Corporate governance – NUS Principal Investigators (PI) Laboratory Safety & Health (S&H) Management system certification scheme

The staff and students in the National University of Singapore (NUS) are exposed to various hazards arising from its research and/or teaching activities. To ensure these hazards are addressed, NUS has established a comprehensive safety and health management system (SHMS). As part of this system, Principal Investigators (PIs) & Laboratory Supervisors are required to establish a safety and health management system (SHMS) for areas under their charge. They are required to identify the safety and health risks prior to the start of their research and teaching activities, and to implement the necessary mitigation measures. Their SHMS are subjected to regular certification audits. As of 2015, over 600 PIs have been certified to the scheme. This paper details the drivers behind the scheme & processes and, roles of key stakeholders in implementing the scheme. It also describes the benefits and limitations of the scheme.