LESSON 13:

SAFETY AND HEALTH AT

WORK

OBJECTIVES OF THIS
LECTURE
Upon completing this chapter student should be
able to:Define the concept
Describe safety and health procedures
Describe steps to improve safety and health of
working conditions
Explain employer and employee responsibilities
toward S&H

13.1 DEFINITION
1. Safety hazards
are aspect of the work environment that have
the potential of causing immediate and
sometimes violent harm or even death to an
employee.
Safety hazards include poorly maintained
equipment, unsafe machineries , exposure to
hazardous chemicals.
Potential injuries include lost of hearing , body
parts, burn , broken bones.

13.1 DEFINITION
(cont)
2. Health hazards
are aspects of the work environments that
slowly are cumulatively lead to deterioration
of health.
The person may develop a chronic or lifethreatening illness or become permanent
disable.
Typical causes are biological hazards, toxic
and chemical. These can cause cancer, and
psychological disorders like depression.

13.2 CAUSES OF
ACCIDENT
1. Technical causes / unsafe physical work environment
.(usage of defective or faulty equipment, inadequate

machine guard, lack of protective equipment and

failure to light up dark areas).
2. Human causes (the carelessness of the human)
3. Environmental causes / unsafe environmental work
conditions (slippery or poorly maintained floor, noise,
radiation)

13.2 CAUSES OF ACCIDENT

(cont)
Accident also occur when there is:
1. Production machinery
2. Walkways and areas where people climb
3. Use of hand tools
4. Use of electricity
5. Use of toxic or boiling liquids
Refer to: HRM, Maimunah Aminuddin pg:175

13.2 CAUSES OF ACCIDENT (cont)

Examples of unsafe work conditions
1)

Improperly guarded equipment's

2)

Defective equipment

3)

Unsafe storage, congestion, overloading

4)

Improper illumination
( glare, insufficient light)

5)

Improper ventilation

6)

Stressful working conditions

13.2 SAFETY AND

HEALTH POLICY
The General Policy Statement concerns with

the overall intent of the employer to look after

the safety and health of the workforce. This
statement can be simple and brief. Essentially
it should :
point

out that the management accept

responsibility for safety and health of the
employees and others who may be affected by
the work activities .

13.2.1 Occupational Safety &

Health Act 1994 (OSHA)
Objectives:
To encourage employers and employees to
reduce safety and health hazard
To provide and establish an effective
measures of safety and health standards
To implement programs to improve the
quality of people engaged in the safety and
health field.

13.2.1 Occupational Safety &

Health Act 1994 (cont)
Main points:
i. Sec. 15requires workplace and working

environments to be safe and without risk

to health
ii. Sec. 24requires employees to take
reasonable care of safety and health of
himself and of other persons at the
workplace
iii. Sec. 30requires all employers with more
than 40 employees to establish a safety
and health committee at workplace

13.2.2The Parties
Concern on OSHA
1. Government
play important roles in setting and enforcing
rules and regulation
Government should conduct programs for
safety and health through officer in-charge or
by using the mass media.

13.2.2The Parties Concern on

OSHA (cont)
2. Employer
Top management must support with an appropriate
measure to ensure safety and health rules and
regulations are followed.
Under the act employers are required to ensure so
far as is practicable that the work place is without
risk to safety and health Section 15(1)
Ensuring proper arrangement of all equipment and
machinery for business operations
. Provide proper information and training on safety
aspect
. Maintenance of the place of work
. Provide adequate welfare facilities ie. Safety equipment
.

13.2.2The Parties Concern on

OSHA (cont)
3. Employees
Must always concern to safety and health by
cooperating with employers to comply safety and
health standard, rules and regulation.
To ensure safety in workplace employees are
also required under the law to observe the
followings:
i. To use all the safety equipment being
provided eg. Safety helmets, safety boots,
vest etc section 24(1)
ii. To attend safety training whenever required
iii. Reasonable duty of care in ensuring safety at

13.2.2The Parties Concern on

OSHA (cont)
4. NIOSH officer
NIOSH officer should conduct training and
programs
which
related
in
safety
management
to
both
employer
and
employees in order to create awareness
among them.
5. Designer and Manufacturer
All designers and manufacturer should be
responsible to produce safety products and
machinery.

13.2.2The Parties Concern on

OSHA (cont)
6. Safety Committee
Sec. 30 requires all employers with more than 40
employees to establish a safety and health
committee at workplace
Committees Function
i. To assist the development of safety and health
ii. To review the effectiveness of safety program
iii. To carry out study on accident trends or
occupational diseases
iv. To recommend improvement on safety system
v. To investigate on complaints from employees
with regard to safety and health
vi. To consistently review all safety procedures in

13.3 MONITORING
SAFETY & HEALTH
HAZARDS
1. OSHA Standard
setting
the rules and regulations. Eg:
Occupational Safety and Health Act.
2. Inspection
regular checking of safety and health standard
are implemented.
3. Complaint
employees or their representatives have the
right to file a complaint with relevant authority
if they believe unsafe or unhealthy conditions
exist in their workplace.

13.3 MONITORING SAFETY &

HEALTH HAZARDS (cont)
4. Enforcement
the act provides for mandatory penalties against
employers for each various violation.
Employers should always remind employees to
follow the safety and health procedures.
Employees can refuse to work when working
condition are unsafe.
5. Voluntary activities
employers and employees get together to organise
safety and health programs.
To reduce injuries and illnesses arising out of
employment.
Many public and private organisations provide

13.4 Objectives of an OSHA

programs in an organization
1. Reduce cost of insurance
2. Reduce number of claim
3. General public awareness
4. Increase in knowledge and experience

13.5 OSHA in the

Public Sector
All government department and agencies

are subject to OSHA regulations.

Office environment
Office layout
Office equipment

TUTORIAL
Explain

the

terms safety and health

hazards.
How to avoid safety and health hazard?
Describe the safety and heath law and
procedures that applied in Malaysia.

WISH ALL OF
YOU THE BEST