COEB422 Engineers in Society

Ir Prof Dr Norashidah Md Din

Improved content from : Dr Fazrena Azlee Abd Hamid
Nov 2015

 Able to appraise the requirements for occupational safety and

health in an engineering work place.

 Importance of OSH in Engineering

Management Principles in Occupational Health and Safety
Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety Law of Malaysia
Legal structure & regulatory

Occupational Safety and Health Act, 1994

Occupational Safety and Health Regulations

Factories and Machinery Act, 1967

Factories and Machinery Regulations

Other OSH Related Acts and Regulations

Preventing Manual Task Injuries in Manufacturing
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 Safety First:
Engineer: Self, fellow-workers, community

Accidents & Mishaps: Can Be Prevented!

Awareness & knowledge
Being responsible
Professional & Ethical

Knowledge + Competency + Conscience =

Health & Safety of Community

 Safety usually is concerned with situations that cause injury and

deals with hazards that lead to severe and sudden outcomes.

Health usually is concerned with situations that cause illness or

disease and deals with adverse reactions to exposure over

prolonged periods to hazards that are usually less severe, but
still dangerous.

 mechanical

electrical

fall-related

chemical

lifting-related

biological

pressure

toxic, carcinogenic and

sound, noise and vibration

otherwise harmful
substances

heat, cold and temperature

radiation

fire

automation

explosion

ergonomic
human and psychosocial

factors (e.g., stress)

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 employers
employees
government and other regulatory authorities

compensation and insurance providers

the public

Highest: Manufacturing:
D-7, NPD-411,PD-22

Source DOSH website: http://www.dosh.gov.my (21 Jun 2015)

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Main reasons for being concerned about occupational health

and safety :
Economics.
The economic costs, both direct and indirect, of workplace

accidents, injuries and illnesses are significant. Costs can be

associated with the time lost from work, human pain and
suffering, and the subsequent loss of moral and decline in
worker efficiency and productivity.

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Legality.
Occupational Health and Safety Acts provide workers with the

right to a safe work environment.

In protecting workers, employers must exercise due diligence,

i.e., take reasonable precautions appropriate for the

circumstances.
The legal penalties that are possible for violations of health and

safety legislation are significant and can include civil lawsuits

and criminal prosecutions.

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Morality.
It is generally accepted that employers have a moral

responsibility to provide a safe working environment for their

employees.

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In order to address occupational health and safety appropriately, a

wide range of knowledge and skills are needed, including the
following:
A technical understanding of, and ability to assess, recognize and

prevent, all types of workplace hazards and risk factors.

Knowledge of relevant acts, standards, regulations, codes, laws and

liability. These include occupational health and safety legislation,

and other relevant legislation, etc
Knowledge of workers compensation schemes and programs.
Medical knowledge, including physiotherapy, psychology and

health care.
An ability to deal with and motivate people, communicate clearly,

and develop and manage plans.

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Occupational health and safety is concerned with the

identification, evaluation and control of hazards associated with
the workplace.

Objectives are to reduce:

occupational injuries, which include any harm from a

workplace accident (e.g., fracture, cut, burn), and

occupational illnesses, which include abnormal conditions

caused by exposure to factors associated with the workplace.

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 taking a leadership role in establishing occupational health

and safety as a company priority and commitment,

promoting a positive health and safety culture throughout the

company,
ensuring support for occupational health and safety initiatives

is provided, and
demonstrating and modeling good occupational health and

safety practices

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 A positive health and safety culture, including strong active

senior leadership and a workforce that is empowered to fulfill

its responsibilities in keeping the workplace healthy and safe.
An effective internal responsibility system that ensures all

members of the workplace fulfill their health and safety

responsibilities.
An occupational health and safety management system that is

geared towards control of risks.

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 ACT
Covers scope and basic provisions
Approved by Parliament

REGULATIONS
Contains detailed explanations for each provision under the Act
Approved by the Minister

INDUSTRY CODE / GUIDELINE

Guidelines in fulfilling requirements of the relevant Act
Drafting of Code of Practice can be initiated by Industry and

approved by DOSH
Not a part of the laws of the nation

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19

 Selangor Boiler Enactment 1892

Machinery Ordinance 1913
Machinery Enactment 1932
Factories and Machinery Act 1967
Occupational Safety and Health Act
1994

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24

OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND
HEALTH
ACT
(1994)

An Act to make further provisions for securing the 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.

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 A legislative framework to stimulate and encourage high

standards of safety and health at work

Promote safety and health awareness and establish effective

safety organization through self regulation

Defines general duties of employers, manufactures, employees,

the self-employed, designers, importers and suppliers

Covers ALL EMPLOYMENT SECTORS except
Personnel of armed forces
Crew of merchant ships

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 This legislation was made considering the fact that the Factory

and Machinery Act 1967 only covers occupational safety and

health in the manufacturing, mining, quarrying and construction
industries, whereas the other industries are not covered.

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 Ensure safety of workers;

Protect others at place of work;

Encourage conducive work

environment (physiological and

psychological)
Improve standard of safety

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Duty to ensure safety and health at place of work lies with:

Those who create the risk
Those who work with the risk

This Act stresses on:

Selfregulation

Consultation
Cooperation and involvement of the workers

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EMPLOYER
Main
Owner of an industry, including owners representative, manager or

agent
Person responsible for paying the salary
Direct
Person who deals directly with the workers, including temporary

and contract workers

WORKER
Person employed and salaried under an employment

contract (permanent, seconded or contract)

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Section 15(2) General Duties of Employers & Self-Employed

Persons to Their Employees
So far as is practicable
a) Provide and maintain safe plant and safe system of work.
b) Make arrangements for safe use, operation, handling, storage and
transportation of substances and plant.
c) Provide information, instruction, training and supervision.
d) Provide and maintain safe place of work and safe access and egress;
and
e) Provide and maintain working environment that is safe and without
health risk and with adequate welfare facilities.

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Explanation of SECTION 15
GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS TO WORKERS

Establish a safe work system

Analyze risk at place of work
Provide instructions, training and relevant information to workers
Provide and maintain a safe access and exit route from work area
Provide a safe work environment

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Section 16 Duty to Formulate Safety & Health Policy

a) Prepare a written general OSH Policy.
b) Revise such policy when appropriate.
c) Organisation and arrangement for translating such policy in
his/her undertakings.
d) Acknowledge his/her employees on any revision of the policy.
e) Employer with < 5 workers is exempted.

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Section 17 General Duties of Employers & Self-Employed

Persons to Persons Other Than Their Employees
a) Conduct his undertaking in a manner that will not endanger and
expose himself and other persons.
b) Provide necessary information to other persons on the manner in
which he conduct his undertaking as might affect their safety or
health.

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Section 18 Duties of an Occupier of Place of Work to Persons

Other Than His Employees
a) Safe means of access & egress for use by persons other than his
employees.
b) Ensure the safe and absence of risk in connection with the use of
plant and substances provided for use by persons other than his
employees.

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Section 19 Penalties: DUTY OF EMPLOYER

A person who contravene the provisions of Section 15, 16, 17 or

18 shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable

to:
Maximum Fine RM50,000;
or Maximum Imprisonment 2 Years;
or Both

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Section 20 Duties of Designers, Manufacturers & Suppliers

as Regards to Plant for Use at Work
a) Plant is of safe design and construction and without risk to health
when properly used.
b) Arrange/carry out necessary test/examination.
c) Provision of adequate information of plant.

*plant includes any machinery, equipment, appliance, implement or tool, any

component thereof and anything fitted, connected or appurtenant

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Explanation of SECTION 20: GENERAL DUTIES OF

DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS
The plant should be safe and without risk
The plant should be tested and examined to ensure its safety
Adequate information should be provided on the safe operation of

the plant
Research should be carried out to discover and eliminate or
minimize any risk to safety

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Section 21 Duties of Designers, Manufacturers & Suppliers

as Regards to Substances for Use at Work
a) Substance is of safe and without risk to health when properly
used.
b) Arrange/carry out necessary test/examination.
c) Provision of adequate information of substances.

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Section 23 Penalties: Duties of Designers, Manufacturers &

Suppliers
A person who contravene the provisions of Section 20 or 21

shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to:

Maximum Fine RM20,000;
or Maximum Imprisonment 2 Years;
or Both

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Section 24(1) General Duties of Employees at Work

a) Reasonable care for safety and health of himself and others;
b) Cooperate with employer and others;
c) Wear and use PPE; and
d) Comply with instructions on OSH.

Else, penalty:

Maximum Fine RM1,000;

or Maximum Imprisonment 3
Months;
or Both
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Section 25 Duty Not to Interfere With or Misuse Things

Provided Pursuant to Certain Provisions.
A person who contravene the provisions of Section 25 shall be

guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to:

Maximum Fine RM20,000;
or Maximum Imprisonment 2 Years;
or Both

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Section 29 SAFETY AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS

Safety and health officer:
Employment of a competent person to act as a safety and health

officer at the place of work.

The safety and health officer shall be employed exclusively for the

purpose of ensuring the due observance of the Act and to promote

health and safety at the workplace.

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Section 30 Establishment of safety and health committee at

place of work
Employer shall establish a safety and health committee at the

place of work in accordance with this section if there are forty

or more persons employed at the place of work
Employer shall consult the safety and health committee ensure

co-operation from employee in related matters, in promoting

and developing measures to ensure the safety and health at the
workplace, and in checking the effectiveness of such measures.

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Explanation of Part Vll Safety and Health Organizations

Section 29: Safety and Health Officer
Management to employ competent person as Safety and Health

Officer
Employed solely for the purpose
Section 30: Safety and Health Committee
To be established if more than 40 persons at place of work

Management to consult committee for safety arrangements

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Section 30 Establishment of Safety & Health Committee.

A person who contravene the provisions of Section 30 shall be

guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to:

Maximum Fine RM5,000;

or Maximum Imprisonment 6 Months;
or Both

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PART VIII - NOTIFICATION OF ACCIDENTS, DANGEROUS

OCCURRENCE, OCCUPATIONAL POISONING AND
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES, AND INQUIRY
Section 32: An employer shall notify the nearest occupational

safety and health office of any accident, dangerous occurrence,

occupational poisoning or occupational disease which has
occurred or is likely to occur at the place of work.

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Part X INDUSTRY CODES OF PRACTICE

Section 37. Approval of industry codes of practice.
(1) The Minister may, upon the recommendation of the Council or

the Director General, approve industry codes of practice

comprising such directions as may appear to him to be necessary
or proper for the guidance of persons in complying with the
requirements of the provisions of this Act.
(3) An industry code of practice may
(a) consist of any code, standard, rule, specification or provision relating

to occupational safety or health approved by the Minister; or

(b) apply, incorporate, or refer to any document formulated or
published by any body or authority as in force at the time the industry
code of practice is approved or as amended, formulated or published
from time to time.
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50

FACTORIES AND
MACHINERY

ACT
(1967)

 Control of
Machinery
Workers
Place of work

Machinery requiring a Certificate of Approval from DOSH

for use
Hoisting Equipment
Steam Boilers
Pressure Vehicles

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Requirement of Certificate of Competency:

Crane Driver (mobile, tower)
Scaffolding Installer

Driver (boiler, steam engine, internal combustion engine)

Engineer (boiler, steam engine, internal combustion engine)

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Section 10 Provisions Relating to Safety, Etc.

In relation to safety, factory should be provided with:

1. Foundation & Floor of sufficient strength.

2. Roof of adequate strength to carry suspended load.
3. Hazard-free floors, working levels, platform, etc.
4. Ladder of sufficient strength to sustain the load.
5. Safe means of access and egress;
6. Proper storage of material; and
7. Fire Fighting Equipment/Prevention Program.

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Section 22 Provisions Relating to Health

1. Cleanliness kept free from offensive

effluvia arising from drain, sanitary
conveniences, etc.
2. Sufficient workspace.
3. Adequate ventilation.
4. Temperature reasonable conditions of
comfort.
5. Adequate illumination.
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1) Maximum Fine RM5,000.00 offences under Section:

Section 19(1) Certificate of Fitness.
Section 34(1) Occupation of Factory.
Section 36(1) Installation of Machinery, Etc.

Section 37 Application for Registration (Machinery Requiring COF).

Section 38 Register.
Section 39(1) Moving or alteration of or addition to machinery to be

approved.

Section 40 Periodical Inspections make good to any defect on

machinery.

2) Maximum Fine RM2,000.00 offences under any other

provisions under the Act.
3) Maximum Fine RM100/Day Continuing Offences.

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 Factories & Machinery (Electric Passengers & Goods Lift)

Regulations 1970
Factories & Machinery (Fencing of Machinery & Safety)

Regulations 1970
Factories & Machinery (Safety, Health & Welfare) Regulations

1970
Factories & Machinery (Building Operations & Works of

Engineering Construction) (Safety) Regulations 1984

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 1. Food Act 1983.

2.Electricity Supply Act 1990.
3.Environmental Quality Act 1974.
4.Fire Service Act & Regulations 1984.
5.Uniformity Building By Law 1984.
6.Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
7.Akta Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia 1994.
8.Destruction Disease Bearing Insect Act 1975.

9.Employment Act 1995.

10.Social Security Act 1969.
11.Industrial Relation Act & Regulations 1967.
12.Atomic Energy Licensing Act & Regulations 1984.
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 13.Explosive Act & Regulations 1957.

14.Street, Drainage & Building Act 1974.
15.Code of Practice for Building Operation MS 282.
16.Code of Practice for Safe Working in Confined Space.
17.Guidelines for Public Safety & Health at Construction Sites.
18.Guidelines on First Aid Facilities in the Workplace.
19.Guidelines on Occupational Safety & Health in the Office.
20.Guidelines on Medical Surveillance.
21.Guidelines on Trenching for Construction Safety.
22.Guidelines on Occupational Safety & Health in Tunnel Construction.
23.Guidelines on the Prevention of Stress & Violence at the Workplace.
24.Guidelines on Occupational Safety & Health for Standing at Work.
25.Guidelines for Labelling of Hazardous Chemicals.
26.Guidelines on Monitoring of Airborne Contamination for Chemical

Hazardous to Health.

27.Guidelines on the Control of Chemical Hazardous to Health; etc.

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 Workers compensation

statistics in South Australia

have shown the
Manufacturing Industry
accounted for:
26% of all claims for the

state, and
22.5% of the cost of all

claims, (2006/07).

The statistics also showed:

50% of all claims within

the manufacturing industry

were classified as strains
and sprains or
musculoskeletal injuries
58% of the lost time

claims for males were due

to strains, sprains or
musculoskeletal injuries
72% of the lost time

claims for women were due

to strains, sprains or
musculoskeletal injuries.
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Further analysis of the manufacturing industry statistics highlight the

following sectors with the highest manual handling claim experience:
motor vehicle manufacturing
automotive component manufacturing
plastic product not elsewhere classified
sheet metal products
refrigerators and appliances
bread and biscuit manufacturing
rubber tyre manufacturing
electrical equipment manufacturing

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Mechanisms of injuries included the following four major types:

muscular stress while handling objects other than lifting

muscular stress while lifting, carrying or putting down objects
muscular stress with no objects being handled
repetitive movement, low muscle loading.

More common agencies of injury (the object most closely associated with the
injury) included:
crates, cartons, boxes, cases, drums, kegs, and barrels
machinery or equipment components
plastic materials, synthetic resins and rubbers
metal ferrous or nonferrous
wheels and tyres.

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Wherever possible, tasks which may result in injury should

be eliminated or the risks minimised.

Changes to the workplace design, layout and plant are more

effective than procedural changes.

Workers should not be routinely required to work above

their shoulders, below their knees or at full reach distance.

Workstations should be quick and easy to adjust to fit

different workers and tasks.

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RESPONSIBILITIES
1 ) DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS
Designers, manufacturers and suppliers must identify

potential hazards that may arise from the design,

manufacture or supply of an item.

To achieve this they must consider the intended use, potential

musculoskeletal related hazards and options for eliminating

or minimising potential risks e.g. packaging size and shape,
provision of handles etc.
They must also provide information on the intended use of

the item and options for eliminating or minimising any risks

to allow the item to be used safely.

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2) EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Employers must, in consultation with

employees, identify hazardous manual tasks that

may cause injury. They must then assess and
eliminate, or minimise the risks.

3) WORKERS RESPONSIBILITIES
Workers who perform manual tasks
must:
take care of their own health and

The risk assessment must be conducted:

safety and that of others

before new manual tasks commence

comply with reasonable

when an injury or hazardous manual task is

reported
when there is a change to the:

workplace

work structure

systems of work involving manual tasks

plant or equipment

when new information is provided.

The employer must also provide workers with

appropriate information, training and

supervision to enable them to perform manual
tasks safely and to participate in the process of
managing the identified hazards.

instructions
use risk control measures as

instructed and trained

report any hazards
use any safety equipment, or

personal protective equipment

(PPE) provided.
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 Ethical problems occur from time to time in engineering, and these often

relate to health and safety of workers and/or the public.

For example, an engineer may be faced with the choice of risking the

health of workers on a project or delaying or even stopping the project

to establish a proper safety procedures or to purchase and install
appropriate safety equipment.

The former action places workers in some degree of risk of harm, while

the latter causes delays and increases costs for the employers or clients of
the engineer.

What level of risk severity and potential harm to workers is sufficient to

overcome the losses to the client or employer that will result if the
engineer delays or stops the project for a safety-related reason?

Codes of ethics, as well as laws and regulations, are in place to guide

engineers in ethical decision making and engineers are normally bound

to observe these.

But answers are sometimes not easily arrived at, as many situations fall into

a grey area.

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 Website of Dept. of Occupational Safety & Health, Ministry of

Human Resource: http://www.dosh.gov.my/

Engineering Health and Safety Module and Case Studies, Marc A.

Rosen, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2004

Past Lecture notes on OSH (UNITEN) : Dr Norashidah Md Din, Ir Ali

Askar
Past Lecture notes on Engineering Health & Safety (UNITEN) :

Assoc Prof Dr Ir Au Mau Teng

Courseware Notes: Law And Regulation To Construction Safety, by Sr

Dr. Mohd Saidin Misnan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 2013.

GUIDELINES FOR PREVENTING MANUAL TASK INJURIES IN

MANUFACTURING Australian Industry Group (SA Branch), October

2009
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