2. Chapter 7
SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK

3. PREVIEW
The provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act which affect employers.
The importance of encouraging safe work practices and healthy lifestyles among employees.
Reducing incidences of sexual harassment at work.
The need for a planned programme to reduce violence at the workplace.
Programmes and activities which can improve the health and wellness of employees.

4. THE HEAVY COST OF ACCIDENTS
Medical bills
Wages of workers on medical leave
Damage to equipment and materials
Overtime work
Employee replacement costs, in case of fatal accident

5. THE HEAVY COST OF ACCIDENTS (cont.)
Time cost of supervisors, management and colleagues
Lowered morale of employees
Poor public image

6. CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS

7. CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS (cont.)
Employees’ problems lead to accidents:
Faulty attitudes
Impulsiveness
Low attention span
Irresponsibility
Drinking and drug abuse
Nervousness and fear
Faulty judgement of speed and distance
Worry and depression
Fatigue

8. EMPLOYEE HEALTH ISSUES
Common health hazards at work include:
Use of organic chemicals and toxic substances
Fumes, dust and smoke
Radiation
Infection
Noise and vibration levels
Extreme temperatures

9. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK?
Everyone is responsible for safety and health at work, especially:
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Employers
Employees

10. THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (OSHA)
To ensure the safety and health of persons at work, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, lays down a number of requirements which must be complied with by employers and employees.

11. SAFETY POLICIES
All employers with more than five employees are required under OSHA to:
Draft a SAFETY POLICY
Communicate it to employees
Revise it as necessary

12. APPOINTMENT OF A QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICER
Employers in designated industries are required under OSHA to employ a qualified safety officer.

13. APPOINTMENT OF A QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICER (cont.)
Appointment compulsory in high-risk industries:
Building and engineering construction
Ship building (with more than 100 workers)
Gas and petroleum (with more than 100 workers)
Chemical industry (with more than 100 workers)

14. APPOINTMENT OF A QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICER (cont.)
Metal industry (with more than 100 workers)
Wood working industry (with more than 100 workers)
Cement industry (with more than 100 workers)
Other manufacturing industries (with more than 500 workers)

15. QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICERS
A qualified safety officer is one who is registered with DOSH.
To be eligible for registration, the applicant must have:
a recognized diploma in OSH, or
a minimum of 10 years’ experience in OSH, or
have completed a training programme in OSH recognized by the Ministry of Human Resources.

16. APPOINTMENT OF A SAFETY COMMITTEE
OSHA requires all employers with 40 or more employees to appoint a SAFETY COMMITTEE.
The committee must meet at least once in 3 months. Minutes must be kept.
The committee members must be provided with safety training by their employer.

17. APPOINTMENT OF A SAFETY COMMITTEE (cont.)
The functions of the committee include:
Establishing policies on safety and health matters, including the setting of rules and regulations.
Conducting an inspection of the workplace, at least once in 3 months.
Analysing records on accidents and health problems.

18. APPOINTMENT OF A SAFETY COMMITTEE (cont.)
Investigating accidents and unsafe conditions and making recommendations to prevent similar occurrences.
Planning and executing safety and health awareness programmes.
Recommending the purchase of suitable safety equipment, where relevant.

19. REPORTING ACCIDENTS
Accidents have to be reported to the relevant authorities:
When a Malaysian worker is involved in an accident, or occupational disease, his employer must report to SOCSO and DOSH.
When a foreign worker is involved in an accident, or occupational disease, his employer must report to the Labour Department and the relevant insurance company.

20. SEXUAL HARASSMENT Sexual Harassment may be defined as:
Any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature having the effect of verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment:
that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as placing a condition of a sexual nature on her/his employment, or
that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as an offence or humiliation, or a threat to her/his well-being, but has no link to her/his employment

21. STEPS TO REDUCE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Draft policy which prohibits sexual harassment
Establish complaints procedure
Conduct regular briefings/training on sexual harassment
Take disciplinary action against sexual harassers

22. VIOLENCE AT WORK To reduce incidents of violence at work:
Conduct risk assessment
Establish zero-tolerance policy on violence
Prepare procedure for dealing with violent incidents
Train all employees to implement procedures relating to violence

23. WELLNESS PROGRAMMES
Wellness programmes are an attempt to encourage employees to have a healthy lifestyle.

24. ACTIVITIES IN A WELLNESS PROGRAMME
Fitness classes
Talks on nutrition
Briefings on common health issues
Regular medical check-ups
Stop-smoking campaigns

25. REVIEW
The provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act which affect employers.
The importance of encouraging safe work practices and healthy lifestyles among employees.
Reducing incidences of sexual harassment at work.
The need for a planned programme to reduce violence at the workplace.
Programmes and activities which can improve the health and wellness of employees.