SINGAPORE - A workplace safety trainer who forged course certificates and safety passes for construction workers was sentenced to 10 months' jail last Thursday (Jan 18).

Ramanathan Thamilselvan, 52, a trainer at Work Safe Consultants, had sold Building Construction Supervisor Safety certificates and safety passes to workers without conducting any training and assessment, said the Ministry of Manpower in a statement on Wednesday.

He was charged under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, for the fraudulent practices that took place between January and March last year.

Last August, two directors from separate training providers were also sentenced to 10 months' jail under the Act.

Sellachamy Somasundaran of Maha Safety Training Centre and Md Abu Zahin Mostafizur of Pioneer Skill Training Centre were found to have also forged the course certificates and safety passes to workers between August and December 2015.

Under Section 53 of the Act, offenders may be fined up to $5,000 or jailed up to 6 months, or both.

In its statement, MOM said all fraudulent certificates issued by the three training providers have since been cancelled. It has also revoked their status as accredited training providers.

It added that the workers who bought the fraudulent certificates have been barred from carrying out supervisory roles. They will also not be allowed to renew their work pass upon expiry and are banned from working in Singapore.

The ministry added that it takes a "very serious view" of breaches to the Act, as it "directly affects workers' lives, safety and health".

Regular audits on the training providers are conducted to ensure full compliance and competency of the training providers, said MOM.

"Anyone who is aware of any malpractice by any training provider can notify MOM immediately via www.mom.gov.sg/contact-us," the ministry added.