: “Can you explain how this task will be carried out safely?” “What could happen if this control fails?” “Has anything changed from the original work plan?” Being loud may gain attention for a moment. Being observant helps you identify the real problem, recommend the right solution, and prevent incidents before they happen. A strong safety professional does not react to everything. They watch carefully, think clearly, and act when it matters. The best safety officers do not just look at the site—they learn to see the risk. What is one hazard you noticed only because you took the time to observe?

Growth in safety is not measured only by how many hazards you can spot. It is also reflected in how you communicate, influence others, solve problems, and respond when things do not go as planned. Here are some signs that you are becoming a better safety professional: ✅ You ask more questions before giving instructions You take time to understand the task, work sequence, site conditions, and challenges faced by the team. ✅ You focus on solutions, not just findings Identifying a problem is important. Helping the team find a practical and safe way forward is even more valuable. ✅ Workers are more willing to approach you When workers feel comfortable raising concerns, reporting near misses, or asking for guidance, it shows that trust is growing. ✅ You know when to be firm You communicate respectfully, but you do not compromise when there is a serious or immediate risk. ✅ You admit when you do not know something A strong safety professional is not afraid to seek advice, check the requirements, or learn from someone with more experience. ✅ You prioritise risks more effectively Instead of treating every issue the same, you focus first on hazards that could cause serious injury, fatality, or major damage. ✅ You follow up until findings are closed You understand that reporting a finding is only the beginning. Effective safety management requires verification, documentation, and closure. ✅ Your communication becomes clearer You use simple language, practical examples, and visual demonstrations to make sure workers understand the message. ✅ You learn from mistakes instead of hiding them You reflect on what went wrong, identify what can be improved, and apply those lessons to future work. ✅ You begin influencing the safety culture Supervisors involve you earlier, workers take more ownership, and safety becomes part of planning—not an afterthought. Becoming a better safety professional does not mean knowing everything. It means becoming more observant, more consistent, more confident, and more willing to learn.

Starting as a new Workplace Safety and Health Coordinator can feel intimidating. You may be working with supervisors who have decades of experience, workers who know the site better than you, and managers focused on meeting tight deadlines. It is easy to think: “I’m still new.” “Maybe they know better.” “I don’t want to create conflict.” “Someone else will raise it.” But when you notice a serious hazard, staying silent is not the safer option. Being new does not remove your responsibility to speak up. ✅ Observe before making conclusions Understand the work activity, speak to the workers involved, and confirm the actual risks before giving instructions. ✅ Ask questions respectfully You do not need to pretend that you know everything. Asking, “Can you explain how this work will be carried out safely?” can start a productive conversation. ✅ Use facts to support your concern Refer to the risk assessment, safe work procedure, permit-to-work conditions, manufacturer’s instructions, or site requirements. ✅ Focus on the hazard—not the person Avoid blaming or embarrassing workers. Explain what could happen and what needs to be corrected. ✅ Speak calmly but firmly Respect experience and seniority, but never allow them to override necessary safety controls. ✅ Document and escalate when necessary Record significant findings, communicate them through the approved channels, follow up on corrective actions, and escalate unresolved high-risk issues. You may be new to the company. You may be new to the project. You may even be new to the WSH profession. But when someone’s safety is at risk, your voice still matters. Confidence does not mean having every answer. It means having the courage to raise a concern, seek guidance and ensure that unsafe work is not ignored. Being new is temporary. The consequences of staying silent may not be. What advice would you give to a new WSH professional who is afraid to speak up?