EGB3013: HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

TUTORIAL 1 - SOLUTION

Instructions:

There are 25 MCQs. Each MCQ is worth 1 point. In total, the essay/short answer questions are
worth 35 points.
Answer all questions.
While group discussion is encouraged, this tutorial should be done on an individual basis and will
be graded accordingly.

MCQ Questions:
1.

What is the primary function of NIOSH?

A. To provide education and training on environmental management issues
B. To provide a platform for research on quality assurance
C. To provide socio-economic insurance to workers in high-risk industries
D. To provide consultancy on workplace health and safety matters

2.

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of an effective EMS?

A. Improved worker safety
B. Improved market competitiveness
C. Improved long-term profits
D. Improved legislative compliance

3.

An oil refinery that employs over 500 workers is making huge losses. Should the refinery
spend additional funds to hire a safety and health officer?
A. No, it is unnecessary as the refinery is not a high-risk area
B. No, not until the refinery starts being profitable
C. Yes, to ensure the well-being and safety of the workers
D. Yes, it is required by government regulations

4.

Which of the following is NOT covered under the EQA 1974?

A. Licensing for waste discharge into the environment
B. Preservation of natural wetlands and marine life
C. Enforcement of requirements of the act
D. Specification of conditions of waste emissions

5.

It is illegal for a manufacturing company to discharge mercury waste, without treatment, into
the environment. According to which of the following legislation is this true?
A. EQA 1974
B. OSHA 1994
C. FMA 1967
D. ISO 14000

6.

Which of the following is NOT the direct responsibility of a safety and health officer?
A. Inspect the workplace for possible hazards
B. Act as the secretary to the safety and health committee
C. Provide training for the safe use of complex machineries
D. Investigate any accident, poisoning or other incident

7.

An employer is required by law under the OSHA 1994 to establish a safety and health
committee if ____________________ .
A. he has 30 or more employees
B. he has 35 or more employees
C. he has 40 or more employees
D. he has 45 or more employees

8.

Which of the following organizations is NOT covered by Malaysias OSHA 1994?

A. Southern Bank Bhd.
B. PETRONAS Gas Bhd.
C. Universiti Sains Malaysia
D. Royal Malaysian Air Force

9.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about Health, Safety and Environment
movement?
A. Redundancy is one of the widely used accident prevention techniques.
B. The development of HSE movement is characterised by professionalism and integration.
C. Enforcement in Three Es of Safety ensure the employees knows what are the hazards
present in their workplace.
D. Department of Environment is the government agency responsible to enforce the
Environmental Quality Act 1974 in Malaysia.

10.

Which of the following is NOT an organisation related to Health, Safety and Environment
movement?
A. Department of Occupational Safety and Health
B. Department of Environment
C. Department of Irrigation
D. Department of Public Health

11.

Which of the following rights under Occupational Safety and Health Act for employee is
FALSE?
A.
B.
C.
D.

File a health and safety grievance

Participate in OSHA inspections
Refusal to wear safety hat
Participate in union activities concerning job safety and health

12.

Which of the following is NOT the purpose of Environmental Quality Act?

A. Abatement of pollution
B. Control of pollution
C. Occupational health problems
D. Prevention of pollution

13.

According to OSHA 1994, which of the following is a responsibility of an employee?

A. Establish a safety and health committee and hire a health and safety officer
B. Avoid unsafe acts that may endanger yourself or those around you
C. Provide training and information for the safe use of complex machineries
D. Ensure the workplace is safe with sufficient entry and exit points

14.

Environmental Management Systems is the component of an organisation with primary

responsibility for leading, planning, controlling and organising as they relate specifically to the
impact of an organisation ______________.
A.
processes
B.
products
C.
services
D. all of the above

15.

Which of the following statements does NOT reflect the general principles of Environmental
Management Systems?
A. A process not an event
B. About words and aspirations
C. Serves organisation and its mission
D. Start from the top and implement throughout

16. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia have the following
functions EXCEPT to ______________.
A. ensure public safety who may be affected by the activities of persons at work
B. conduct strategic and effective enforcement to any organisation in complying with
regulations
C. perform environmental impact assessment at workplace in accordance with regulations
D. ensure the safety, health and welfare of persons at work in accordance with regulations
17. The Occupational Safety and Health Officer has the following authorities EXCEPT to
A. check work permit of workers at work premises
B. shut down plant which poses hazards to safety and health
C. investigate the plants to ensure compliance of OSHA
D. seize articles or installation on work premises
18. The following regulations were made under EQA 1974 to control the environmental pollution
EXCEPT
A. Control of Industrial Emissions Legislation
B. Control of Motor Vehicle Emissions Legislation
C. Control of Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
D. Control of Global Warming Quality Legislation
19. Which of the following statements are the objectives of OSHA 1994?
I. Provide an umbrella framework for associated regulations and code of practice
II. Protect general public against risk associated with workplace hazards
III. Secure the safety, health and welfare of persons at work
IV. Reduce the employers cost of compensation
A.
B.
C.
D.

I, II and IV
I, II and III
II, III and IV
I, III and IV

20. Which of the following statements do describe the nature of ISO 14000?
I. ISO 14000 family of standards has been developed to promote effective environmental
management
II. It is a quality system based on the participation of selected employees
III. It is a compulsory international standard for use by any company, any size and anywhere
in the world
IV. It advocates sustainable development for every nation and every person
A.
B.
C.
D.

I and III
II and IV
I and IV
II and III

21. Which of the following is FALSE?

A. The ISO 14000 is a family of effective environmental management standards
B. The ISO 14000 standards may be a market requirement.
C. ISO is a government organization based in Geneva.
D. A component of the ISO 14000 is continual improvement.

22. Which of the following is NOT TRUE of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994?
A. It is based on self-regulation.
B. It outlines the duties of the employer and employee.
C. It covers all sectors of the economy.
D. It is administered under the Ministry of Human Resources.
23.

The person directly responsible for the health and safety of an assigned employee is:
A. the agencys safety officer.
B. the officers from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.
C. the employee's immediate supervisor.
D. the employee him/herself

Essay/Short Answer Questions:

1. In the past, the method of treating wastewater, including raw sewage, was to release the
wastewater into a large body of water without prior treatment. The belief then was that, as the
saying goes, the solution to pollution is dilution. What do you think of this approach to
wastewater treatment? Is this approach still practicable today? Explain your answer.
This approach is no longer practicable. In the very distant past, the amount of wastewater
generated was not much, and hence, the wastewater could be discharged into the
environment without treatment as the environment had the natural capacity to absorb the
waste. However, the amount of wastewater generated today has far surpassed that natural
capacity and hence, the solution to pollution is no longer dilution. Furthermore, there are
some wastes that do not naturally biodegrade and if discharged into the environment, will
accumulate over time. Examples of such wastes are halogenated hydrocarbons, dioxins,
organochlorines and heavy metals. These wastes pose serious human risks if allowed to
accumulate to a high enough concentration.
[5 marks]
2. The ISO 14000 and the EQA 1974 are both concerned with environmental protection. There are,
however, differences between them. Give THREE (3) differences between the ISO 14000 and
the EQA 1974.
(i) EQA 1974 is a legislation and therefore, compliance with it is compulsory. ISO 14000 is an
industry standard and therefore, adoption of it is voluntary. (ii) EQA 1974 has national scope
while ISO 14000 has an international scope. (iii) EQA 1974 was developed by the Malaysian
government while ISO 14000 was developed by ISO, a non-governmental body.
[3 marks]
3. The Department of Environment has recently fined Tronoh Electronics Industries Sdn. Bhd. for
violating the Environmental Quality (Schedule Wastes) Regulations. The Board of Directors is
extremely worried of the amount of fines that has been imposed on the company, as this was
not the first time. Thus in order to reduce the possibility of being fined again, they have
decided to follow a system that will assist the company in attaining an environmentally
friendly status.

a. Identify the system and discuss SIX (6) general principles of the system.
Continue review & Improvement
Measurement & Evaluation
Implementation
Planning
Policy/go
al
Leadership & commitment

[6 marks]

b. In implementing the above system successfully, briefly discuss any THREE (3) viable
criteria that the company should be aware of.

Cost effective and economically viable

Not contradicting trade regulations, agreements, local and international legislation

Practicable and address in national/international language

Performance based

Focused on continual improvement

[6 marks]

c. ISO 14000 family of standards has been developed to promote effective environmental
management, in which ISO 14001 standard is specifically an approach to protect the
environment. Some companies perceive the implementation of ISO 14000 as a cost of
doing business. However, for some proactive companies, implementing ISO 14000 can
bring return on investment in environmental-related measures. Discuss any FOUR (4)
benefits that attract the proactive companies to invest in certification of ISO 14001.

Improved compliance with regulations

Increase marketability & competitiveness

Reduce liability / risk

Gain regulatory incentives

Promote pollution prevention & waste minimisation

Increased profit by less cost of compensation

Improved internal management system

Community goodwill by enhance environment

[8 marks]
4. The Malaysian government in the effort to promote workplace safety and health, established the
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). What is the major difference between the roles of
the two organizations?
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is responsible for
ensuring the safety, health and welfare of persons at work and protections of other people
from hazards arising from the activities of persons at work in various economic sector.
National Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH)
is the centre for training, consultancy, information dissemination and research in occupational
safety and health in Malaysia.
[2 marks]
5. The environmental-related regulations can be divided into two categories: the laws of prevention
and the laws of environmental protection. Discuss and provide appropriate example.
The prevention includes the environmental considerations that must be incorporated into
project planning and implementation via mandatory requirement under Section 34A of the
Environmental Quality Amendment) Act 1985
. The Section requires anyone who intends to undertake a prescribed activity to first conduct a
study to assess the likely environmental impact that will occur from the activity and the
mitigating measures that need to be taken in order to overcome it.
An example of protection related environmental law is the acts and regulations enacted to
prosecute and penalise polluters e.g. the Environmental Quality Act (EQA), incepted in 1974.
1.
[4 marks]