Raising the Bar for Safety: CPG FM’s Collaborative Approach to WSH Excellence
At CPG Facilities Management (CPG FM), workplace safety is not just a compliance requirement, it is a shared commitment to care for the people who build, maintain, and sustain our environments. Earlier this year, CPG FM was inducted into the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Advocate Programme by the WSH Council. We spoke with Maggie Chia, Vice President, Strategic Quality Management at CPG FM, to find out what being a WSH Advocate means for the organisation and how its initiatives are helping to raise the bar for safety in the wider Built Environment sector.
Q: What prompted CPG FM to step forward as a WSH Advocate with the WSH Council, and how does your subcontractor network shape this responsibility?
Maggie: Our decision to step forward as a WSH Advocate is closely tied to the scale and diversity of our subcontractor ecosystem. Across our wide-ranging building and infrastructure operations, we work with more than 80 direct subcontractors covering mechanical and electrical systems, building maintenance, landscaping, fire protection, cleaning, pest control, lift servicing, and many other specialised trades. Each of these partners plays a crucial role in ensuring safe and reliable facility operations.
With such a large network, we recognise that our influence extends beyond our own teams, and that we have a responsibility to uplift safety performance across the entire value chain. So, when the WSH Advocate Programme was introduced, it felt like a natural extension of the leadership role we were already taking in safety. We engaged the Council early, validated our subcontractor ecosystem, and joined the Advocate induction to deepen our impact on safe work practices.
Q: What is your approach to building a strong safety culture, and what initiatives do you drive to strengthen this across the organisation?
Maggie: Our approach is simple — don’t treat WSH as just a requirement. We embed it into our culture and encourage senior management lead by example. One key initiative is our annual safety walks, conducted by our FM WSH Committee together with top management across selected CPG FM-managed facilities. The walks give our leaders and WSH practitioners firsthand insights into site operations and challenges. Through these collaborative walks, we continue to build a stronger safety ecosystem across CPG Corporation, encouraging shared ownership, cross-learning and continuous improvement.
As part of our commitment to strengthening safety competencies across our teams and contractor ecosystem, CPG FM also regularly work with our industry partners to conduct targeted safety training. An example is with Outward Bound Singapore (OBS). During the “OBS Partner Safety Awareness Day”, we work together to bring together partners and contractors from various OBS-related projects to present on selected topics, providing a platform to explore specific safety issues, share best practices, and learn from one another.
Recently, we delivered the “Work-at-Height (WAH) Awareness Workshop”, in collaboration with Chubb.
The session was attended by our WSH team, the HDB Hub site team, as well as our term contractors supporting HDB Hub. To ensure corporate-wide learning and accessibility, the workshop was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing staff from other sites to join online in real time.
Q: Some promising new contractors may not have extensive safety records, how does CPG FM balance safety assurance with providing fair opportunities?
Maggie: We adopt a balanced and developmental approach. While safety performance is a key factor, which we verify through MOM’s CheckSafe portal, we also consider project needs and potential. If a newly established company meets critical technical requirements but lacks a long track record, we don’t automatically exclude them. Instead, we guide them through compliance expectations, monitor progress, and provide ongoing support. Every year, we review all contractors’ safety and environmental performance. This ensures that as they grow, they grow with the right standards. It is about partnership, not gatekeeping.
Q: How does CPG FM monitor safety practices on the ground, and how are safety lapses handled?
Maggie: We take a layered and structured approach to monitoring safety. Our headquarters safety team conducts regular and spot audits across all sites, with findings documented, time-stamped, and assigned rectification timelines based on severity. On a daily basis, our site-based FM teams work closely with contractors to ensure safe practices are consistently followed. Safety performance is also tracked through a monthly KPI system, which promotes accountability and continuous improvement.
When safety lapses occur, we focus on identifying root causes. If the issue stems from gaps in training or communication, we step in to support the contractor with better supervision and refresher training. However, in cases of repeated wilful non-compliance by individuals, we take decisive action, including removal from site. Our approach balances fairness and accountability while safeguarding the well-being of everyone on the ground.
Q:What are some ways CPG FM supports safety uplift across your SME partner ecosystem?
Maggie: Many SMEs now recognise that frameworks like bizSAFE Level 3 and ISO 45001 are not just about compliance but also enhance business credibility and competitiveness. So, we’re seeing more initiative from SMEs in getting themselves accredited. ISO 45001, for example, helps standardise procedures and strengthens companies’ positioning when bidding for projects.
There is also growing interest in moving up the bizSAFE tiers. As a WSH Advocate, we actively support our partners in progressing towards bizSAFE STAR by guiding lower-tier companies through the process and providing the necessary resources and advisory support.
Q: How do you think industry safety culture has evolved in recent years?
Maggie: There’s a stronger understanding now that lasting safety culture starts with leadership. Across the built environment sector, management is taking a more active role in setting safety priorities. At CPG FM, our leaders lead by example by allocating resources, setting clear expectations, and reinforcing that safety is non-negotiable.
As facilities management evolves, our commitment to safety remains constant. Through leadership, partnership, and shared responsibility, we continue to drive a safer, healthier workplace for today and the future.