CHAPTER 8

SAFETY, HEALTH AND SECURITY AT WORKPLACE

NORSALNITA MD NOOR (2017)
DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (DOSH), MALAYSIA
 WHAT IS SAFETY?
A condition in which the We can avoid this harm
physical well-being of people or damage if we manage
is protected. Means, there is the safety, health and
welfare of workers at
an absent of danger.
workplace.

Exposure to a 1
hazard.
Anything with the
Health: potential to cause1

Health refers to a
harm or damage.
general state of e.g. death,
physical, mental and illness,
 OSH GOVERNING BODIES IN MALAYSIA
 Ministry of Human Resource
 Ensure employee safety, health and
welfare and HR matters through
training, labor rights and industrial
relation
https://www.mohr.gov.my/index.php/en/
 Department of Occupational Safety and
Health (DOSH) http://www.dosh.gov.my/
 National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH)
http://www.niosh.com.my/
 Provide training, consultancy, research
and info related to OSH to the public
and organization.
 SIRIM STS Sdn. Bhd.
https://www.sirimsts.my/
 THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT 1994
(OSHA)

 This act is to provide the legislative

framework for the safety, health and
welfare of persons at work.
 The purpose of OSHA is to provide a legislative
framework to:
 secure the safety, health and welfare among all
workforce in Malaysia.
 protect others against risks to safety or health
in connection with the activities of persons at
work.
 PHILOSOPHY OF OSHA
“ The responsibility to ensure safety and health at
the workplace lies with those who create the risk
and with those who work with the risk”
Employer
employee
s
• It is a self-regulating scheme that is designed to suit the
particular industry or organization.
• The concept of self-regulation encourages
cooperation, consultation and participation of
employees and management in efforts to upgrade the
standards of safety and health at the workplace.
• Tripartite approach – government, employer and
 LEGAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYER
 Have a written Safety Policy and must be disseminated to all employees
if employed more than 5 employees.
 Form up a Safety committee if employed more than 40 employees.
 Appoint qualified safety officer if:
 contract price more than RM20mil (building & engineering construction), or
 employ more than 100 employees (ship building, gas & petroleum, chemical,
metal, cement manufacturing), or
 employ more than 500 employees in any manufacturing.

 Take general measures to ensure safety and health of employees and

others. For example training, inform hazard, safety rules, and Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE).
 Report major accident to DOSH in the event of fatality or more than 4
days sick leave.
 LEGAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYER (CONT.)
Report major accident to DOSH in the event of fatality or more than 4
days sick leave.
 Recordable case: Any occupational death, illness, or injury to be
recorded in the log
 Recordable accidents
 Death
 Days away from work
 Restricted work or transfer to another job
 Medical treatment beyond first aid
 Other problems include loss of consciousness or diagnosis of a
significant injury or illness by a healthcare professional
Example of safety policy
 LEGAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES

 To take reasonable care for the safety and

health of himself and of other persons.
 To cooperate with employer on any safety
and health requirement imposed by the
employer regarding occupational safety
and health.
 To wear or use at all times any protective
equipment or clothing provided by the
employer while working.
 To comply with any instruction or measure
on occupational safety and health
instituted by the employer.
 ENFORCEMENT OF OSHA BY DOSH
 Approval and Authorisation
 Approve the application for business operation inclusion
PPE.
 Registration
 Registration of factories and installations, workplaces, and
machinery that require certification of fitness.
 Certification
 Certificates of competency would be issued to individuals
and firms with the necessary qualifications, experience,
expertise, and knowledge in the relevant fields

https://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/services/enforceme
 ENFORCEMENT OF OSHA BY DOSH
 Inspection
 This comprised the initial, repeat, and additional inspections
at the workplace including in the event of complaints,
accidents, and occupational diseases and poisoning.
 Investigation
 An identifies any unsafe conditions, acts, or procedures that
may have contributed to the injury/illness to the worker and
prevents others from being injured in the same manner.
 Litigation
 Legal action may be taken in the form of prohibition and
improvement notices, compounds, and prosecution in the
Courts.
https://www.dosh.gov.my/index.php/services/enforceme
 Statistics of Occupational Accidents by Sector from
2012 to 2016

Source: Department of Occupational Safety and Health, 2017 (DOSH,

MANAGING SAFETY ISSUES
 To prevent accidents in workplace.
 To ensure and maintain safe working condition and heathy
workplace.
 To improve productivity in term of motivation.
 To ensure people are safe and healthy in the workplace
 To teach the workers to pay attention to their surroundings.
 To prevents companies from law suits.
 MANAGING SAFETY: ENFORCING
SAFETY RULES
Ways to involve and engage employees in
company safety programs
 Jointly set safety standards with
managers
 Participate in safety training
 Help design and implement special
safety training programs
 Establish safety incentives and rewards
 Be involved in accident investigations
 Lead
to:
Mistakes, accidents, injuries, poor
performance etc
SAFETY HAZARDS AND ISSUES
 Workplace violence - Any physical assault, threatening behavior,
or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting
 Beatings and stabbings
 Suicides
 Shootings
 Sexual harassment
 Near suicides
 Psychological traumas such as threats
 Obscene phone calls
SAFETY HAZARDS AND ISSUES
Reducing violence in the workplace
 Management commitment and employee involvement in
preventing acts of violence - awareness
 Analyzing the workplace to uncover areas of potential
violence
 Preventing and controlling violence by designing safe
workplaces and work practices
 Providing violence prevention training throughout the
organization
 Evaluating violence program effectiveness
 SAFETY HAZARDS AND ISSUES
Workplace emergencies
 Toxic gas releases
 Floods
 Chemical spills
 Hurricanes
 Radiological accidents
 Tornadoes  Explosions
 Fires  Civil disturbances and
terrorism

Jabatan Bomba requires companies to have emergency action

plans to deal with incidents:
• Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency
• Evacuating a facility
• Accounting for employees after an evacuation
CREATING A HEALTHY WORK
ENVIRONMENT
An individual is healthy when the physical, mental,
and emotional well-being of people is protected.

 Wellness programme
 Stress management
 Reducing drug and alcohol related
problems
 WELLNESS PROGRAMMES

 Wellness programmes are an attempt to

encourage employees to have a healthy
lifestyle.
 Activities:
 Fitness classes
 Talks on nutrition
 Briefings on common health issues
 Regular medical check-ups
 Stop-smoking campaigns
STRESS MANAGEMENT
 What is stress? - a state of mental or emotional strain or
tension resulting from adverse or demanding
circumstances.
 Causes of stress:
 Job insecurity - when an individuals lacks the
assurances that their job will remain stable
 Poor supervision leads to stressed out subordinates.
 Excessive long working hours and shift work.
 Work overload
 Lack of resource and equipment
 Poor relationships with colleagues or bosses
WHAT THE ORGANIZATION CAN DO TO
HELP EMPLOYEES MANAGE THE STRESS?
 Ensure a safe working environment.
 Make sure that everyone is properly trained for their job.
 Discuss issues and grievances with employees, and take
appropriate action when possible.
 Encourage an environment where employees have more
say over their duties, promotional prospects and safety.
 Cut down on the need for overtime by reorganizing duties
or employing extra staff.
 Take into account the personal lives of employees and
recognize that the demands of home will sometimes clash
with the demands of work.
 Seek advice from health professionals, if necessary.
 DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED
PROBLEMS
The substance use (alcohol and drug) by employees can
cause many negative effect: lost productivity, injuries,
deaths and accidents, absenteeism, poor decision
making etc.

Employed

Research report : Alcohol and drug use among

fatally injured drivers In urban area of Kuala
 DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED
PROBLEMS

Drug or alcohol abuse in

the workplace may result
in:

 mistakes, accidents
and injuries
 damage to
workplace
equipment
 absenteeism
 a decrease in
productivity

Example of company’s drugs and
alcohol policy
MANAGING SECURITY ISSUES

Employee
Employee
Security
Security Controlled
Controlled Screening
Screening&&
Audit
Audit Access
Access Selection
Selection

Computer
Computer Security
Security
Security
Security Personnel
Personnel