1

What is OSHA and its importance?

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) is a piece of Malaysian
legislation which was gazetted on 25 February 1994 by the Malaysian Parliament.
The principle of the Act is "To make further provision for securing that safety, health
and welfare of persons at work, for protecting others against risks to safety or health
in connection with the activities of persons at work, to establish the National Council
for Occupational Safety and Health and for matters connected therewith."
The Act applies throughout Malaysia to the industries specified in the First Schedule.
Nothing in this act shall apply to work aboard ships governed by the Merchant
Shipping Ordinance 1952, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1960 of Sabah or
Sarawak or the armed forces.
List of regulations under this Act:
Occupational Safety and Health (Employers' Safety and Health General
Policy Statements) (Exception) Regulations 1995
Occupational Safety and Health (Control of Industry Major Accident Hazards)
Regulations 1996
Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Committee) Regulations
1996
Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Packaging and Labelling of
Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 1997
Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations
1997
Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Order 1997
Occupational Safety and Health (Prohibition of Use of Substance) Order
1999
Occupational Safety and Health (Use and Standards of Exposure of
Chemicals Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2000
Occupational Safety and Health (Notification of Accident, Dangerous
Occurrence, Occupational Poisoning and Occupational Disease) Regulation
2004








2

Importances:
To Comply with Applicable Occupational Safety and Health Acts &
Regulations ~
Conduct quarterly OSH Workplace Inspection.
Conduct quarterly OSH Workplace Inspection.
Identify relevant Malaysian Safety and Health and other Safety and Health
requirements that are applicable to the safety and health hazards of ISH
activities, products and services.
Obtain information regarding any new or updated Act, Regulations and
Statutory Requirements.
Source for new copies of the amended Acts, Regulations and Statutory
Requirements.
Review & update Legal Register periodically and when necessary.
Ensure copies of relevant statutory requirement are available at locations
affected by the legislatives.
Training:
Create awareness to new staff
Poster display at corridor
Personal/ co-workers safety
Physical and health hazards of the chemical associated with jobs within the
facilities and how workers can protect themselves
Update and brief staff with latest information regarding regulation & Acts,
processes related to work periodically and when necessary.
Conduct safe practices audit to ensure compliance.
Encourage staff to report any unsafe practices and non-compliance on the
statutory requirements
Evaluate compliance by reviewing audit reports, records, facility inspection,
feedback from statutory authorities, etc.
Administrative control

Collection of incident data
Conduct investigation
Monthly 5S inspection
Analyze data collected
Identify gaps of weakness
Recommend appropriate corrective/ preventive actions to Management
Initiate remedial measures, policy and protocol changes if necessary
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of corrective/ preventive action taken
Work practices control:

Evaluate existing risk control measures are sufficient to minimize risk
Review & update Work instruction/ HIRADC periodically
Review processes when necessary



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Personal Protective Equipment:

Provide appropriate PPE accordingly
Encourage and ensure usage of PPE
Monitor compliance in the utilization and periodic check on the PPE
condition.
Job specific:

Orientate prior to placement to the job
Hands on training prior to placement to the job.
Maintain Zero Work Related Illness
1. Site analysis:

Identify existing hazards, condition, operations & situation
Include close scrutiny & tracking of injury reported
Incident records to identify patterns that may be the casual factors
Collect suggestions/complaints and analyze
Training:
Create awareness to new staff
Poster display at corridor
Physical and health hazards of the chemical associated with jobs within the
facilities and how workers can protect themselves
Update and brief staff with latest information regarding processes related to
work periodically and when necessary
Involvement of Government agencies
Communicate to staff relevant and updated information from Government in
the event of an epidemic/pandemic
1. Instill culture of:

Observe personal/co-workers safety
Protect co-workers from injury
Blame-free environment for reporting sharps injuries and injury hazards
Handle all blood and body fluids as if they are infectious
2. Sharing and update of information regarding nature of incident through:

Services/Units meeting
Reminders in doctors/staff rest roomsIn-service education program







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Administrative control:

Collection of incident data
Analysis of data collected
Identify gaps of weakness

Work practices control:

Strengthen infection control practices
Work instruction/ HIRADC
Review & update periodically
Personal Protective Equipment:

Provide appropriate PPE accordingly
Encourage and ensure usage of PPE Monitor compliance in the utilization
and periodic check on the PPE condition

Legal and other requirement:

Identify relevant legal and other statutory requirements
Update and brief staff
Monitor compliance
Job specific:

Orientate prior to placement to the job
Hands on training prior to placement to the job.
Medical program:

Provide relevant medical screening program for employees working in the
critical zones.
Provide appropriate vaccination when indicated
Prompt treatment and investigation
Towards Zero Incidents
Collect suggestions/complaints and analyze
Encourage incident/near miss reporting
1. Sharing and update of information regarding incidents of needle prick injury
through:

Unit meeting
Reminders in doctors/staff rest roomIn-service education program



2. Instill culture of:
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Observe personal/co-workers safety
Protect co-workers from injury
Blame-free environment for reporting sharps injuries and injury hazards
Handle all blood and body fluids as if they are infectious
3. Site analysis:

Identify existing hazards, condition, operations & situation
Perform observational rounds and encourage staff to report near misses and
observed hazards in the work place.
Collection of incident data and analysis
Identify gaps of weakness and solution to overcome the weakness
Include close scrutiny & tracking of injury reported Incident records to identify
patterns that may be the causative factors
Training:
Provide regular update and latest information regarding products available to
minimize needle prick injury
Organize needle prick exhibition
Poster display at corridor
Capture potential risk photo and display in notice board
Physical and health hazards of the chemical associated with jobs within the
facilities and how workers can protect themselves
Update and brief staff with latest information regarding Regulations & Acts,
processes related to work periodically and when necessary
Conduct training for staff before introducing needle free products Ass ess &
educate technique in handling injection / sharps
7. Elimination:

Eliminate unnecessary use of needles and sharps wherever possible
Use IV delivery system that do not require needle access
8. Engineering control:

Implement the use of safety IV catheter
Evaluate samples from vendors
Proposed to Management for purchasing
Use instruments, rather than fingers, to grasp needles, retract tissue and
load/unload needles and scalpels Ensure availability of sharp bin so that
sharp item can be disposed off immediately at site of generation





Work practices control:

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No recapping
Avoid hand-to-hand passage of sharp instruments by using a tray or Neutral
Zone
Give verbal announcements when passing sharps
Proper disposal of sharps after use Engage consultants cooperation and
support to dispose off sharp themselves after procedures
Administrative control:

Work instruction/ HIRADC
Review & update periodically Data collection of incidents / accidents
Job specific:
Conduct spot check on work practicesZero tolerance for unsafe practices

Counseling service:

Trauma crisis counseling Critical incident debriefing



















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In this tremendous Developing era of economics we have been noticing that lot
Foreign direct investment are invested in developing country such as Malaysia,
Thailand, China, Brazil, India and many other countries. These changes in economic
development will start to provide lot of job opportunities. Blooming of this
opportunity will course people to work to get paid and employer will l take lack of
interest on the occupation safety point of view. The employee will have least
cautions on the safety because there not educated or expose to occupational safety
.For country like Malaysia to protect the rights of the worker occupational safety and
health act was introduced in 1994.But there are developing country still dint have
this act. On the estailaishing safety and health program by implementing the
responsibilities of everyone involve in working environment .
Employers responsibilities
Employers have both general and specific responsibilities related to hazard control
and worker health and safety. In carrying out these duties, managementfrom the
chief executive officer through to the first-level supervisorcan demonstrate their
commitment to health and safety in the workplace.
General responsibilities
Ensure the health and safety of the employers workers and other workers
present at the workplace.
Establish occupational health and safety policies and an OHS program.
Provide general direction to management, supervisors, and workers about
their responsibilities and roles in providing a safe and healthy workplace.
Provide specific direction and delegate authority to those responsible for
health and safety.
Consult and cooperate with individuals carrying out occupational health
and safety duties (including joint committee members, worker health and
safety representatives, and WorkSafeBC prevention officers).
Provide workers with the information, instruction, training, and supervision
necessary to protect their health and safety.
Provide supervisors with the support and training necessary to carry out
their health And safety responsibilities.
Provide and maintain protective equipment, devices, and clothing, and
ensure that they are used.
Make a copy of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational
Health and Safety Regulation readily available for review by workers.
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Hazard control responsibilities
Identify potential hazards through regular inspections and either eliminate
or control the hazards without delay.
Remedy any workplace conditions that are hazardous to worker health or
safety.
Develop written safe work procedures.
Encourage workers to express concerns and suggest improvements on
health and safety issues, for example, through safety talks, meetings, or
consultation with worker representatives.
Supervisors responsibilities
Supervisors should give health and safety the same priority as productivityor quality
control. They must know and comply with occupational health and safety
requirements. A supervisor is defined in the Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation as a person who instructs, directs and controls workers in the
performance of their duties. Any worker (management or staff) who meets this
definition of supervisor has the responsibilities of a supervisor for the workers under
their control.
General responsibilities
Ensure the health and safety of all workers under their direct supervision.
Know the WorkSafeBC requirements that apply to the work being
supervised and ensure that they are followed.
Ensure that workers under their supervision are made aware of all known
Or reasonably foreseeable health and safety hazards where they work.
Consult and cooperate with joint committee members or worker health
and safety representatives, and cooperate with others carrying out
occupational health and safety duties (including WorkSafeBC prevention
officers).
Ensure that the appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing
are available, properly worn when required, and properly inspected
and maintained.
Investigate unsafe conditions reported to them and ensure that corrective
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action is taken without delay.
Workers responsibilities
Workers have general responsibilities for their own health and safety and that of
other workers. In addition, they have the responsibility to refuse unsafe work;
discriminatory action cannot be taken against them for refusing to do unsafe work.
General responsibilities
Cooperate with the joint committee or worker health and safety
representative, WorkSafeBC prevention officers, and any other person
carrying out occupational health and safety duties.
Learn and follow safe work procedures.
Be alert to hazards, and report hazards or problems to the supervisor or
employer.
Use the protective clothing, devices, and equipment provided.
Perform work in a safe manner. Do not engage in horseplay or work while
impaired By alcohol, drugs, or other causes. Responsibility to refuse
unsafe work
Refuse to do work that they have reasonable cause to believe
wouldcreate an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person.
Immediately report an unsafe situation to their supervisor or employer.
Prime contractors responsibilitiesIn a multiple-employer workplace (where there are
two or more employers working at the same time), a prime contractor should be
specifically designated as a prime contractor for the purposes of the Workers
Compensation Act through written agreement. If there is no written agreement, the
owner is deemed to be the prime contractor. Each employer at a multi-employer
workplace must designate a supervisor and inform the prime contractor of the
supervisors name.
General responsibilities
Ensure the coordination of occupational health and safety activities of
employers, workers, and other persons at the workplace.
Establish and maintain a system or process that will ensure compliance
with occupational health and safety requirements at the workplace.
(Individual employers are still responsible for the health and safety of their
own workers.)
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Owners responsibilities
The owner of a worksite has responsibilities for a safe and healthy workplace. These
are in addition to any other responsibilities the owner may have as the employer or
prime contractor.
An inspection team includes both worker and management representatives. The
team should be familiar with the work process and, whenever possible, include
members of the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative.A
worksite inspection checklist can help ensure that inspections are thorough, results
are recorded, and the inspection process is standardized. A checklist is particularly
useful in guiding those unfamiliar with the inspection process. The checklist should
be adapted to suit the needs of your workplace.Any unsafe or harmful conditions
found during a regular inspection should be reported immediately to the
supervisor or employer and remedied without delay.Record and communicate all
significant findings. Provide a copy for the joint committee, and make a copy
available to workers .

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires written safework
procedures for a number of activities. A written safe work procedure lists the steps in
doing a task safelyfor example, it tells how to safely lock out a piece of equipment
before doing maintenance.
Here are examples of some of the activities where the Occupational Health and
Safety Regulation requires written work procedures:
Lockout
Confined space entry
Fall protection
Personal protective equipment
Violence in the workplace
Emergency evacuation
Chemical spills clean-up
Asbestos removal
Working alone or in isolation
Not all tasks require detailed written procedures. Other types of written instructions
may be appropriate. For some tasks, safety issues can be addressed verbally in
crew talks or during training. In deciding whether or not written procedures are
required, consider the following:
The requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
The level of hazard
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The number of workers doing the work
The experience of the workers
How frequently the work is being done
The severity of injuries that might result if correct procedures are not
followed
Recommendations for written procedures as a result of an inspection or
investigation
Written safe work procedures should be developed in consultation with the joint
committee and workers who do the job. Provide workers with copies or post the
procedures in the area where the work activity occurs.Review these procedures
whenever a job changes, new equipment is introduced, or workers return after an
extended absence. In addition, work procedures may need to be adjusted as the
result of recommendations from an inspection or from an investigation into an
incident.

Investigations
An effective OHS program has a process for investigating all accidents and incidents
that had the potential to cause an injury or disease. The purpose of an investigation
is to identify the cause or causes and to recommend steps to prevent similar unsafe
conditions.
What is an incident?
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation defines an incident asan accident
or other occurrence which resulted in or had the potential for causing an injury or
occupational disease. Incidents include the following:
Accidents in which a worker is injured or killed
Accidents in which no one is hurt but equipment or property is damaged
Near misses (no visible injury or damage but the incident could have
resulted in a Serious injury, death, or property damage)Serious incidents
you need to report to WorkSafeBCEmployers must immediately notify
WorkSafeBC of any serious incidents that:
Resulted in serious injury to a worker or the death of a worker
Involved a major structural failure or collapse of a building, bridge, tower,
crane, hoist, temporary construction support system, or excavation
Involved the major release of a hazardous substance
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Records and statistics a formal OHS program, records typically include:
Inspection reports and records of corrective actions taken
Incident investigation reports and records of corrective actions taken
Worker orientation records
Records of the worker and supervisor training showing the date, names of
attendees, and topics covered (for example, lockout and WHMIS training)
Records of meetings and crew talks at which safety issues were
discussed
Supervisors notes and logs of safety contacts
Records showing use of progressive discipline to enforce safety rules and
written safe work procedures
Joint committee meeting reports showing the steps taken to address
health and safety issues
Subcontractor pre-qualification documents
Equipment logbooks and maintenance records
First aid records, medical certificates, and hearing tests
Forms and checklists (for example, confined space entry permits) showing
requirements for safe work procedures
Sampling and monitoring records for work around harmful substances
Emergency response plan, record of drills, and any resulting
improvements

Records and statistics
In a formal OHS program, records typically include:
Inspection reports and records of corrective actions taken
Incident investigation reports and records of corrective actions taken
Worker orientation records
Records of worker and supervisor training showing the date, names of
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attendees, and topics covered (for example, lockout and WHMIS training)
Records of meetings and crew talks at which safety issues were
discussed
Supervisors notes and logs of safety contacts
Records showing use of progressive discipline to enforce safety rules and
written safe work procedures
Joint committee meeting reports showing steps taken to address health
and safety issues
Subcontractor pre-qualification documents
Equipment logbooks and maintenance records
First aid records, medical certificates, and hearing tests
Forms and checklists (for example, confined space entry permits) showing
requirements for safe work procedures
Sampling and monitoring records for work around harmful substances















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OVERVIEW OF CREATING HEALTH ENNITONMENT
Humans interact with the environment constantly. These interactions affect quality of
life, years of healthy life lived, and health disparities. The World Health Organization
(WHO) defines environment, as it relates to health, as all the physical, chemical,
and biological factors external to a person, and all the related
behaviors.Environmental health consists of preventing or controlling disease, injury,
and disability related to the interactions between people and their environment.
The Healthy People 2020 Environmental Health objectives focus on 6 themes, each
of which highlights an element of environmental health:
1. Outdoor air quality
2. Surface and ground water quality
3. Toxic substances and hazardous wastes
4. Homes and communities
5. Infrastructure and surveillance
6. Global environmental health
Maintaining a healthy environment is central to increasing quality of life and years of
healthy life. Globally, nearly 25 percent of all deaths and the total disease burden
can be attributed to environmental factors, Environmental factors are diverse and far
reaching. They include:
Exposure to hazardous substances in the air, water, soil, and food
Natural and technological disasters
Physical hazards
Nutritional deficiencies
The built environment
Poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status is
already at risk. Therefore, environmental health must address the societal and
environmental factors that increase the likelihood of exposure and disease.
Understanding Environmental Health

The 6 themes of the Environmental Health topic area draw attention to elements of
the environment and their linkages to health.
1. Outdoor Air Quality

Poor air quality is linked to premature death, cancer, and long-term damage to
respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Progress has been made to reduce
unhealthy air emissions, but, in 2008, approximately 127 million people lived
in U.S. counties that exceeded national air quality standards. Decreasing air
pollution is an important step in creating a healthy environment.

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2. Surface and Ground Water

Surface and ground water quality applies to both drinking water and
recreational waters. Contamination by infectious agents or chemicals can
cause mild to severe illness. Protecting water sources and minimizing
exposure to contaminated water sources are important parts of environmental
health.

3. Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes

The health effects of toxic substances and hazardous wastes are not yet fully
understood. Research to better understand how these exposures may impact
health is ongoing. Meanwhile, efforts to reduce exposures continue. Reducing
exposure to toxic substances and hazardous wastes is fundamental to
environmental health.

4. Homes and Communities

People spend most of their time at home, work, or school. Some of these
environments may expose people to:
Indoor air pollution
Inadequate heating and sanitation
Structural problems
Electrical and fire hazards
Lead-based paint hazards

5. Infrastructure and Surveillance

Prevention of exposure to environmental hazards relies on many partners,
including State and local health departments. Personnel, surveillance
systems, and education are important resources for investigating and
responding to disease, monitoring for hazards, and educating the public.
Additional methods and greater capacity to measure and respond to
environmental hazards are needed.
6. Global Environmental Health

Water quality is an important global challenge. Diseases can be reduced by
improving water quality and sanitation and increasing access to adequate
water and sanitation facilities.


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Figure 1: Adapted Comprehensive Workplace Health Model with Nine Essential
Elements
Organizational Culture Health and Lifestyle
Practices
Occupational Health
and Safety
Organizational
commitment to a positive
healthy eating culture
Credible nutrition
education and social
support for employees
and their families
Supportive physical
eating environment
Supportive social eating
environment
Access to services from
a Registered Dietitian
Access to healthy,
reasonably priced,
culturally appropriate
food
Nutrition education for
key decision makers and
intermediaries provided
by a Registered Dietitian
Safe food practices
and accommodation
of special dietary
needs (e.g., allergies,
traditional dietary
practices)
Nutrition policies that
encourage healthy eating



Building a Foundation for Success:
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A healthy organization creates healthy outcomes for its people improved health
and well-being, and for the organization reduced costs and improved
performance.These healthy outcomes depend on whether:
the business values its employees
safety comes first
jobs are challenging
employees have control over work load and work pace
employees have a say in workplace decisions
relationships are based on trust, respect, and fairness
employees have adequate resources to do their job
supervisors support employees
employees have opportunities for training and development
communication is two-way and open
employees are recognized for their contributions
pay and benefits provide an adequate and secure living standard




How will a healthy work environment benefit my bottom line?
Research shows that healthy people working in a healthy environment are key to
business success. Thats because a healthy workplace improves productivity and
reduces employers costs.
A healthy workplace will:
Improve employee health outcomes
Make it easier to attract and retain qualified employees
Lower absenteeism
Reduce health benefit costs
Enhance morale
Reduce risk of injury
Improve job performance

How will a healthy work environment benefit my bottom line?
Research shows that healthy people working in a healthy environment are key to
business success. Thats because a healthy workplace improves productivity and
reduces employers costs.
A healthy workplace will:
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Improve employee health outcomes
Make it easier to attract and retain qualified employees
Lower absenteeism
Reduce health benefit costs
Enhance morale
Reduce risk of injury
Improve job performance
Flexibility in workplace
A flexible workplace supports employees to balance work and life commitments. Its
an environment in which the workplace culture views this balance as positive and
encourages employees to take advantage of options such as:
Flexibility allowing employees to have some capacity to adapt their workday
to respond to family issues such as a child becoming ill or one who has special
needs, school visits and parent-teacher interviews or special needs of elders. It
typically includes family responsibility leave for employees.
Supportive supervisors/managers whose management style values staff and is
characterized by a desire to help employees achieve better balance between
work and the rest of their lives.
A culture that is family friendly - overall attitudes, beliefs, values and taken-for-
granted ways of doing things that support work-family issues as legitimate
workplace concerns, and as an opportunity to develop new ways of
working. Options include maternity, paternity, family and personal leave
provisions.
Alternative work arrangements options are available to employees including
daily or scheduled flex time arrangements, job-sharing, reduced hours,
compressed work week, family leave options, part-time work, gradual
retirement, telecommuting, other leaves and sabbatical options. Such
alternative work arrangements are seen as ways of working, and employees
using them are not sidelined, marginalized or belittled.
Recognition of child and elder care issues including support for child care,
providing access to a service regarding child or elder care, establishing on-site
child care or, developing a consortium with other employers in order to provide
emergency child care. This includes accommodating the needs of employees
who are breastfeeding their children.











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The impact of healthy workplace actions on business success
As businesses progress along the path toward being a healthy business they will see
increased benefits for both employees and performance. Use this visual model to
discuss the following:
Where is your business on this pathway?
Where do you want to be in 5 years?
What actions will get you there?











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References
1. The Business Case for a Healthy Workplace by Joan Burton, Industrial Accident
Prevention Association www.iapa.ca

2. Smoking and the Bottom Line: Updating the Costs of Smoking in the Workplace
by the Conference Board of Canada (2006) www.conferenceboard.ca

3.Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health (2006)
Business and Economic Plan for Mental Health and ProductivityAn Agenda for
Progress: Reducing the Social and Economic Burden of Mental Disabilities in the
Workplace. Toronto
4.http://www.dosh.gov.my/images/dmdocuments/glx/gl_osh_service_sector.p df
5. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2006/Creating-healthy-
workplace-environment-workbook.pdf
6.http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/ho
wtoimplement_ohs.pdf