Singapore legislation
Regulation 32
Regulation 32
Use of mechanical restraints on residents
Subregulation 1
For the purposes of section 37(3)(a) of the Act, the use of mechanical restraints is permitted in any licensable SRH that provides care, biopsychosocial intervention and support to carry out daily activities to any resident who has autism or any intellectual, physical or sensory disability or any combination of those disabilities.
Subregulation 2
For the purposes of section 37(3)(d) of the Act, mechanical restraints may only be used on a resident if —
the resident is at imminent risk of harming any individual, including the resident; or
where the following conditions are satisfied:
all reasonable and less restrictive measures to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act have been attempted but are unsuccessful, and the use of mechanical restraints is the last resort;
the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH gives prior approval for the use of mechanical restraints.
Subregulation 3
If an authorised person uses mechanical restraints on a resident under paragraph (2)(a), the authorised person must inform the person‑in‑charge as soon as practicable of the use of mechanical restraints.
Subregulation 4
The licensee and person‑in‑charge of a licensable SRH must —
establish and implement policies and processes to ensure that —
the use of mechanical restraints to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act is a last resort;
mechanical restraints are used only for as long as they are necessary to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act;
the following records are kept:
the reasons for and duration of the use of mechanical restraints;
the approved personnel involved in the use of mechanical restraints;
the actions taken before and after the use of mechanical restraints to support the resident; and
the resident’s authorised representative or next‑of‑kin is informed as soon as practicable of the use of mechanical restraints on the resident; and
review every instance where mechanical restraints are used on a resident to implement measures or interventions to minimise the need to use mechanical restraints on the resident in the future.
Subregulation 5
Every approved personnel for the licensable SRH must comply with the processes mentioned in paragraph (4).
Subregulation 6
For the purposes of the definition of “mechanical restraint” in section 37(7) of the Act, the following are prescribed mechanical restraints:
any cloth‑based hand, limb, or body vest restraint;
any cushioned safety belt.