BMOS5103 Module

OUM Business School

BMOS5103

Occupational Safety and Health

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

BMOS5103
OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND
HEALTH

Mohd Ariff Majmi Zaaba
Dr Azahari Jamaludin
Dr Hamidon Katan

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

Project Directors: Prof Dato’ Dr Mansor Fadzil
Module Writers: Prof Dr Wardah Mohamad
Open University Malaysia
Moderator:
Developed by: Mohd Ariff Majmi Zaaba
Dr Azahari Jamaludin
Dr Hamidon Katan
Universiti Kuala Lumpur

Bibi Nabi Ahmad Khan
Open University Malaysia Malaysia

Centre for Instructional Design and Technology
Open University Malaysia

First Edition, December 2016
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM), December 2016, BMOS5103
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means
without the written permission of the President, Open University Malaysia (OUM).

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

Table of Contents

Course Guide xiăxvii

Topic 1 Overview of Occupational Safety and Health 1

1.1 Defining the Concept of OSH in an Organisation 2

1.1.1 The Principles of OSH 4

1.1.2 The Concept of OSH 5

1.1.3 Occupational Safety and Health Management System 11

1.2 The Importance of OSH 12

1.2.1 OSH Responsibility 16

1.3 OSH Policies 17

1.4 Why and What Causes Accidents and Diseases 19

Summary 24

Key Terms 26

References 27

Topic 2 Legal Framework 29

2.1 Evolution of OSH Legislation in Malaysia 30

2.1.1 Steam Boiler Safety Era (Before 1914) 31

2.1.2 Machinery Safety Era (1914 to 1952) 32

2.1.3 Industrial Safety Era (1953 to 1967) 32

2.1.4 Industry Safety and Hygiene Era (1970 to 1994) 34

2.1.5 Occupational Safety and Health Era (1994 to 2009) 37

2.1.6 Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan Era 38

(2009 Onwards) 38

2.2 Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139) 39

2.3 Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 (Act 302) 43

2.4 Occupational Safety and Health 1994 (Act 514) 45

2.5 Application of OSHA in Malaysia 48

2.6 Regulations, Codes of Practice and Guidelines 52

2.7 The Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry 53

of Human Resources

2.8 National Institution of Occupational Safety and Health 54

(NIOSH)

Summary 55

Key Terms 56

References 56

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iv  TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic 3 Risk Management 58
3.1 Risk versus Hazard 59
59
3.1.1 What is Risk? 62
3.2 Risk Assessment 62
64
3.2.1 What is Risk Assessment? 68
3.2.2 Risk Options 70
3.2.3 Potential Risk Treatment 73
3.3 Types of Risk Assessment: Quantitative and Qualitative 77
3.4 Categories of Hazard 78
3.5 Monitoring and Evaluation 79
3.5.1 Benefits of Monitoring and Evaluation 80
3.5.2 Key Issues to Address in an Evaluation 80
Summary 81
Key Terms
References

Topic 4 OSH Audits and Safety Inspections 82
4.1 What are OSH Audits? 82
4.2 Who Carries Out an OSH Audit? 84
84
4.2.1 Types of Audits 85
4.2.2 Qualification and Abilities of Auditors 88
4.3 What is Covered by an OSH Audit? 89
4.4 How to Manage Safety Inspections? 93
4.4.1 The Inspection Team Members 93
4.4.2 How Long Should an Inspection Take To Do? 93
4.4.3 How Frequent Should Inspections be Done? 94
4.4.4 How are Inspections Actually Done? 95
4.4.5 The Content Of Final Report 96
4.4.6 Follow-Up and Monitoring 96
4.4.7 Example of Workplace Inspection Report 98
4.4.8 Summary of Inspection Information Requirements 99
4.5 General Schedule Inspections 100
4.6 Union Participations 101
4.7 Protection of Trade Secrets 102
Summary 103
Key Terms 103
References

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TABLE OF CONTENTS  v

Topic 5 Occupational Safety and Health Programmes 105
5.1 Importance of OSH Programmes to an Organisation 106
5.2 Planning OSH Programmes 108
111
5.2.1 What are OSH Programmes? 112
5.2.2 The Benefits of OSH Programmes 112
5.3 The Method of Organising OSH Programmes 112
5.3.1 Overall Minimum Objective of the Plan 113
5.3.2 Risk Control 113
5.3.3 Rule of Thumb of Risk Assessment 114
5.3.4 Development of the Plan 114
5.3.5 Exposure Calculation 116
5.3.6 Assessments to Think About 116
5.3.7 The Plan 119
5.4 Staffing Need for OSH Programmes 120
5.5 Employer Responsibilities and Rights 121
5.5.1 Preceding Injuries 123
5.6 Worker Responsibilities and Rights 124
5.7 The Fundamentals for Setting Up Programmes 125
Summary 126
Key Terms 127
References 128
Attachment 1

Topic 6 Managing Stress at Work 135
6.1 The Concept of Stress at the Workplace 136
137
6.1.1 Definition of Stress 137
6.1.2 What is Work-Related Stress? 139
6.1.3 What is Stress-Related Hazard at Work? 140
6.1.4 Common Sources of Work Stress 141
6.1.5 Balancing Demand and Pressure with Skills and
141
Knowledge 143
6.1.6 Stress Factors 144
6.1.7 Causes Of Stress 147
6.2 The Occupational Stress Model
6.3 Job Stress and Work Related Accidents, Unsafe Acts, 148
Safety Behaviour and Individual Differences 150
6.3.1 Signs Of Stress In Individuals 152
6.4 Managing Stress 154
6.4.1 Taking Steps to Manage Stress 157
6.4.2 Preventing Job Stress From ManagerÊs Perspective 157
Summary 158
Key Terms
References

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vi  TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic 7 Measuring OSH Performance 159

7.1 The Concept of Measuring and Monitoring OSH 159

Performance

7.1.1 Labour Inspectorate Role in Improving OSH 160

7.1.2 Performance Measurement of OSH and Labour 160

Inspectorates

7.1.3 A Conceptual Framework for Performance 162

Measurement of Labour InspectoratesÊ Work in

Relation to OSH

7.2 The Functions/Purposes of Measuring and Monitoring 167

OSH Performance

7.3 Types of OSH Performance Indicators 169

7.3.1 The Need for Indicators 169

7.3.2 Types of Performance Indicators: Inputs, 171

Processes, Outputs and Outcomes

7.3.3 Indicators Benefits and Limitations 173

7.4 Leading and Lagging Measures of OSH Performance 174

7.4.1 Leading Indicators/Measures of OSH Performance 175

7.4.2 Lagging Indicators/Measures of OSH Performance 176

7.4.3 Economic Indicators/Measures of OSH Performance 176

7.5 Measuring Inputs or Processes 177

Summary 179

Key Terms 180

References 180

Topic 8 Communicating The Need For Better OSH 182
8.1 Make OSH a Priority in Your Workplace 183
184
8.1.1 Communicating the Importance of OSH 184
8.1.2 Enforcement 184
8.1.3 Find the Needs 185
8.1.4 Developing a Planned Approach to Communicate
186
OSH
8.1.5 Communicating OSH to Non-Employees, 186
187
Customers, Visitors, etc. 187
8.2 The Need to Invest in Safety Training 192
8.3 The Hazard Communication Standards 194

8.3.1 The OSH Programme 194
8.4 The Method of Communication 196
197
8.4.1 Written Hazard Communication Programme/
Hazard Statements

8.4.2 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSS)
8.4.3 Label
8.4.4 Hazard Tags

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TABLE OF CONTENTS  vii

8.4.5 Hazardous Material Marking 198
8.4.6 Audio Visual Aids 199
8.4.7 Electronic Communication 200
8.5 The Benefits of Hazard Communication 200
Summary 201
Key Terms 202
References 203

Topic 9 OSH Training and Welfare Services 204
9.1 The Benefits of OSH Training 205
9.2 Training for OSH 205
9.3 Know the Total Physical Situation 207
9.4 Determining the Attitude of the Employees 208
9.5 Custom Tailored Training to Suit the Physical and 211

Behavioural Situation 213
9.6 Motivate and Evaluate Continuously 213
217
9.6.1 Continuous Motivation 221
9.6.2 Continuous Evaluation 224
9.7 Welfare Services 225
Summary 225
Key Terms
References

Topic 10 Issues in OSH 226
10.1 How Unions can Strengthen their Effort in OSH 227
10.2 MTUCÊs Policy on OSH 228
10.3 OSH Challenges in Malaysia 229
229
10.3.1 Aims and Objectives of OSH-MP 2015 230
10.3.2 OSH Current Situation 230
10.3.3 The Role of Stakeholders ă Renewing the Paradigm 232
10.3.4 Building a Preventive Safety Culture 233
10.4 Occupational Health Diseases 233
10.4.1 International Labour Organization (ILO) List of
235
Occupational Diseases (Revised 2010)
10.5 OSH Best Practices in Malaysia: Past, Present and 236
236
Challenges Ahead 237
10.6 OSH and Stress Management 238
239
10.6.1 Can Workplace Stress be Defined?
10.6.2 What can Cause Stress at the Workplace? 240
10.6.3 Can Stress Affect Health?
10.6.4 How do I Know if Someone is Having Trouble

Coping with Stress?
10.7 Legal Issues in OSH

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243
Summary 243
Key Terms
References

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COURSE GUIDE

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

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COURSE GUIDE  xi

COURSE GUIDE DESCRIPTION

You must read this Course Guide carefully from the beginning to the end. It tells
you briefly what the course is about and how you can work your way through
the course material. It also suggests the amount of time you are likely to spend in
order to complete the course successfully. Please refer to the Course Guide as
you go through the course material as it will help you to clarify important study
components or points that you might miss or overlook.

INTRODUCTION

BMOS5103 Occupational Safety and Health is one of the courses offered by OUM
Business School at Open University Malaysia (OUM). This course is worth 3
credit hours and should be covered over 15 weeks.

COURSE AUDIENCE

This course is offered to all learners taking the Master in Human Resource
Management programme. This module aims to introduce learners to basic
concepts, knowledge, skills, management, current issues and challenges in
occupational safety and health (OSH) in organisation. This module also explains
the important legal aspects of OSH in Malaysia.
As an open and distance learner, you should be acquainted with learning
independently and being able to optimise the learning modes and environment
available to you. Before you begin this course, please ensure that you have the
right course material, and understand the course requirements as well as how the
course is conducted.

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xii  COURSE GUIDE

STUDY SCHEDULE

It is a standard OUM practice that learners accumulate 40 study hours for every
credit hour. As such, for a three-credit hour course, you are expected to spend
120 study hours. Table 1 gives an estimation of how the 120 study hours could be
accumulated.

Table 1: Estimation of Time Accumulation of Study Hours Study
Hours
Study Activities
5
Briefly go through the course content and participate in initial discussions 60
Study the module 15
Attend 3 to 5 tutorial sessions 10
Online participation 10
Revision 20
Assignment(s), Test(s) and Examination(s) 120
TOTAL STUDY HOURS ACCUMULATED

COURSE OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

1. Define and explain the basic concepts of OSH and appreciate its importance
in helping an organisation to attain and sustain competitive advantage;

2. Identify various legislations of OSH in Malaysia;

3. Describe the process of managing risk management, OSH audits and OSH
inspections;

4. Identify the key factors of effective stress management;

5. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various techniques of OSH
performance evaluation; and

6. Discuss the main current issues and challenges in OSH locally and globally.

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COURSE GUIDE  xiii

COURSE SYNOPSIS

This course is divided into 10 topics. The synopsis for each topic is listed as
follows:

Topic 1 introduces the concept and the importance of OSH in an organisation.
The safety culture and OSH policies need to be established and become an
integral part of the overall organisational culture to foster a safe work
environment and to secure the welfare of all employees and others. In addition,
this topic also explains causes of accidents and diseases in organisations.

Topic 2 explains the history and evolution of OSH legislation in Malaysia
including their application, regulations, codes of practice and guidelines. The
Department of Occupational Safety and Health is responsible for administering,
managing and enforcing legislation related to OSH in Malaysia, while National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is the centre of excellence of OSH
providing training, consultation and dissemination of information to the
industries.

Topic 3 focuses on risk management where risk management is the identification,
assessment and prioritisation of risks which come from various sources and at
any phase of a life-cycle. Risk is the probability of adverse effects whereas hazard
is any source of potential adverse effects. Hazards could be identified based on
category such as biological, chemical, ergonomic, psychological, environmental
and physical or safety. This topic further elaborates the categories of hazards and
monitoring and evaluation process at the workplace.

Topic 4 discusses the OSH audits and safety inspections. OSH audit is a
systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining „audit evidence‰
and evaluating it against standards to determine to what extend the ‰audit
criteria‰ are fulfilled. There are two types of OSH audits; internal and external
OSH audit. The qualifications and abilities of auditors can be obtained through
education, training and work experience. For employers, the risk of OSH
inspection is the loss of the trade secrets. Therefore, they must protect the trade
secrets and this can be done during the opening meeting with the OSH
inspection team.

Topic 5 outlines the importance of OSH programmes to an organisation. The
OSH programme should address the types of occupational hazards that could
happen in the organisation and action has to proceed at various levels. The full
participation of employees in any OSH programme designed for their benefit
will not only ensure the efficacy of such measures, but will also make it possible
to sustain an acceptable level of safety and health at a reasonable cost. Many

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xiv  COURSE GUIDE

factors determine what procedures are needed and each organisation will have
different OSH needs and issues.

Topic 6 explains the importance to tackle the causes of stress in the workplace as
stress at work can lead to problems for the individual, working relationships and
the overall working environment. It is always good to have a well-designed,
organised and manageable work, but when insufficient attention to job design,
work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in work related
stress. A good work balance means the demands and pressures of the job
requirements placed are well-matched with the employeeÊs capabilities such as
skills and knowledge. There are factors that contribute to stress at work place. It
is therefore imperative to understand each of the factors and how those factors
can influence the amount of stress an individual may experience.

Topic 7 discusses the concept of measuring and monitoring OSH performance.
This topic also describes the functions or purposes of measuring OSH
performance, examples of active monitoring information, and the three ways in
carrying out performance monitoring. The types of performance indicators
explain the need for indicators and its limitations. The measuring of inputs or
processes suggest that safety and health risks need to be controlled in order to
achieve an outcome of no incidents, injuries, accidents, work-related ill health, so
as to satisfy stakeholders.

Topic 8 explains the method of communication and approaches to briefing staff
on the importance of OSH. It is the managementÊs responsibility to make
available any kind of information, training, preparation and regulation
necessary. The hazard communication standard is a performance standard which
means that it describes objectives that must be met, but without specifying the
method for accomplishing those objectives. The OSH programme is a strategy of
action intended to avoid mishaps and work-related illness, including those that
are obligatory by the health and safety legislation as the least requirement.

Topic 9 focuses on the OSH training and welfare services. Learning and training
is important in improving the work environment to reduce accident risks. It is
important to consider all aspects in OSH such as the psychosocial and physical
work environment to have a complete social and organisational context in
training requirement. Work place training should be customised to suit the
physical environment and the behavioural situation of the employees. Employers
have the duty to ensure all persons especially the employees are safe at all times
and are governed by Health and Welfare Act.

Topic 10 discusses how the union can strengthen its effort in OSH by making
sure that employees have an input (such as ideas) in managerial decision-making

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COURSE GUIDE  xv

when preventive and protective measures are being developed. OSH challenge in
Malaysia is to build a safe, healthy, and productive pool of human capital by
creating, cultivating and sustaining a safe and healthy work culture in all
organisations throughout Malaysia.

TEXT ARRANGEMENT GUIDE

Before you go through this module, it is important that you note the text
arrangement. Understanding the text arrangement will help you to organise your
study of this course in a more objective and effective way. Generally, the text
arrangement for each topic is as follows:

Learning Outcomes: This section refers to what you should achieve after you
have completely covered a topic. As you go through each topic, you should
frequently refer to these learning outcomes. By doing this, you can continuously
gauge your understanding of the topic.

Self-Check: This component of the module is inserted at strategic locations
throughout the module. It may be inserted after one sub-section or a few sub-
sections. It usually comes in the form of a question. When you come across this
component, try to reflect on what you have already learnt thus far. By attempting
to answer the question, you should be able to gauge how well you have
understood the sub-section(s). Most of the time, the answers to the questions can
be found directly from the module itself.

Activity: Like Self-Check, the Activity component is also placed at various
locations or junctures throughout the module. This component may require you
to solve questions, explore short case studies, or conduct an observation or
research. It may even require you to evaluate a given scenario. When you come
across an Activity, you should try to reflect on what you have gathered from the
module and apply it to real situations. You should, at the same time, engage
yourself in higher order thinking where you might be required to analyse,
synthesise and evaluate instead of only having to recall and define.

Summary: You will find this component at the end of each topic. This component
helps you to recap the whole topic. By going through the summary, you should
be able to gauge your knowledge retention level. Should you find points in the
summary that you do not fully understand, it would be a good idea for you to
revisit the details in the module.

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xvi  COURSE GUIDE

Key Terms: This component can be found at the end of each topic. You should go
through this component to remind yourself of important terms or jargon used
throughout the module. Should you find terms here that you are not able to
explain, you should look for the terms in the module.

References: The References section is where a list of relevant and useful
textbooks, journals, articles, electronic contents or sources can be found. The list
can appear in a few locations such as in the Course Guide (at the References
section), at the end of every topic or at the back of the module. You are
encouraged to read or refer to the suggested sources to obtain the additional
information needed and to enhance your overall understanding of the course.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

This is an introductory course. There is no prior knowledge needed.

ASSESSMENT METHOD

Please refer to myINSPIRE.

REFERENCES

Alli, B. O. (2008). Fundamental Principles of Occupational Health and Safety.
Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Anton, T. J. (1989). Occupational Safety and Health Management. McGraw-Hill.

Elgstrand, K., & Petersson, N. F. (2009). OSH for Development. Royal Institute of
Technology.

Geotsch, D. (2014). Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers,
and Managers. (7th Ed). Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Ridley, J., & Channing, J. (2003). Safety at Work (6th ed.). Butterworth-
Heinemann.

Saad, A. (2011). Occupational Safety and Health Management. Penerbit USM.

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COURSE GUIDE  xvii

TAN SRI DR ABDULLAH SANUSI (TSDAS) DIGITAL
LIBRARY

The TSDAS Digital Library has a wide range of print and online resources for the
use of its learners. This comprehensive digital library, which is accessible
through the OUM portal, provides access to more than 30 online databases
comprising e-journals, e-theses, e-books and more. Examples of databases
available are EBSCOhost, ProQuest, SpringerLink, Books24x7, InfoSci Books,
Emerald Management Plus and Ebrary Electronic Books. As an OUM learner,
you are encouraged to make full use of the resources available through this
library.

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xxvi X COURSE ASSIGNMENT GUIDE

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Topic  Overview of

1 Occupational
Safety and
Health

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the concept of occupational safety and health (OSH);

2. Explain the importance of OSH;

3. Describe OSH policies; and

4. Discuss the causes of accidents and diseases.

 INTRODUCTION

Recent decades have seen significant changes in the working environment due to
globalisation, modern business approaches and competition, new working
conditions, technical innovation and technology evolvement. These have resulted
in new emerging workplace hazards and have called for occupational safety and
health (OSH) to be executed and enforced. Providing a safe and healthy
workplace for any person at the workplace especially the employees is essential
in todayÊs working environment. It is a basic human right for safety at the
workplace. Different laws and regulations have been introduced by developing
and developed countries and the challenge to improve OSH at the workplace is
never ending, as the nature of work is constantly advancing. These new threats
and challenges should not be ignored. All these may cause serious major
irrevocable damage and will set pressure to stakeholders, employers, employees
and also the enforcement authority. Thus, it is important to ensure that OSH

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2  TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

programmes and practices remain relevant with better commitment from
employers and employees and legislation enforcement.
In this topic, we will be looking at the overview of OSH. This will cover the
definition of the OSH concept. We will also be looking at OSH importance.
Besides that, we will be discussing OSH policies as well as looking into the
causes of accidents and diseases.

1.1 DEFINING THE CONCEPT OF OSH IN AN
ORGANISATION

Occupational safety and health (OSH) is also referred to as occupational health
and safety (OHS) or workplace health and safety (WHS), and can be defined as:
An action or method on the prevention of work-related hazard, injuries and
diseases as well as the promotion of health, safety, well-being and welfare of
employees at the workplace including the potential impact towards societies and
the general environment.
International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO)
under the Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health commonly define
OSH incorporating three main focuses (see Figure 1.1):

Figure 1.1: Main focus of OSH
Source: Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health (2016)

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TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH  3

The concept of working culture is intended in this context to mean a reflection of
the essential value systems adopted by the undertaking concerned. Such a
culture is reflected in practice in the managerial systems, personnel policy,
principles for participation, training policies and quality management of the
undertaking (International Labour Organization, 2016).

Ever since the European Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the
general public has become increasingly aware on the need of safety and health in
the workplace. The scope of OSH has progressively expanded to diseases in work
environment and workers well-being. This may involve interactions among
many subject areas, including physiology, psychology, sociology, ergonomics,
medicine, hygiene, work safety, toxicology, epidemiology and other (Elgstrand &
Petersson, 2009). Strategies and written action plan to identify and measure
occupational hazards have been practised progressively over the years consistent
with the technological and economic changes. OSH not only protects the
employees but may also employee family members and others who might be
affected by the workplace environment.

OSH can be organised to serve a single or numerous organisations, depending on
which type is more appropriate in terms of national conditions and practice.
Some of the main functions of OSH in organisation are to (Alli, 2008):

(a) Identify and assess the risk from hazard in the workplace;

(b) Watch for factors in the work environment and working practices that may
affect workersÊ health;

(c) Advice on work planning including workplace design, maintenance of the
machinery, equipment and other tools used in work;

(d) Participate in development programmes for the improvement of work
practices;

(e) Collaborate in testing new equipment and evaluating its health aspects;

(f) Advice on health, safety, hygiene and ergonomics;

(g) Monitor employeesÊ health;

(h) Make sure that work is adapted with the employees;

(i) Contribute to vocational rehabilitation;

(j) Collaborate in providing training and education;

(k) Organise first aid and emergency treatment; and

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4  TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

(l) Participate in the analysis of occupational accidents and occupational
diseases.

1.1.1 The Principles of OSH

OSH  is  a  multi‐disciplinary  field,  capturing  issues  related  to  scientific  areas 
(International  Labour  Organization,  2016)  such  as  biology,  technology,  natural 
science, philosophy, social sciences and other various industries. Some of the key 
principles  of  OSH  in  organisations  as  stated  in  the  International  Labour 
Conference in 1984 are (International Labour Organization, 2016): 

(a) All employees have rights and ensure that these rights are protected to
maintain proper working environment;

(b) A national system and OSH programme must be formulated, implemented,
monitored, maintained and periodically reviewed;

(c) Employers, employees and other stakeholders must be consulted by
competent individual or agencies to minimise the consequences of
occupational hazards;

(d) OSH policies must be established and aimed at both prevention and
protection at national and organisation level;

(e) Information is essential for development and implementation of effective
programmes and policies;

(f) Health promotion to enhance the employees physical, mental and social
well-being;

(g) Occupational health services covering all workers should be set up which
aim to protect and promote workersÊ health;

(h) Compensation and rehabilitation services must be made available to
workers who suffer occupational injuries, accidents and work-related
diseases at workplace;

(i) Employees and employers must be made aware of the importance of
establishing safe working procedures by education and training;

(j) Employees, employers and enforcement authority have specific
responsibilities and duty; and

(k) Policies must be enforced and inspection must be in place to secure
compliance according to OSH measures and legislation.

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TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH  5

The aim of OSH programmes is to foster a safe work environment and also to
secure the welfare of all employees. According to the Malaysia National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (2015),
workplace injuries and fatalities result not only in financial losses but also can
tarnish the image of the organisation concerned. Furthermore, a safe workplace
environment and good safety record will give workers confidence that the
organisation has their well-being at heart and this will motivate them to perform
much better. Thus, every employer and the stakeholders should see OSH
practices as future investment and not as an additional cost. Employers and
employees must embrace the safety culture to prevent more accidents and
deaths.

1.1.2 The Concept of OSH

The concept of OSH is applicable to any type of work (or sub-contracted work)
and sector such as (see Figure 1.2):

Figure 1.2: The sectors of OSH
Source: Department of Safety and Health (2016)

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6  TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

The right OSH concept needs to be defined between employer and employees
because accidents will cause injuries, health problems, death, damage to
company property and also the environment. Every organisation should provide
the best available knowledge and methods for OSH practices. Furthermore, it is
difficult to achieve a healthy economy, high-quality products or services in poor
working conditions, where the workers are exposed to hazards. The basic
concepts of OSH as explained by the International Labour Organization and
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work are (see Figure 1.3):

Figure 1.3: Basic concepts of OSH
Source: ILO (2009), ILO (2016) & European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (2016)
Now let us look into depth each of the concepts.
(a) Hazard

Hazard is a foundation, state or act that introduces danger and a condition
or practice with a potential for loss and harm in terms of human injury or ill
health, or a combination of these.
(b) Risk
Risk is a combination of the probability of occurrence of a hazardous event
or exposure and the severity of injury or ill health that can be caused by the
event or exposure resulting in an accident. Risk assessment is the process
where hazards are identified and risks are evaluated with the objective of
eliminating or reducing the risks as low as reasonably practicable.

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TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH  7

(c) Safety
Safety is an absence of hurt, injury and loss. Therefore safety must be seen
as a value judgement on the level of risk of being injured which is
considered to be acceptable.

(d) Health
Health in relation to work indicates not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity; it also includes the physical and mental elements affecting health
which are directly related to safety and hygiene at work.

(e) Occupational disease
Occupational disease is a disease contracted as a result of an exposure over
a period of time to risk factors (chemical, physical or biological agents)
arising from work activity, that is any chronic ailment that occurs as a result
of work or occupational activity. It is typically identified when it is shown
that it is more prevalent in given body of workers than in the general
population, or in other worker populations. Some well-known occupational
diseases include lung diseases (including black lung among coal miners)
and skin diseases.

(f) Work accident
Work accident is an unplanned and unexpected event which may result in
loss, injury or death to individuals or in damage to machinery and
equipment or both. Incidents that fall within this definition include cases of
acute poisoning, slips and falls on staircases. Accidents happen mostly due
to unsafe condition at the workplace and acts done by humans or animals.

Nevertheless, „prevention‰ is the key concept in OSH. Successful accident and
disease prevention programmes depend on the following three essentials (see
Figure 1.4):

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Figure 1.4: Three essentials that determine the successful accident and disease prevention
programmes

Source: Anton (1989)
Prevention must be the main objective rather than attempting to solve problems
only after the event happens. If any of these three essentials is missing, work
accidents and occupational diseases are likely to occur in the workplace.
The promotion of a safety culture to prevent accidents in the workplace also
needs to be established and become an integral part of the overall organisational
culture. A good safety culture in a workplace exists when safety and health are
understood to be and is accepted as, a high priority (Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health, 2016).

ACTIVITY 1.1

1. Why is a good safety culture important in organisations?
2. What is the purpose of accident prevention?
The Finnish Institute of Occupation Health (2009) has set seven values for a good
safety culture in an organisation described by the word CULTURE (see
Figure 1.5).

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Figure 1.5: The values of promoting a safety culture in the workplace
Source: Finnish Institute of Occupation Health (2009)

There are a few techniques in which organisations may provide OSH messages in
the workplace such as during management or town hall meetings, induction of
new employees, in-house publication, calendars, posters and bulletin boards. For
organisations to prevent accidents in the workplace effectively there is a need to
ensure the employees are fully aware of both potential and actual hazards in the
workplace through refresher training and constant supervision.
It is necessary to ensure that the leadership is visible and there is an instruction of
joint responsibility from both employees and employer (Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health, 2016). Potential emergency situations should be understood
although it is hard to predict when accidents such as explosions and spillages of
hazardous substances will happen. The location of hazardous materials, the
availability of equipment for emergency response and evacuation plans at the
workplace must be known to all employees and tested. Identifying the risk
assessment will isolate the occupational risks which lead to accidents and diseases.
Risk assessment on safety and health at work is performed to decide if actions are
required and what kind of OSH measures should be implemented in the
workplace (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2016). There are
several methods to perform risk assessment and it involves evaluating, ranking

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and classifying risk. Every employee should be involved and be actively
participating in order to promote high morale at work (Finnish Institute of
Occupational Health, 2016).
The approach towards accident prevention should be seen as the pursuit of
continuous safety improvement. The practices commonly used to achieve
accident prevention in the workplace are (Schneider, Irastorza, & Copsey, 2011):
(a) Through education, employees and the stakeholders must be informed and

aware of the dangers and potential hazards;
(b) Employees must be motivated to function safely;
(c) Employees must be able to function safely and this can be accomplished

through certification procedures, training and education;
(d) Equipment, machinery and tools must function safely;
(e) Working environment should be safe and healthy through management

controls, substitution of less hazardous materials or the use of personal
protective equipment; and
(f) Provision should be made for appropriate emergency response in order to
limit the consequences of accidents, incidents and injuries.
The control and prevention measures for the OSH management system in
organisations can be done by adhering to the following hierarchy (see Figure 1.6):

Figure 1.6: Control and prevention measures for OSH management

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1.1.3 Occupational Safety and Health Management
System

To improve OSH and prevent accidents in the workplace, employers must
establish an Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS). The
establishment of the OSHMS requires a thorough analysis of the workplace, job
factor and the employeesÊ characteristics that influence behaviour at work.
According to Elgstrand & Petersson (2009) the fundamental components of
OSHMS should contain (see Figure 1.7):

Figure 1.7: The fundamental component of OSHMS
Source: Elgstrand & Petersson (2009)

Now, let us look into the description of each fundamental components suggested.
(a) Policy

It is important that the policy states that the OSHMS must be continuously
improved and workers must be consulted and encouraged to participate.
Each policy should comply with the national laws and regulations, written
in clear language, communicated to all employees and stakeholders and
finally, signed by the employer.

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(b) Organisation
Employers should organise OSH and appoint personnel to identify evaluate
and eliminate hazards and to prevent or reduce risks. Those responsible
need resources allocated to them which include also time and training. Any
OSH documentation pertaining to it should be clearly written, is accessible
and updated according to the approval and decision did by the
organisation management.

(c) Planning and implementation
Besides planning the objectives of OSH, it is also important to discuss what
activities will be carried out to achieve the objectives according to the
deadlines. Such activities may include suggestions for continuous
improvement from management as well as from the workers.

(d) Evaluation
The performance of OSHMS has to be regularly evaluated and elaborated
so it can be compared with the organisationÊs OSH policy and national
legislation. An evaluation should not only be based upon reported work-
related injuries, ill health or accidents but also should include monitoring of
actions. Finally, the audits of the OSHMS should cover all elements in the
system including:

(i) Which elements are linked and support each other;

(ii) How well the OSH policy and objectives are fulfilled; and

(iii) Compliance with national laws and regulations.

(e) Action for improvement
The OSHMS must continuously be reviewed and no OSH problems can be
considered as permanently solved. New hazards may be introduced as
globalisation, modern business approaches and competition, new working
conditions, technical innovation and technology evolvement are bringing
rapid changes in the working environment.

1.2 THE IMPORTANCE OF OSH

Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United National (UN), in his
statement on the OSH priority on the global, international and national agenda
said:

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„The world of work will continue to undergo dramatic changes. Already, we
see growing demands for flexibility, mobility and productivity. As we look to
the future, we must always remember that human beings are not servants of
economies. Rather, economic development and production must serve men and
women. Occupational safety and health are crucial means towards that end.‰

(Annan, 1997)

According to the International Labour Organization (2016), every 15 seconds, 153
workers have a work-related accident from a work-related accidents or diseases.
They also reported that 6,300 people die daily as a result of occupational
accidents or work-related diseases which are more than 2.3 million deaths each
year. ILO was founded in 1919 and in 1946; it became the first specialised agency
of the UN. Its primary goal is to promote opportunities for employees to obtain
decent and productive work, in freedom, fair, security and respectful conditions
(International Labour Organization, 2009).

It is a requirement and mandatory for most countries with OSH law to report
occupational deaths, injuries and diseases to relevant authorities. However,
according to the research done by Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, many
developing countries experience difficulties in their inspection programme due
to lack of manpower expertise and lack of reliable data on occupational accidents
and diseases. Without a reporting system and reliable data, it is difficult to
understand the extent and depth of the relevant OSH issues (Niu, 2010). It is
estimated that 4% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year is lost
due to poor OSH practices (Rahim et al., 2014).

Safety and health is always seen as one of the important issue for employeeÊs
movement in ASEAN countries. Creating awareness about OSH and sharing the
best practices with others plays an important role, especially in developing
countries. At present, there is an ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health
Network (ASEAN OSHNET) as a platform for all ASEAN countries to share
good OSH practice since the community establishment during the 5th ASEAN
Labour Minister Meeting in 1984. The objective of the formation was to study
laws, main agency duties and law enforcement covers work environment
surveillance, workers health surveillance, advice about prevention and control of
occupational health hazards, training and education to employers and
employees, data system and research (Buranatrevedh, 2015). Figure 1.8 depicts
the ASEAN Industrial Accident Rate for the Year 2011.

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Figure 1.8: ASEAN industrial accident rate for the year 2011
Source: Buranatrevedh (2015)

Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994) imposed on 24th
February 1994 is the guiding act that governs occupational safety practices in the
Malaysia. It became the main legislation in OSH regulation, replacing all other
legislations before it (Surienty, 2012). According to Buranatrevedh (2015), the
major objectives of this law are (see Figure 1.9):

Figure 1.9: Major objectives of OSHA 1994
Source: Buranatrevedh (2015)

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Figure 1.10 shows you the statistical data for Malaysian industrial accident rate
from the year 2009 to 2014.

Figure 1.10: Industrial Accident Rate in Malaysia from 2009 to 2014
Source: Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Malaysia
Figure 1.11 (Ghazali, Yaman, & Mohammad, 2014), shows that the four sectors
that recorded the highest occupational accidents that resulted in either death,
non-permanent disability or permanent disability in Malaysia are:

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Figure 1.11: Four sectors that recorded the highest occupational accidents in Malaysia
Source: Ghazali, Yaman, & Mohammad (2014)

Social Security Organization (SOCSO) has been reported to be spending RM1.9
billion in 2013, RM2 billion in 2012 and RM1.71 billion in 2011 in compensation
for accidents and benefits to its members and contributors. The Ministry of
Human Resource (MOHR) is also reported to have paid RM1.3 billion in 2009
and RM1.6 billion in 2010 for the medical and treatment compensation that
involved in accidents and diseases (Mavis, Rahman, & Tamrin, 2015).

1.2.1 OSH Responsibility

Pursuant to national laws and regulations, OSH and its compliance requirements
are the responsibility and duty of the employer and the management. The
general duty of an employer is to ensure as far as is possible the safety, health
and welfare of all his employees. The employer and the stakeholder should show
strong leadership and commitment towards the establishment of OSH activities
and management in the organisation. An employer can be the:

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(a) Manufacturer;
(b) Supplier;
(c) Designer;
(d) Contractor;
(e) Sub-contractor;
(f) Club;
(g) Government department;
(h) Embassy; and
(i) Trade unions.

However, employees and such persons connected to the organisation by way of
involvement in supplying, designing or manufacturing of plants or substances at
the place of work are also responsible for OSH matters in an organisation. It is
the employeeÊs responsibility to take care of their own safety as well as their
associates that might be affected by action and work at the workplace.

The specific objectives of OSH programmes are to prevent accidents or injuries,
whilst at the same time keeping in mind, welfare of persons at work or
employees. To achieve these objectives the employer may need to comply with
the duty requirements, organise or conduct training and take an appropriate
action during emergency situations. These should contribute to the protection of
employees from hazards and to the elimination of work-related injuries, ill
health, diseases, incidents and death.

ACTIVITY 1.2

1. Discuss the roles of ASEAN in developing OSH programmes.

2. Who is responsible for the OSH programme in an organisation?

1.3 OSH POLICIES

An OSH policy is a written statement by an employer outlining their
commitment to protecting the health, safety and the welfare of the employees
and general public in the workplace. According to the International Labour
Organization (2009), OSH policies should be established at national and
organisational level.

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At the national level, the OSH policies should:

(a) Be used to establish a national framework for OSH management systems,
preferably supported by national laws and regulations;

(b) Provide guidance for the development of voluntary arrangement to
strengthen compliance with regulations and standards leading to continual
improvement in OSH performance; and

(c) Provide guidance on the development of both national and tailored to
respond appropriately to the real needs of the organisation according to
their size and nature of their activities.

At the organisational level, the OSH policies are intended to (International
Labour Organization, 2009):

(a) Provide guidance regarding the integration of OSH management system
elements in the organisation as a component of policy and management
arrangements; and

(b) Motivate all members of the organisation, particularly employers, owners,
managerial staff, workers and their representatives, in applying
appropriate OSH management principles and methods to continually
improve OSH performance.

This policy should describe the organisationÊs direction and objectives for its safety
programme and should take place for both management and worker
responsibilities to the programme for achieving them. A good OSH policy
statement will make it easier to enforce safety rules and procedures. It also makes
it easier for supervisors to comply with the company policy and make it easier for
employees to follow safety instructions and safety rules. OSH policy statements
should be clearly written to leave no doubt in the mind of the employee that
management is concerned about the prevention of accidents at the workplace.

As stated in the guidelines of occupational safety and health management system
ILO-OSH 2001, in writing the OSH policy, the employer in consultant of the workers
and their representatives should be (International Labour Organization, 2009):

(a) Specific to the organisation and appropriate to its size and the nature of its
activities;

(b) Concise, clearly written, dated and made effective by the signature or
endorsement of the employer or the most senior accountable person in the
organisation;

(c) Communicated and readily accessible to all persons at their place of work;

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(d) Reviewed for continuing suitability; and

(e) Made available to relevant external interested parties, as appropriate.

The guideline further stated that an OSH policy also should include key
principles and objectives to which the organisation is committed such as
(International Labour Organization, 2009):

(a) Protecting the safety and health of all members of the organisation by
preventing work-related injuries, ill health diseases and accidents;

(b) Complying with relevant OSH national laws and regulations, voluntary
programmes, collective agreements on OSH and other requirements to
which the organisation subscribes;

(c) Ensuring the workers and their representatives are consulted and
encouraged to participate actively in all elements of the OSH management
system; and

(d) Continually improving the performance of the OSH management.

Because of the importance of a safety policy, this policy should be given wide
publicity and made known to all levels of management and employees. However,
having a safety policy statement alone without the high state of visibility and
necessary arrangement is not enough. Employers may need to place the policy in
employeeÊs handbook, bulletin boards, internal publication or distribution of
pamphlets or posters at high visibility areas such as lift area, lobby, pantry or
canteen. Employers also may need to conduct training programmes to all the
employees of the organisation and this should take place during working hours.

ACTIVITY 1.3

1. How should the OSH policies be established?

2. What are the key principles and objectives of an OSH policy?

1.4 WHY AND WHAT CAUSES ACCIDENTS
AND DISEASES

Managing OSH is essential for all the employers at their workplace in order to
prevent accidents and diseases from occurring. Workplace accidents, diseases
and complaints continue to be an anxious dilemma in organisations today. Lack
of management control often leads to grounds for accidents and toleration of

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hazardous practices among the employee (Rahim et al., 2014). The absence of
reliable information about the incidences of occupational accidents and diseases
is a major hurdle to controlling deaths and injuries in the workplace. Therefore,
the organisation may have a new challenge, which is to create a work
environment with the purpose of attracting, keeping and motivating its labour
force. Some typical examples of contributing causes of accidents are:

(a) Inadequate codes or standards;

(b) Failure by management to enforce safety rules;

(c) Faulty design or lack of maintenance; and

(d) Inadequate personal protective equipment.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents of the United Kingdom defines
an accident as any unforeseen, adverse event causing harm or having the potential
to cause harm. An accident is an unplanned, undesirable and unexpected outcome
or event in a sequence of events that occurs through a combination of causes that
may result in negative effects or physical harm such as personnel injury or fatality,
a near miss, property and environmental damage, business and financial loss, etc.,
or a combination of these effects, for an organisation.

In 1985, World Health Organization Expert Committee defined and recognised
the following conditions as work-related diseases:

(a) The classic occupational diseases in which the factors in work environment
are predominant and essential in the causation of disease;

(b) Diseases caused by exposures from home workers working processes to
family members or by worksite exposures to members of the
neighbourhood community; and

(c) Multifactor diseases which, when occurring in workers (Joronen &
Hinkkanen, 2010):

(i) May partially be caused by occupational factors;

(ii) May be aggravated, exacerbated or accelerated by workplace
exposures; and

(iii) May impair working capacity.

The Expert Committee also identify numerous groups of work-related diseases,
including hypertension, locomotor disorders, chronic non-specific respiratory
disease, ischemic heart disease, behavioural responses and psychosomatic
illnesses.

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The two main causes contributing to accidents and diseases are unsafe acts and
unsafe conditions which both can be controlled by the management.

An unsafe act is a performance of task or activity on the part of a person which
will increase his or her chances of having an accident. Some of the most
commonly found unsafe acts at workplaces are:

(a) Using broken or defective hand tools;

(b) Not wearing the prescribed personal protective safety equipment;

(c) Not following safety procedures or obeying the safety rules;

(d) Poor housekeeping practices on the part of the worker around the work
area; and

(e) Abuse of alcohol and drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines,
heroin, steroids and etc.

The action of the employees themselves is among the main reasons of unsafe
conditions at the workplace. An unsafe condition is a condition within the
working environment which increases the workerÊs chances of having an
accident. The other main contributor to unsafe conditions in the workplace is due
to normal wear and tear of machinery, equipment or tools and the omission of
safety features during the maintenance of the machinery and equipment. Table
1.1 outlines the four parts of the accident sequence in the workplace.

Table 1.1: The four distinct parts in the anatomy of an accident

No Anatomy of an Accident Description and Examples

1 Contributing causes Supervisory safety performance
(a) Inadequate safety instruction
(b) Safety rules not enforced
(c) Infrequent employee safety contract
(d) Hazards left uncorrected
(e) Not provided with safety devices and

equipment

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2 Immediate cause of Mental condition of the worker
accidents (a) Lack of safety awareness and training
(b) Lack of coordination
(c) Improper attitude
(d) Slow mental reaction
(e) Inattention
(f) Lack of emotional stability
(g) Nervousness
(h) Temperament

Physical condition of the worker
(a) Extreme fatigue
(b) Deafness
(c) Poor eyesight
(d) Heart condition
(e) High blood pressure
(f) Lack of physical qualification for the job

Unsafe act
(a) Protective equipment or safety equipment

provided but not in used
(b) Hazardous method of handling materials
(c) Improper use of tools or equipment although

proper tools were available
(d) Hazardous movement i.e. running, jumping,

climbing, throwing etc.
(e) Horseplay

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3 The accident Unsafe condition
(a) Ineffective safety device
(b) Safety device required but not provided
(c) Poor housekeeping
(d) Defective equipment, machine, tools and

electrical system.
(e) Improper attire or apparel for the job

(a) Struck by

 Unexpected contact with moving object or
substance.

 i.e. struck by vehicle
(b) Struck against

 Moving worker contracting or striking
against some object or substance

 i.e. striking against sharp edge
(c) Caught in, on or between

 i.e. workerÊs foot was caught in some
broken boards in the floor

 i.e. workerÊs shirt being caught on a wire
fence

 i.e. workerÊs arm are caught between
revolving gears

(d) Fall from above

 Fall from higher level to a lower level

 i.e. fall from a ladder
(e) Fall from ground level

 Related to slipping, sliding, tripping or
falling to the floor or ground from the
same level

(f) Strain or overexertion

 carrying, pushing, or pulling objects or
materials beyond their physical limitation

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4 Results of the accident (g) Electrical contact

 Contact by the body with an electrical current or
with any electrically charged equipment or
fixtures

(h) Burn

 Part of the body contact with a spark, open
flame, or a hot surface or substance

(a) Annoyance
(b) Production delays
(c) Reduced quality
(d) Spoilage
(e) Minor injury
(f) Disabling injury
(g) Fatality

Adapted from: Thomas J. Anton (1989)

ACTIVITY 1.4

1. What are the main causes of accidents and diseases at the workplace?
2. Give examples of unsafe conditions in the workplace.

Ć It is a basic human right for safety and healthy workplace for any person at
the workplace especially the employees in todayÊs working environment.

Ć OSH not only secures the employees but may also protect employers, co-
workers, customers, family members and others who might be damaged by
the workplace environment.

Ć The aim of occupational health and safety programmes is to foster a safe
work environment and also to secure the welfare of all employees.

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Ć The key concept of OSH is prevention. Accidents and diseases prevention
must be the main objectives rather than attempting to solve problems only
after the actual event happens.

Ć The safety culture in the organisation needs to be established and become an
integral part of the overall organisational culture.

Ć The control and prevention measures for OSH management are preventive
measures, protection measures and mitigation measures.

Ć It is the employerÊs responsibility to ensure the safety, health and welfare of
all his employees.

Ć OSH policy is a written statement or pledge by an employer to protect and
guarantee the safety, health and the welfare of the employees and the general
public in the workplace.

Ć The OSH policy also should include the key principles and objectives
accordance to the company pledged.

Ć The two main causes contributing to accidents and diseases are unsafe acts
and unsafe conditions which are things that can be controlled by the
management.

Ć It is important to ensure that the OSH programme and practices remain
relevant with a better commitment from employers, employees and
legislation enforcement.

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Accidents OSH
Diseases OSH policies
Employees OSHMS
Employer Prevention measures
Fatality Risk
Government Safety culture
Hazard Unsafe act
Injuries Unsafe condition
International Labour Organization (ILO) Welfare
Leadership Workplace
Organisation World Health Organization (WHO)

Alli, B. O. (2008). Fundamental Principles of Occupational Health and Safety.
International Labour Organization (2nd Edition). Retrieved from
http://medcontent.metapress.com/index/A65RM03P4874243N.pdf\n
http://dspace.cigilibrary.org/jspui/handle/123456789/21581

Annan, K. A. (1997, December). Occupational Health and Safety: A High Priority
on the Global, International and National Agenda. Ergonomics and
Organization of Work, 4(3).

Anton, T. J. (1989). Occupational Safety and Health Management. McGraw-Hill.

ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network. (n.d.). ASEAN-OSHNET.
Retrieved August 25, 2016, from http://www.aseanoshnet.org/

Buranatrevedh, S. (2015). Occupational safety and health management among
five ASEAN Countries: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and
Singapore. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 98, S64ăS69.

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TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH  27

Department of Safety and Health. (2016, August 31). DOSH. Retrieved from
DOSH Profile: http://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/en/about-us/dosh
profile

Elgstrand, K., & Petersson, N. F. (2009). OSH for Development. Royal Institute of
Technology.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. (2016, August 24). OSHwiki.
Retrieved from OSH WIKI Networking Knowledge: https://
oshwiki.eu/wiki/Main_Page

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. (2009). African Newsletter on
Occupational Health and Safety: Accident Prevention - a Safe Workplace.
Retrieved August 25, 2016, from http://www.ttl.fi/en/pages/default.aspx

Harms-Ringdahl, L. (2001). Safety Analysis: Principles and Practice in
Occupational Safety (2nd ed.). CRC Press.

Ghazali, N., Yaman, S. K., & Mohammad, H. (2014). Contractors Ê Compliance on
Occupational Safety and Health ( OSH ) Policies in MalaysiaÊs Construction
Industry. 8th MUCET 2014, (10ă11 November), 4ă10. Retrieved from http:
//www.researchgate.net/publication/282940266

International Labour Organization. (2009). Guidelines on Occupational Safety
and Health Management System ILO-OSH 2001.

International Labour Organization. (2016). ILO. Retrieved August 25, 2016, from
http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

Joronen, M., & Hinkkanen, S. S. (2010). African Newsletter on Occupational
Health and Safety, 20(3), 1ă20.

Mavis, I. A., Rahman, A. A., & Tamrin, S. B. M. (2015). Occupational Hazards and
Work Environment Management among Osh Certified and Uncertified
Automotive Parts Manufacturing Industry Workers. Middle East Journal of
Scientific Research, 23(2), 160ă164. http://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.
mejsr.2015.23.02.926

Niu, S. (2010). Asian-Pacific Newsletter (Vol. 17). Retrieved from
http://www.ttl.fi/Asian-PacificNewsletter

Rahim, N. A., Ng, H.-K., Biggs, D., & Boots, K. (2014). Perception of safety ,
physical working conditions and stress between Malaysia and United
Kingdom, 15.

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28  TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
Schneider, E., Irastorza, X., & Copsey, S. (2011). OSH in figures: Occupational

safety and health in the transport sector ă An overview. http://doi.
org/10.2802/2218
Social Security Organization. (n.d.). PERKESO. Retrieved August 25, 2016,

from http://www.perkeso.gov.my/en/
Surienty, L. (2012). Management Practices and OSH Implementation in SMEs in

Malaysia.

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Topic  Legal

2 Framework

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1. Discuss the evolution of OSH legislation in Malaysia;

2. Describe the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139);

3. Describe the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 (Act 302);

4. Describe the Occupational Safety and Health 1994 (Act 514);

5. Explain the application of OSHA in Malaysia;

6. Discuss the industry regulations, codes of practice and guidelines;

7. Describe the role of the Department of Occupational Safety and
Health, Ministry of Human Resources; and

8. Describe the role of the National Institution of Occupational Safety
and Health.

 INTRODUCTION

Malaysia is striving to be a fully developed and industrialised country by the
year 2020. Since independence in 1957, the economy has been growing steadily
and the economy continues to expand. However, the increase in the rate of
economic growth has also recorded a high rate of occupational accidents,
particularly in the manufacturing sector.

Since the 19th century, during the Steam Boiler Safety Era, the government has
implemented Acts, regulations, order and guidelines that are focused on the
safety and health in the country to prevent industrial accidents and
environmental impacts. The current Acts that are related towards OSH are (see
Figure 2.1):

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30  TOPIC 2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Figure 2.1: The current Acts that are related towards OSH
The governmentÊs continuous commitment to occupational safety and health is
reflected in the enactment of the above mentioned Acts and the setting up of the
agencies under the Ministry of Human Resources such as the Department of
Occupational Safety and Health which is responsible for administering,
managing and enforcing legislation related to OSH in Malaysia from
manufacturing to retail trade industries. The National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health is also an agency that provides training, consultation, and
conduct research and development in the field of occupational safety and health
in this country.
However, the responsibility for ensuring safety and health of the Malaysian
workforce is not solely borne by the Ministry of Human Resources. Several other
government agencies are also involved particularly in enforcing legislation
related to safety and health towards the betterment of the safety, health and
welfare of the workforce in Malaysia. We will discuss all these issues in this
topic. So, let us get started!

2.1 EVOLUTION OF OSH LEGISLATION IN
MALAYSIA

Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is ranked as the 66th largest country in the
world with a total land area of 330,803 square kilometres. With a total population
of 31 million people belonging to diverse ethnic groups, Malaysia is divided into
two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Borneo Island), which are
separated by the South China Sea. Malaysia has always been a focal point for

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TOPIC 2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK  31

foreign trading because of its strategic location. The country is also rich with
natural resources and minerals such as timber, tin, copper, uranium, petroleum
and gas.

In the initial state of the countryÊs development, the economic structure
depended entirely on agricultural activities and mining. In 2015, MalaysiaÊs
economy was ranked as number 6th in Asia and one of the most competitive in
Southeast Asia. Malaysia has experienced extraordinary economic changes
during the last thirty years making it a modernised and wealthy country.
However, the increase in the rate of economic growth has also recorded a high
rate of occupational accidents, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

According to the Malaysian Department of Safety and Health (DOSH), the
history of OSH in Malaysia started since 124 years ago (Department of Safety and
Health, 2016). It started with steam boiler safety in the 19th century and was then
followed by machinery safety. After that, it was continued with industrial safety,
industrial safety and hygiene and lastly occupational safety and health in all
industries. The history, role and development of DOSH can be explained in six
eras (see Figure 2.2):

Figure 2.2: Six eras of the history, role and development of DOSH
Source: Department of Safety and Health (2016)

We will discuss each of the six eras in the following subtopics.

2.1.1 Steam Boiler Safety Era (Before 1914)

Steam boiler enactments were state oriented as each of the four Federated Malay
States namely Selangor, Perak, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan used its own steam
boiler law. The Selangor Boiler Enactment 1892 was the first law in Malaysia to
address the issues of industrial safety in recognition of the boilerÊs potential risk
to the workers and the industry (Department of Safety and Health, 2016).

In 1892, 83 steam boilers were used in Perak and their first steam boiler law was
enforced in 1903. In 1908, the steam boiler legislation was uniformed and these
laws required inspection and endorsement by the inspectors of boilers before the
commencement of the operation.

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