Awards and Accolades
Infrastructure and Facility Safety Award for project on Hazard Notice System
Certificate of Achievement for the launch of Safety CHAT programme
Certificate of Achievement for project on the use of e-tool for automated monitoring of completion of follow up from Safety Audits
NTU receives three awards from Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA) 2024
Name of Awards: (1) Infrastructure and Facility Safety Award (2) Health and Safety Excellence Award
Year obtained: 2024
The Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA) is dedicated to advancing safety and health within the higher education. Its main objective is to facilitate the sharing of information on various aspects of health and safety, as well as related topics pertinent to higher education, thereby supporting safety professionals across a diverse array of specialized fields.
(1) Infrastructure and Facility Safety Award
The Infrastructure and Facility Safety Award recognises excellence in the design, maintenance, and management of university facilities to ensure a safe and healthy environment for occupants. This could include building safety inspections, compliance with building codes and regulations, maintenance of safety equipment and systems, replacement of research/ teaching equipment with safer alternatives, and accessibility features for individuals with disabilities.
The multi-disciplinary team at NTU created the Hazard Notice System (HNS), a centralised online system for creating laboratory signage throughout the university. This system has simplified the process of producing safety signs, ensuring consistency and accuracy in hazard communication. This innovation has enhanced safety awareness and reduced the risk of accidents by providing clear, standardised information. The HNS application is a critical tool in fostering a safer laboratory environment, setting a new benchmark for safety signage management in academic institutions.
(2) Health and Safety Excellence Award
Health and Safety Excellence Award acknowledges initiatives that foster a culture of safety, accountability, and employee engagement within university settings, as well as promoting holistic health and safety among students and staff within university environments. This could include safety leadership programs, employee participation in safety management, safety training and education initiatives, mechanisms for reporting hazards and near-misses, as well as general improvements in health and safety management.
OHS received award of achievements for two other projects that were submitted to USHA. The first project was on (1) Safety “CHAT” programme that NTU has launched in 2023 to provide a framework on how a yearly safety review is to be conducted in schools and research centres (2) the second was on the use of E-tool for Automated Monitoring of completion of follow up from Safety Audits.
Conclusion: This is the first time that OHS has participated in USHA awards and we are pleased to have received this level of recognition by USHA.
References:
1. USHA LinkedIn Page
2. Universities Safety and Health Association (USHA)
Ms Tan Aik Na, Senior Vice President (Administration)
Campus Leaders Who Care Award 2024:
Ms Tan Aik Na,
Senior Vice President (Administration)
CSHEMA Campus Leaders Who Care Award 2024
Name of Award: CSHEMA Campus Leaders Who Care
Year obtained: 2024
Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) is the only organization dedicated solely to supporting Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) professionals in higher education.
As the premier association for safety and health experts in United States for campus settings, CSHEMA honours exceptional leaders in the field through its Campus Leaders Who Care Award. This award recognizes senior administrators who demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety and health stewardship, as well as to environmental and safety issues at their institutions.
In March 2024, the Office of Health and Safety (OHS) nominated Ms. Tan Aik Na, Senior Vice President (Administration), for this prestigious award. The Campus Leaders Who Care Award is designed to acknowledge senior leaders who have made significant strides in fostering a culture of safety. Nominees are evaluated based on several criteria: the effectiveness of their communication strategies for promoting safety from top to bottom, efforts to elevate safety concerns on campus, financial investments in creating safe environments (including facilities and resources), support for integrating safety policies and management systems, and the recognition of faculty, staff, and students for their contributions to safety.
We are delighted to announce that Ms. Tan Aik Na has been honoured with the Campus Leaders Who Care Award for 2024 by CSHEMA, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the Environmental Health and Safety field.
On July 28, 2024, Mr. Saravanan S/O Gunaratnam, Director of the Office of Health and Safety, accepted the award on behalf of Senior Vice President (Administration) at the annual CSHEMA conference in Tampa, Florida. We are thrilled to celebrate this achievement and highlight NTU leadership’s steadfast dedication to safety and health within our University.
PEP-SBF Awards 2019
PEP–SBF Awards 2019
Name of Award: PEP Best Suggestion Award 2019
Year obtained: 2019
The PEP Best Suggestion Award is to recognise private sector individuals and businesses which have contributed feedback and suggestions on regulations improvements, leading to significant improvements that will benefit the business operating environment.
Title of Suggestion:
Waiver of User Licence (N3) for Confocal Equipment – NEA Non-ionising Radiation Apparatus Requirements
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and National Environment Agency (NEA), had jointly reviewed the regulations and established a series of safeguards for users of confocal equipment, leading to the removal of the need to apply for N3 licence for users/students, resulting in cost-savings and time-savings.
Name of awardee(s):
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), together with National University of Singapore (NUS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and National Environment Agency (NEA)