10-8-2023 (SINGAPORE) Joint Pacific Ocean Underwater Services (JPO), a commercial diving company, has been slapped with a fine of S$115,500 (US$85,697) for failing to comply with a stop-work order issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in October 2018. The fine was imposed on July 14, 2023.
The stop-work order was issued to JPO on October 21, 2018, following an inspection conducted by MOM on board the dive boat JPO Challenger. Once a company receives a stop-work order, it is prohibited from carrying out any workplace activities until the necessary safety measures are implemented to the satisfaction of the commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health.
MOM discovered several safety lapses during the inspection, including the absence of commercial diving equipment, lack of commercial diving training, and the absence of a dive plan. Due to these deficiencies, MOM stated that commercial diving activities could not be conducted as they posed a risk to the safety, health, and well-being of workers.
Despite the stop-work order, MOM received information suggesting that JPO was still engaging in commercial diving operations, potentially violating the Work Safety and Health Act. In response, follow-up inspections were conducted on April 25, 2019.
During these inspections, it was revealed that JPO had continued carrying out commercial diving activities, disregarding the active stop-work order. The company had submitted a total of 155 applications to the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) for diving permits to conduct commercial diving operations. Moreover, JPO’s divers were instructed to perform tasks such as underwater vessel inspections, propeller polishing, and hull cleaning.
“MOM discovered 33 service reports detailing the work that had been performed,” stated the ministry. “By instructing its divers to engage in commercial diving activities while the stop-work order was still in effect, JPO endangered the lives of its personnel.”
