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Work Place Assignment Safety and Health Officer SHO NIOSH Malaysia PDF
Work Place Assignment Safety and Health Officer SHO NIOSH Malaysia PDF
2005/2006
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DEDICATION
I thank my family for the love and care and only with their motivation and strong words that push
me to excellence.
To all my respected OSH Trainers on their advice and guidance, who has been such a great
inspiration to me.
To my dearest colleagues, who helped me when I most needed it. I thank you all.
For those who were not mentioned earlier, I deeply appreciate your contributions to my workplace
assignment. Without all of you, I would not have made it.
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ABSTRACT
not feel exhausted and stressed in places where they have to spend hours. The objective of
this paper is to provide practical advice on the principal office hazards that should be
Division‟s offices, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) at level 30, 36, 37 and 38, Menara TM,
Kuala Lumpur.
The Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment method was adopted at workplace
are hoped to improve the workplace design and environment while aiming to minimize the
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TITLE
To identify safety and health hazards in the office at Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) Division‟s offices, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) at level 30, 36, 37 and 38,
Generally, to identify six safety and health hazards including three hazards on safety and
another three hazards on health at workplace. The Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
method was adopted to identify on each hazards present. The most common possible safety and
i. Ergonomic Hazard
b. Seating at Work
c. Manual Handling
a. Photocopier
a. Electrocution
a. Office Accidents
The most critical safety hazard and health hazard is office accidents and Visual
This analysis also shows that ICT top management should give attention to the
To conclude, this paper analysis findings are hoped to improve the workplace
design and environment while aiming to minimize problem related to safety and health hazards.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEDICATION 2
ABSTRACT 3
TITLE 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS 5
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 6
CHAPTER 2 OBJECTIVES 7
CHAPTER 3 SCOPE 7
CHAPTER 4 METDOHOLOGY 8
CHAPTER 6 RECOMMENDATIONS 12
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION 22
REFERENCES 23
APPENDICES 24
LIST OF FIGURES 25
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1. INTRODUCTION
not feel exhausted and stressed in places where they have to spend hours. The studies was
Nasional Berhad (TNB) at level 30, 36, 37 and 38, Menara TM, Kuala Lumpur. Creation
of a comfortable working environment is also believed will enable workers to put their
The Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment method was adopted at workplace
are hoped to improve the workplace design and environment while aiming to minimize the
This paper is to provide practical advice on the safety and health hazards at that
2. OBEJECTIVE
The objective of this paper is to provide practical advice on the principal office
hazards that should be controlled in order to prevent accidents and work related disease.
3. SCOPE
i. Identify six safety and health hazards including three hazards on safety and
ii. Carry out assessment of hazards identified. A Simple Method that provides
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iii. Give risk rating for each six hazards present. Events or situations assessed
with the most critical conditions are identified for each one of safety and
health hazards.
4. METHODOLOGY
4.1 To successful carry out hazards identification, a worker which so familiar with the
workplace operation and be able to determine the at least six types of hazards present was
assigned.
4.3 To fully understand the whole process or activity of a workplace the process flow chart
4.4 Task observation, walk through inspection, interview with workers at workplace were also
4.5 A hazards checklist was used to ensure that main areas are covered during the inspection.
This was done through Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Form (Appendix 2).
4.6 Hazards identified were recorded and tabulated. This information was enabling to decide
4.7 A simple method was used to provide risk analysis based on qualitative analysis. The most
common method of qualitative risk analysis is the use of the 2D Matrix Risk Table.
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4.8 Once on the likelihood and consequence of each hazardous event or situation has been
decided, a rating of each hazardous event or situation is rated to determine how serious the
risk is.
5.1 This hazards identification and risk assessment was conducted on ICT workers mainly
from Helpdesk, Finance and Administration, and System Development sections who are
worked in the office environment and keyboard equipment where they have to spend long
hours.
5.2 ICT‟s labor force component is made up of three major races, the Malay, the Chinese and
the Indian. There are about 330 workers in the ICT‟s offices at Menara TM.
5.3 However, lack of documentation on ICT‟s workplace is a major barrier for conducting
5.4 The results of hazards identification and Risk Assessment shows that work related disease
has long existed in the workplace. The findings had been classified into safety and health
hazards at workplace.
5.5 The most common possible safety and health hazards effect associated with working
v. Ergonomic Hazard
b. Seating at Work
c. Manual Handling
a. Photocopier
a. Electrocution
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viii. Physical Hazard
a. Office Accident
5.6 The most critical safety hazard and health hazard is office accidents and Visual Display
5.7 The Risk Assessment of occurrence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) and visual
discomforts are frequent among VDU operators. However, visual discomforts are
normally transitory and there is no indicators show that working with VDUs would cause
permanent impairment to the eyes. Visual factors include eyestrain and headaches, which
affect visual performance may likely to be occurred. Other types of work or of the job
activities may cause such discomfort. Users with existing visual deficit may find them
a) Staying in the same position and concentrating on screen of VDU for a long
time.
VDUs users may also experience varying level of discomfort in the hand, wrist, forearm,
neck, and lower back. An acute strain can present as muscle fatigue, aches, pain, weakness,
tenderness and / or swelling which subside with rest. The more chronic conditions function,
affecting activities of daily living, such disorders among keyboard workers have often be
associated with high workloads combined deadlines. Factors, which may contribute to the
b) Repetitive movements
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c) Increase muscle tension leading to excessive muscle fatigue
5.8 The most critical safety hazard is office accidents. Accidents don‟t just happened, they are
caused. Based on the Risk Assessment of occurrence of office accidents result from slip,
trips and fall, lifting object, punctures or cuts. Slippery floors, unclean spillages or gripless
shoes cause slips. Trips occur over objects lying on the floor or jutting out into aisles or
because of poorly surfaces. Falls can be from ladders or from standing on chairs to reach
an object.
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6. RECOMMENDATION
6.1 This recommendation is intended to be interest mainly to employer, employees, and others
persons on the principal office hazards that should be controlled in order to prevent office
Most of workers are using Visual Display Units (VDUs) at workplace. In the wake of this
common use of VDUs and the expressed concern about adverse health effects among
VDU operators. The VDU workstations should be ergonomically designed with maximum
The variety of factors contributing to VDU work risk, these require a risk reduction
a) Workplace Design
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iii. Equipment to be located at the workstation
i. Size. The desk or work surface shall be large enough to allow a flexible
ii. Safety. Work desk or work surface, particularly the underside of the work
surface, should not have any sharp edges, corners, protrusion, or rough
iii. Cable Management. Facilities should be incorporated within the work desk
or work surface design to accommodate the cables required for power, data
excess cable.
iv. Storage Facilities. Storage facilities for frequently used items should be
6.2.1.3 Chairs
i. Stable and allow the operator easy freedom of movement and a comfortable
position
iii. Backrest that is adjustable in both height and tilt to provide adequate back
v. Arm rest if provided should not interfere with the keyboard operation
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6.2.1.4 VDU’s Equipment and Furniture Adjustments
The height of the seat and the position of the keyboard, the display terminal, work
i. It should be possible for the operator to sit on the chair with his back
adequately supported by its backrest, and to allow the entire soles of his
ii. The height of the seat should be adjusted so as to avoid too much pressure
iii. It should be possible for the fingers to reach the keyboard naturally.
iv. The upper edge of the display screen should be at a height lower than the
The need for a document holder and the appropriate design and use of such equipment
depends on the task. Document holders are important to reduce visual and neck muscle
fatigue.
recognized standards.
ii. Glare. The screen shall be free or reflective glare and reflections liable to
cause discomfort to the use. If provided anti glare filters should be easily
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attached to and from the VDU and instruction for cleaning should be
iii. Adjustability. The screen swivel and tilt easily and freely to suits the needs
of the operator.
iv. Contrast. The contrast between characters and the background shall be
adjustable.
6.2.2.2 Keyboards
i. The keyboard shall be tilt able and separate from the screen so as to allow
arms or hands.
ii. The keyboard should be stable. It should not slip, tip or rock during keying
activities.
b. Reflection free
d. No sharp edges
6.2.2.3 Mouse
i. For optimal control and avoidance of excessive static muscle use, a mouse
should:
operation
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6.2.3 Work Environment
i. Illumination.
contrast between the screen and the background in environment, taking into
Two problems require special attention when lighting is considered. Firstly sharp
i. VDU‟s and their associated equipment emit heat. Adequate ventilation and
ii. Air currents from VDU blowers should be directed away from the operator
since excessive air movement can cause drying of the eye surface and
subsequent irritation.
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ii. The affects of noise from printers, and other office equipment may be
iii. Noise from cooling fan, power supplies and keyboards should be minimal
iv. The recommended ambient noise level for VDU work is between 40-
60dB(A).
i. Work Rates
capacity.
separated by one rest pause of 10-15 minutes in the morning and one in the
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6.2.4.2 Job Variety and Rotation
i. The purpose of rotation through task and job variety is to allow rest of
postures.
ii. It is recommended that VDU work be interspersed with other office duties.
If is not possible, operators should take “productive rest breaks” away from
the VDU.
iii. Productive rest tasks allow for a change in posture and the resting of
routine.
To maintain a good working environment at all times and to ensure suitable adjustments of
ii. Cleaning
significant VDU‟s operations. Such examinations should include screening for physical
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i. Work history
- Vision Test
Training needs and information will vary according to the type of equipment, work
iv. Posture
Accidents don‟t just happen, they are caused. Either unsafe acts or unsafe conditions or
both cause the accidents. As such, accidents can be prevented. The unsafe act is a violation
of an accepted safe procedure that could permit the occurrence of an accident. The unsafe
condition or circumstances that could directly permit the occurrence of an accident. Most
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of accident result from a combination of contributing causes and one or more unsafe acts
Most office accidents result from slip, trips and falls, lifting objects, punctures or cuts.
Slippery floors, unclean spillage or gripless shoes cause slips. Trips occur over objects
lying on the floor or jutting out into aisles or because of poorly surfaces. Falls can be
Simple planning and good housekeeping as follows can avoid many of these accidents:
i. Traffic ways and aisles should be well lit, and kept clear of materials,
ii. Floors should be level and the use of mats discouraged. Slipped liquids and
cleaned.
floor. Filing cabinets should be placed so that they do not open into aisles
and should never be left with cabinet drawers open. For stability load
cabinet starting from the bottom and do not open more than one drawer at a
time.
iv. Office machines and equipment should be kept in good working order.
overloaded circuit, broken plug and sockets. Ensure that qualified personnel
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This above analysis also shows that ICT top management should give attention to
the workplace environment factors especially environment and workstation factors. ICT
top management shall take into consideration the requirements under OSHA 1994, that is
as stated in the Duties of Employers (Part IV, section 15-19) that “Employer must
safeguard so far as is practicable, the health, safety and welfare of the people who work
for them and also Safety Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision (Section 15
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7. CONCLUSION
From the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment analysis, it shows that
the most critical safety and health hazards are office accidents and VDU work
related respectively.
In the wake of this common use of VDUs and the expressed concern about
adverse health effects among VDU operators. The VDU workstations should be
accidents. The ignorance these factors leads to workplace hazards, poor worker
health, disabilities and will reduce workers‟ productivity and products‟ quality.
This above analysis also shows that ICT top management should give
workstation factors.
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8. REFERENCES
1. MDC Publishers Printers (2004) Occupational Safety and Health Act and
Regulations. Kuala Lumpur, MDC Publishers and Printers Sdn Bhd.
6. National Safety Council (1993) High Rise Office Safety & Security. USA,
National Safety Council.
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9. APPENDICES
1.2 Physical Hazard Slip, trips, and falls Repair on 3 2 6 Medium Good housekeeping & awareness training
- Office Accidents request
1.3 Electrical Hazard Electric shock cause fatality Competent 1 2 2 Low Practice with current risk control
- Electrocution
1.4 Chemical Hazard Ozone gas cause headache, eye Regular 1 2 2 Low Not placed or close to the worker workstation
- Photocopier irritation maintenance
4 Very Likely Could happen frequently. 4 Fatality Death/ property damage 7 – 16 High
Exposures are excessive 3 Major Injury/ Illness/ Normally irreversible. Permanent/ Partial
3 Likely Could happen occasionally. Exposures are not Property Damage Disability. Property damage. 3–6 Medium
adequately control. 2 Minor Injury/ Illness/ Normally reversible and affect work performance.
2 Unlikely Could happen but only rarely. Exposures are Property Property damage.
controlled and likely to remain so. Damage Not affecting work performance. 1-2 Low
1 Highly Unlikely Could happen but probably never will. 1 Negligible Injury/ First Aid Case.
Exposures are negligible. Illness/ Property Damage
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