Singapore, 1 October 2017 – This morning, City Developments Limited (CDL) distributed over 1.5 tonnes of fortified rice to some 300 construction workers who were present at the annual CDL 5-Star Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Awards and EHS Cup 2017 held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. According to World Food Programme, fortification increases the content of essential vitamins and minerals in rice so as to improve its nutritional quality, thereby helping to fight micronutrient deficiencies.
Established in 2005, the CDL 5-Star EHS Awards recognise exemplary builders and workers who have excelled in the CDL 5-Star EHS Assessment System. The Assessment System and Awards have been instrumental in influencing CDL’s builders and consultants to monitor and improve their EHS performance.
Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, CDL Group General Manager, said, “For CDL, the safety and well-being of workers have always been a priority. As a property developer, we can and must do our part to promote better safety and health at our worksites by engaging our value chain. For more than two decades, CDL has driven EHS excellence at our worksites so that our workers, who are the foundation of our building industry, can return home safely to their loved ones.”
“Beyond high EHS standards, it is also important to enhance workers’ well-being holistically. By distributing fortified rice to the workers, we hope to introduce them to a healthier and more nutritious eating option,” he added.
At the event, Minister of State for Manpower Mr Sam Tan, who was the Guest-of-Honour, presented the CDL 5-Star EHS Awards to the winners. The awards presentation was witnessed by seven of CDL’s builders (Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd, Kajima Overseas Asia Pte Ltd, Nakano Singapore (Pte) Ltd, Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Co Ltd, Teambuild Construction Pte Ltd, and Woh Hup (Private) Limited). Currently, about 1,600 construction workers are employed by builders at five CDL worksites.
The finale soccer match between workers from Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd and Woh Hup (Private) Limited was also held at the event. They were the two teams left standing from the CDL EHS Cup, a series of soccer matches that CDL organised in the past few months to foster camaraderie and promote a healthy lifestyle among workers. The team from Woh Hup (Private) Limited eventually won the cup.
In addition, National Environment Agency, PUB and social enterprise 45RICE set up exhibits and games booths to help workers understand and adopt good habits on dengue prevention, hygiene, nutrition, environmental cleanliness and water conservation.
Over the years, CDL has driven EHS excellence at its worksites and across its supply chain. In addition to the CDL 5-Star EHS Awards, in 2016, CDL galvanised 24 of its key builders and consultants to sign a ‘Pledge Towards Vision Zero through Safe Design – Safe Practices – Safe Culture’ at the annual CDL 5-Star EHS Awards. It marked the first time a developer in Singapore rallied collective action along its supply chain to support the Construction Industry Workplace Safety and Health Action Plans. This followed two similar rounds of pledge signing initiated by CDL, the ‘Pledge for Zero’ Commitment Charter for zero accidents, zero injuries and zero environmental pollution in 2010 and the pledge of commitment to uphold workers’ well-being, safety and health in 2014.
