SINGAPORE - Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in some sectors will get more help to prepare their staff for terror threats and crises.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Wednesday (Feb 7) that it is in talks with industry associations in five sectors - food and beverage, retail, entertainment, hotels and transport - to give them between $25,000 and $55,000 each.

These funds will help the associations get SMEs to appoint MOM-registered representatives for SGSecure - the national push to get Singaporeans involved in the fight against terror - train staff in basic first-aid skills, and raise awareness about terrorism threats at the workplace.

The talks with the associations are expected to conclude by the end of June.

The amount each association receives will depend on its success in encouraging businesses to take part in the efforts.

The associations involved include the Singapore Nightlife Business Association, Singapore Hotel Association, Singapore Transport Association and Singapore School and Private Hire Bus Owners' Association.

Speaking at the annual bizSafe convention at the Singapore Expo on Wednesday, Second Minister for Manpower and Home Affairs Josephine Teo said that "the threat of terrorism is real and closer than we think".

"In this new security climate, businesses can no longer avoid making preparations for a possible attack," she said. "The key will be to ensure that the risks are adequately managed and a proper recovery plan is in place should an incident occur."

This comes after a safety programme called bizSafe was updated in September last year to incorporate elements of SGSecure.

The Workplace Safety and Health Council is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs and MOM on this.

The bizSafe programme was launched in 2007 to help SMEs build capabilities in managing workplace safety and health over several stages.

With last year's updates to bizSafe, attendees for levels 1 to 3 of the programme learn how to respond to terror threats and incidents at their workplaces. They will also learn about the security considerations in risk management plans and workplace safety and health policies.

There are almost 30,000 companies under the bizSafe programme. This has increased more than 15 times from the 1,900 companies when the programme started in 2007.

After last year's enhancement, about 2,100 companies have come on board, said Mrs Teo. "We expect at least another 3,000 companies in these sectors to come on board the enhanced bizSafe programme and become SGSecure-ready in the next three years," she said.

The new funding is aimed at getting more companies on the updated bizSafe.

Mrs Teo noted that the number of deaths from workplace injuries in Singapore last year fell to a 13-year low, with 42 workers dying on the job.

It was the lowest level since 2004, when comparable records on worker fatalities were first kept.

"It is still sobering that 42 workers sustained fatal injuries, but the reduced rate of 1.2 per 100,000 is at least a meaningful improvement," Mrs Teo said.

In 2007, 63 workers died, a fatality rate of 2.9 per 100,000 employees.

The steady improvement over the past decade was due to a commitment of employers and employees to a "Vision Zero mindset" in which all injuries and illnesses are viewed as preventable, said Mrs Teo.

At Wednesday's event, 41 bizSafe awards were given out to companies and individuals to recognise their efforts in creating a safe and healthy workplace.

LSK Engineering was one of three firms that received the bizSafe Enterprise Exemplary Award (Gold).

The award, given out for the first time this year, honours companies which have won the bizSafe Enterprise Exemplary Award three years in a row. The exemplary award is given to companies with good WSH records, such as no workplace deaths and no stop-work orders issued.

LSK Engineering's managing director Roger Heng said the company engaged a private security and safety consultant to compile its own in-house document on SGSecure. The document guides employees on what to do if they notice any unattended boxes, spot people with unusual behaviour or see suspicious vehicles in and around the worksite.

"We put it up at all our worksites. Employees are also given brief reminders about (the guide) at daily morning meetings, and more in-depth details at monthly mass meetings," said Mr Heng. "Everyone from the top, down to the admin staff and contractors, are informed about it."

Mr Mohamad Iskandar, lead coordinator for occupational health and safety at Steadfast Engineering and Construction, was one of six winners of the bizSafe Champion Award. The accolade is a sub-category of the bizSafe Enterprise Exemplary Award and is given to individuals who have been proactive in workplace safety and health efforts in their organisations.

In October, the company invited the Singapore Police Force to give a talk to tell staff more about SGSecure, said Mr Iskandar, 36.

"They recommended some mitigation efforts for construction sites, and emphasised security. So we bought and installed a biometric system and a pass verification system," he said.

Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (PCS) was also recognised on Wednesday with four other companies for their roles as bizSafe mentors that guide other companies in the programme.

PCS' health, safety and environment manager Bernard Leong said that security is crucial for a functioning workplace.

"How safe a workplace is will affect both productivity and morale. Employees can give their best only if they know it is safe and secure to come to work," he said.