SOME 14,000 factory bosses will have to show the Government's safety officials that they can reduce the risks in their workplaces and run their businesses safely before they are allowed to start work.

A new rule, which kicks in Nov, will require factories to submit a comprehensive risk management plan before they get or renew their licences with the Manpower Ministry.

This way, employers will take greater ownership in keeping their workplaces safe, said Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong.

'The idea is to get those who are in the best position to decide what is the most appropriate safety measures to take and introduce in their companies.'

'Once they have declared their risk management plans to the ministry, we expect them to deliver and maintain the system,' said Mr Gan.

The bonus of the new licencing system - employers will just have to register once.

This is unlike the old process, which requires factories to renew their licences every one or two years.

Plus, the average $250 annual registration fee will also be waived for successful applicants.

This works out to $3.5 million savings a year for two-thirds of the factories islandwide.

They are deemed by safety officials to be the less risky industries like warehousing and storage, and hospitality.

Despite the one-time registration, factories are still be subject to checks by MOM's safety officials and will in fact make it easier for them to penalised.

Mr Gan said, 'For those who flout the rules or have not implemented their plans, we will take them to task.'

Offenders could be fined or jailed.

Those not affected by the new rule - like shipyards, construction sites and petrochemical companies - will still have to renew their licences every one or two years.

Mr Gan said his ministry is re-tooling the registration process for these industries and will be discussing with them the new framework over the next few months.

It is expected to kick in by next Jun.

Mr Gan disclosed in his speech on Sept 2 at annual Workplace Safety & Health Awards ceremony that 52 people died in their workplaces in the first nine months of this year, up from the 42 in the same period in 2007.

He later told reporters that the heightened economic activity and increasing number of workers had led to the rise in potential risks for accidents.

Mr Gan explained, 'The regulations are there, the systems are there but sometimes, workers and supervisors on the ground are not mindful because they are busy or in a rush, so safety instructions are ignored and there are slip ups.'

Safety experts have welcomed MOM's move to get employers to live up to their responsibilities.

President of the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers Edwin Yap said, 'They would have committed to keep their workplaces safe and cannot go back on their word.'

At yesterday's ceremony held at the Shangri-La Hotel, 147 award winners were honoured for their safety practices.

A new award, the Safety and Health Supervisor Award, was also handed out to seven winners who hailed mostly from the shipyards and construction companies.