SINGAPORE - Four companies which were supposed to provide safety training for workers in shipyards and construction sites have had their accreditation revoked by the Manpower Ministry (MOM).
The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the four Accredited Training Providers (ATPs) violated training and assessment standards for safety courses.
They had provided trainees with answers to assessment questions and allowed trainees to copy from one another during assessments. They had also cut short the duration of the courses and did not properly cover the course contents.
MOM was told of the possible violations earlier in the year and after investigations, Safety Council, Safety Academy, Foster Asia Pacific and Global Tech Training Solutions were ordered to stop their safety training and had their ATP status cancelled.
Directors of the companies -- Mr Ong Lai Huat, Ms Lee Kok Moi, Mr Adrian Yeo and Mr Aravind Raja Periasamy -- have been blacklisted for at least two years. During this period, they will not be able to get accreditation for any new training company if they are a director, principal or trainer there.
Three trainers in Foster Asia Pacific also had their MOM-approved trainer status suspended for between three and six months.
According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's database, Foster Asia Pacific was registered to do building construction and repair ships and tankers. But it was approved to teach courses such as Construction Safety Orientation Course, Safety Orientation Course for Worker (Metalworking) and Work at Height Course for Supervisors.
MOM is reviewing five courses on working at heights, it said on its website.
The ministry's Commissioner for WSH Ho Siong Hin said in a statement that training providers "who violate the terms and conditions of their ATP status erode the trust in our WSH (workplace safety and health) training standards", and said that the ministry would investigate complaints against poor training standards.
To provide information on poor training practices in safety courses, the public can contact MOM at 6438-5122 or mom-cc@mom.gov.sg.
