12.topic 10 - Employee Safety & Health

Topic
 Employee
Safety and
10 Health
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this topic, you should be able to do the following:
1. Compare and contrast the concepts of security and health.
2. Examine the types of security and health towards danger in the
workplace.
3. Discuss security and work health Acts and the purpose of the
formation of those Acts.
4. Explain actions taken towards forming a safety and health work
environment.
 INTRODUCTION
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), it is estimated that more
than 1.2 million workers do not enjoy their right to work in a secure and safe
environment because of accidents and diseases which are related to their jobs.
Based on ILO statistics presented at the 16th Asia-Pacific Occupational Safety and
Health Organization (APOSHO) Convention in Mauritius in April 2000, it was
found that:
 Employers from all over the world suffered because of more than 250 million
accidents every year.
 More than 160 million employees suffered illnesses as a result of exposure to

dangerous chemicals at the workplace.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

232  TOPIC 10 EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH
 More than 1.2 million deaths happened every year because of accidents and
diseases related to jobs and the total is higher than the total caused by road
accidents every year from all over the world.
 More than 10 million employers suffered injuries and diseases resulting in

permanent disabilities and loss of source of income.
Compared to death rates in developed countries, those in most developing

countries are five to six times higher. In Malaysia, on the other hand, much effort
was made to reduce workplace accident rates such as implementing the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and forming enforcement agents such as
the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as well as conducting
programmes to create awareness among employees and employers of the
importance of creating a safe and healthy work environment.
10.1 UNDERSTANDING CONCEPT OF

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
Occupational safety and health at the workplace means as follows:
Safety
An issue that has to do with protecting workers from injuries or accidents
while they are working. Injuries related to job include wound, fracture,
sprain and amputation caused by work accidents or caused by exposure that
involves an incident in the workplace.
Health
A condition that gives protection to workers from emotional disturbance and
any types of physical illness caused by their job. Disease caused by work,
such as exposure to occupational surrounding factors, can bring all types of
unusual circumstances or disturbance. This condition includes chronic acute
illnesses such as stress, burnout, heart problem and death which may be
caused by breathing and absorbing or being exposed directly to toxics or
harmful means.
(Bernardin & Russel, 1998)

TOPIC 10 EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND HEALTH  233
ACTIVITY 10.1
We always hear the words „safety and health‰ but what do they mean if
applied in our workplace? Go on the myINSPIRE forum to discuss with
your coursemates.
10.2 LAWS RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL

SAFETY AND HEALTH
Government intervention in the issue of industry safety started since early 1878
with the appointment of the first pemeriksa dandang (inspector of boiler). The first
law related to safety formed in 1892 was Steam Boiler Enactment (Maimunah,
1999).
When Malaysia was in the process of becoming an industrialised country in the

1960s, an Act was introduced to oversee the safety and health of work. It was the
Factories and Machinery Act 1967. The Occupational Safety and Health Act was
introduced in 1994 when it was found that the earlier Act had weaknesses. Our
discussion here will be on these two Acts.
ACTIVITY 10.2
Why are laws related to safety and health of workers important? What
would happen to workers if there were no laws like this in our country?
Share your thoughts in myINSPIRE.
10.2.1 Factories and Machinery Act 1967

For over 30 years, the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 played a role in resolving
safety and health issues in this country. The Act emphasised safety in factories and
its enforcement was under the control of the Department of Factory and Machinery
(now known as DOSH). The provisions in this Act include the following:
 Power is given to the Department of Factory and Machinery, or an appointed

examiner, to ensure the safe construction and design of factories and
well-conditioned machines and to ensure safe usage including providing
appropriate training to workers.

 WorkersÊ welfare is emphasised by ensuring that employers provide health

facilities and a comfortable workplace.
 Safety tools such as fire extinguisher and first aid box are provided.
 The procedure to report accidents in the workplace is explained.
Even though this Act had been used for a long time in Malaysia, it received a lot
of criticism regarding the effectiveness of its provisions and implementation.
Among the criticisms were that it:
 only protected workers who worked in factories and this only accounted to
about 25 to 30% of the entire workforce in Malaysia;
 had a limited scope;
 failed to take note of technological development; and
 emphasised the governmentÊs responsibility to resolve safety and health issues

without involving employers and employees.
ACTIVITY 10.3
In 1998, the construction sector was the sector that reported the highest
number of accidents, 38,718 (43.8%), compared to other sectors such as
commerce (14.7%), services (10.4%), and shipping (4.6%).
In your opinion, why did the construction sector contribute to the high
number of accidents in 1998? Have there been improvements since then?
Do some online research and present your findings in myINSPIRE.
10.2.2 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 was approved by the Parliament in
1993 and announced on 24 February 1994. It was established to overcome
weaknesses in the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 but not replace it. With this
Act recorded in writing, about seven million workers in all industries and sectors
are protected except for those in the army and working in the shipping industries
which are regulated by the Merchant Shipping Ordinance.

The following industries are protected by this Act, namely, manufacturing;

mining and quarry; construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishery; utilities
such as electricity, gas, water, and sanitary services; transportation, storage, and
communication; retail trading; hotel and restaurant; financial, insurance, property,
and business services; public services and statutory authority.
The main aim of this Act is to increase awareness and promote a safety and health
culture among all workers in Malaysia. The objectives of this Act are to:
 ensure the safety, health, and welfare of workers in the workplace;
 protect other individuals, apart from workers, in the workplace who are
exposed to risks from work activities;
 encourage a conducive work environment that meets the physiological and

physical needs of the workers; and
 ensure that the organisation maintains or fixes the standards of safety and
health by implementing rules and industry practices that have been approved
and in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Some of the provisions in this Act include the need to form the National Council
for Occupational Safety and Health and provisions that set the duties of the
employer and the self-employed, designer, manufacturer, supplier, and workers.
(a) National Council for Occupational Safety and Health

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health is an advisory
body which comprises 12 to 15 members appointed by the Ministry of
Human Resources. Similar to other bodies involved in an occupational
relationship, this council comprises the following parties:
 three members from the organisation that represents the employer;
 three members from the organisation that represents the workers;
 three members or more from the ministry or department responsible for

occupational safety and health; and
 three or more members from the organisation or professional bodies

related to occupational safety and health and at least one of them must
be a woman.

Members of the council are required to carry out investigations when

requested by the Minister of Human Resources, submit reports, and give
suggestions on any cases related to occupational safety and health. The
yearly report has to be submitted to the Human Resources Minister by 30
June each year.
In sum, council members need to meet from time to time to discuss and make
suggestions on issues related to:
 changes that are relevant to the Occupational Safety and Health Act;
 ways to improve administration and enforce the Act;
 ways to foster cooperation between employers and employees regarding

the safety, health, and welfare of employees in the workplace;
 safety, health and welfare problems encountered by women, people with

disabilities, and other groups in society;
 formulating suitable methods to control the use of chemicals in the

workplace;
 analysing statistics regarding deaths and accidents;
 resources for health facilities at the workplace;
 ways to encourage forming codes of practice in relation to the safety,

health, and welfare of employees; and
 reviving plans and facilities to assist individuals injured while working.
(b) General Duty of the Employer and Self-employed

It is the responsibility of all employers and those who are self-employed to
ensure the safety, health, and welfare of themselves, their employees, and
other people in the vicinity during work hours. To achieve that aim,
employers need to provide safe occupational surroundings which does not
threaten employeesÊ health. According to the Act, employers are responsible
for the following:
 managing and maintaining the plant to ensure a safe work system

without any risk hazard;

 making sure the usage or operational handling, storage, and

transportation of materials are safe without any health risk;
 providing sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision

to ensure safety and health at the workplace;
 maintaining safety at the workplace without risking health including

entry and exit to facilities; and
 maintaining workplace areas so that they are safe without risking health
by providing sufficient facilities for employeesÊ welfare.
Any employer who fails to follow these instructions will be fined not more
than RM50,000 or jailed for not more than 2 years or both.
Apart from that, employers are also responsible for formulating policies on
occupational safety and health in written form and informing all workers
about them. These policies are looked into frequently to ensure that they are
suitable for current conditions. However, there are a few weaknesses in the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994. It does not set out what is
important in the occupational safety and health policy or state in which
manner the policy needs to be conveyed to workers. This may cause the
organisation to be unable to carry out these responsibilities properly.
Employers who have more than 40 employees need to form an occupational

safety and health committee in their organisation. The functions of the
committee are to help implement a safe and healthy environment at the
workplace, explore the effectiveness of the programmes, give suggestions on
any changes in order to improve the situation, and carry out inspections once
every 3 months.
ACTIVITY 10.4
In your opinion, why do many accidents still occur at the workplace even
though various precautions have been taken such as the enactment of
Acts and laws related to workersÊ safety and health? Share your thoughts
on the matter.

(c) General Duty of the Designer, Manufacturer, and Supplier

The responsibility to ensure employeesÊ safety and health also depends
on the designer, manufacturer, and supplier of the plant, machinery,
equipment, and materials used while working. Therefore, the Occupational
Safety and Health Act 1994 requires all designers, manufacturers, and
suppliers to:
 ensure that the plant or materials are safe without any risks to health
when being used;
 arrange for or carry out appropriate tests and examinations on the plant
or materials;
 provide sufficient information regarding the use of the plant or materials

so that it is safe without any risk to health if used properly;
 carry out research to prevent or minimise risks to safety or health that

might exist from the design of the plant; and
 ensure that the plant which has been built is safe for use.
Failure to obey these rules can cause the designer, manufacturer, or supplier
to be fined not more than RM20,000 or jailed not more than 2 years or both.
(d) General Duty of Workers

Besides employers, designers, manufacturers, and suppliers, you as an
employee are also responsible for ensuring your own safety and health.
There is no use for employers to provide various safety tools at the workplace
if these are not used. To make sure that everyone takes the responsibility to
maintain safety and health at the workplace, the Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994 highlighted a few instructions which need to be followed by
employees:
 have the appropriate concentration while working to ensure the safety of

themselves and others;
 cooperate with employers or other persons who are given roles under the
Act and its regulations;

 use protective tools or wear protective attire; and
 obey any order on occupational safety and health measure listed in the
Act or its regulations.
Employees who fail to obey these rules will be fined not more than RM1,000
or jailed not more than 3 months or both.
EXERCISE 10.1
TRUE (T) or FALSE (F) Statements
1. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 was established to

replace the Factories and Machinery Act 1967.
2. One of the objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

1994 is to encourage a work environment that is suitable for the
physiological and psychological needs of workers.
3. One criticism received about the Factories and Machinery Act 1967
was that it only protected those who work in farms.
4. One of the roles of the committee members of the National

Council for Occupational Safety and Health is to improve the
administration and implementation of OSHA 1994.
5. Employers that have more than 50 workers are required to establish

an occupational safety and health committee.
10.3 SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK
ACTIVITY 10.5
List a few types and causes of accidents at your workplace. Share and
compare your list with your coursemates.

Have you ever had a headache as a result of staring at the computer screen for too
long? Or have you ever seen a friend injured because he was crushed by a heavy
thing? These are examples of accidents that can happen while we work, according
to Aini Hayati (in Faizuniah et al., 2002)
Safety towards danger is an occupational aspect that has the potential to cause
injuries (such as sudden loss of sight, loss of fingers or hands, fall from a building)
or death to workers at a fast rate. Usually, safety towards danger is related to tools
or machines that are not safe to be used, unsafe work environments, and exposure
to dangerous chemicals.
Health towards danger refers to occupational aspects that can have negative
effects on employeesÊ health gradually. Continuous stress caused by workloads,
becoming deaf because of exposure to a noisy work environment, and having chest
pain and blurry eyes because of exposure to chemicals are some examples of
emotional and physical illnesses caused by work.
Next, we will look at a few safety and health categories regarding danger at the
workplace such as accidents, the danger of chemicals, air quality in buildings,
video screen terminals, and repetitive injuries.
10.3.1 Accidents at the Workplace

In September 1996, the government launched a „Towards a Safe and Healthy
Working Culture‰ campaign to increase awareness among employers, employees,
and societies regarding safety at the workplace. Even though the rate of accidents
at the workplace has decreased since 1997, the number is still quite worrying.
ACTIVITY 10.6
Visit http://www.perkeso.gov.my/ for information on the following:
 the objective of establishing SOCSO
 the sector with the highest rate of accidents in 2018
 the amount of compensation paid by SOCSO in 2018

Generally, accidents at the workplace can be caused by the characteristics of the

work, the workers, employers, and the environment, as listed in Table 10.1.
Table 10.1: Causes of Accidents at the Workplace
Cause Example
Occupation  Damaged machines ă unable to work properly

 Obsolete ă unable to work properly
 Dangerous occupation ă for example, working in an underground
tunnel, exposed to dangerous chemicals
Workers  Not focused on their work

 Playful
 Drink alcohol or take drugs
 Make mistakes or miscalculations when analysing moving objects
 Lack experience
 Too confident because they have experience
 Have poor sight and hearing
 Inexperienced in handling tools ă no training
 Break safety instructions such as not wearing goggles
 Age: too young (clumsy) or too old (careless or incompetent)
 Have personal problems ă cannot give full attention to work
Environment  Exposure to high temperature, electrical equipment, and chemicals.

 Environment is too noisy
 Exposed to smoke and dust
 Infection
Employer  Provide poor supervision

 Do not provide safety tools or gadgets for employees
 Do not provide training to employees on how to use safety tools
 Do not implement safety rules and policy strictly
Adapted from Faizuniah Panggil et al. (2002)

These problems can be overcome if every person plays his or her role. The objective
of ensuring zero accidents cannot be achieved if workers do not use the safety
gadgets provided by employers or employers do not take action if employees
lodge complaints about damage to the safety gadgets provided.
Table 10.2 shows a few examples of roles that can be played by employers,
employees, trade unions, and the occupational safety and health committee in
minimising accidents at the workplace.
Table 10.2: Role of the Responsible Agent in Reducing Accidents at the Workplace
Responsible
Role
Agent
Employer  Formulate a health and safety policy.

 Apply all the rules and procedures that have been laid down.
 Conduct an investigation immediately when an accident has
occurred.
 Provide private safety equipment such as helmets and gloves.
 Hold safety campaigns from time to time.
 Make sure the work environment is safe.
 Maintain a safe work system.
 Create a procedure for reporting and investigating accidents.
 Form and hold safety practices.
 Select efficient workers.
 Establish an incentive system. Reward employees or departments
who can avoid accidents.
 Provide safety attire and equipment.
 Establish areas where certain work are not allowed such as a
„danger zone‰.
 Provide clear warnings such as „CAUTION‰ and „NON-
SMOKING ZONE‰.
 Provide leave and appropriate rest to workers who need extra rest.
 Get input regarding problems from workers.
 Get feedback from employees after an accident has happened.

Employee  Obey all the rules and procedures regarding safety.

 Cooperate with the employer (self regulation).
 Form a „safety at workplace‰ attitude.
 Immediately report if machines or tools are damaged.
 Do not use any damaged tools that can endanger employee safety.
Trade Union  Voice out the rights of employees to the management. If all this
while the effort is more on increasing incentives, then the focus
now should be on the safety and health of the employees.
 Be involved as a workersÊ representative in the health and safety
committee.
Health and  Section 30(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 states
Safety that it is compulsory for a company with 40 or more employees to
Committee form a health and safety work committee. This committee is to
study all the steps to ensure the safety of workers at the workplace.
Adapted from Faizuniah Panggil et al. (2002)
10.3.2 Risk of Chemical Substances

Why do many of us not realise the danger we put ourselves in when we are
exposed to chemical substances on a regular basis?
The negative effects of the chemicals will not be immediately visible. The effects
will be visible when it becomes a chronic disease. See Table 10.3 to understand
how serious the effects can be for some people.
Table 10.3: Ten Types of Dangers at the Workplace
Potential Risk Diseases
Arsenic Lung cancer, lymphoma

Asbestos White lung disease, lung cancer, and other organ
cancers
Benzene Leukaemia, aplastic anaemia
Bichloromethylether (BCME) Lung cancer
Coal dust Black lung disease
Emission from coke oven Lung and kidney cancer

Cotton dust Brown lung disease, bronchitis, and emphysema

Lead Kidney disease, anaemia, malfunction of the main
system, and abnormality
Radiation Thyroid cancer, lung and bone cancer, leukaemia,
effect on productivity (miscarriage or genetic damage)
Vinyl Cloride Lung and brain cancer
Adapted from Byars and Rue (2000)
The Malaysian government is aware of the risks posed by certain chemical

substances. It provided an order in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994
which prohibits the use of materials such as benzene, benzidine, crocidolite,
carbon disulfide, white phosphorus, and other chemical substances that are
dangerous to safety at the workplace. This Act has been enforced since 2 August
1999.
Other than that, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 also contains the
rules to classify, package, and label chemical substances and determine the use and
exposure of dangerous chemical substances.
10.3.3 Air Quality in the Building
ACTIVITY 10.7
Is the air in your work area good? If not, what are the factors that
contribute to the air quality in your workplace? Discuss.
In order to save energy, the construction techniques for commercial buildings were
changed to increase the effects of heating power, air, and air-conditioning systems.
These included reducing the outflow of air by closing entire windows and any
holes in the building. As a result, many workers experience the sick building
syndrome or lack of fresh air. This syndrome causes itchiness on the eyes, ears,
throat, and skin (Bohlander et al., 2009).

Workers in closed buildings are also easily exposed to air pollution due to a bad
airflow system. According to a research by the National Institute of Occupational
Safety and Health in the United States, air pollution in buildings is due to cigarette
smoke and emission from office equipment such as ozone, hydrocarbon from
computers, photocopy machines, laser printers, and fax machines. Dust from
carpets, paper, and wood are among the contributors, too (OÂConnell & Motavalli,
1995; Bohlander et al., 2009).
To overcome the lack of fresh air in buildings, the American Lung Association
made four recommendations: remove cigarette smoke with good airflow, prevent
workers from smoking in air-conditioned rooms, supervise the airflow system
frequently, and remove sources of pollution from the buildings (Bohlander et al.,
2009).
ACTIVITY 10.8
Is it safe to use computers in our daily work? In your opinion, what is

the problem caused by using a computer for a long time? Read up
on ergonomics at the workplace and share your findings with your
coursemates.
10.3.4 Video Terminal Appearance

In order to keep up with current technological developments, organisations make
full use of computers in their daily operations. However, the wide usage of
computers is a cause for worry among employees due to the dangers posed by the
computer monitor. Usage of computers for long periods can cause the following
problems:
 vision problems such as weakening of vision, eye strain, and itchy eyes;
 radiation which leads to cataract formation in eyes and pregnancy problems

such as miscarriage and abnormality due to high exposure to radiation (video
terminal display);

 muscle pain (back, neck, and shoulders); and
 work stress due to pressure, bad posture, noise, lack of practice, workload, and
routine.
Dr James Sheddy, as quoted in Bohlander et al. (2009), gave the following advice
to minimise the negative effects of using computers:
 Place the monitor in line with the eye vision level and at about 10 to 20cm away
from the eyes.
 Sit on an adjustable chair, adjust the height according to preference, and use a
copyholder attached to the computer or desk.
 Use suitable screen light which is not harmful to the eyes.
 Use screen shades to reduce light from the window to the screen.
10.3.5 Injuries of Frequent Movement

Repetitive motion injuries or cumulative trauma disorder are usually experienced
by workers who perform repetitive actions such as finger and hand movements.
They include butchers, fish cutters, chefs, textile workers, violin players, stewards,
and stewardesses.
One of the injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel involves the hand
bones known as the carpal. These bones form a tunnel full of flexible tendons
(Ivancevich, 2006). According to research by NIOSH, the carpal tunnel syndrome
is related to industrial sectors involved in cutting, forming, sewing, and cleaning.
One way to avoid these injuries is by providing a good work environment in line
with the physical needs of the workers, which is known as ergonomics. This term
originated from the Greek words ergon which means work and omics which
means management of something (Mathis & Jackson, 2000). An ergonomist studies
aspects of work physiology, psychology, and engineering such as fatigue, lighting,
equipment, and control.

An ergonomic study is important for the following reasons:
 The employer can use the results of the study to provide a more conducive
work environment such as by providing chairs, shoes, desks, and any other
suitable equipment for the employees according to their size and height.
 The employer can adjust the room temperature, lighting, and level of noise so
that these do not affect the employeesÊ performance.
 The employer can focus on providing personal space. Small or packed spaces
lead to stress and cause health problems to workers.
EXERCISE 10.2
1. One of the causes of accidents at the workplace is machinery

failure.
2. Continuous stress felt by employees is one of the examples of

workersÊ safety.
3. The manufacturing sector has the highest number of accidents.
4. The effects of chemical substances are immediately visible.
5. The carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by continuous injuries and

cumulative trauma injuries.
10.4 ISSUES RELATED TO SAFETY AND

HEALTH
After understanding occupational safety and health hazards at the workplace, we
are going to look at some of the issues related to occupational safety and health.

10.4.1 Violent and Dangerous Work Environment

Violence at the workplace can be moderate or serious. Moderate violence includes
vandalism, sabotage, fighting, violation of company rules, quarrels (with
customers, workmates or the supervisor), and theft. Serious violence includes
rape, murder, running amok, burning, and attacks.
Security guards or those involved in money exchange and valuable assets such as
bank tellers and cashiers are exposed to violence. Those who work until late at
night or in isolated places are also exposed to this type of risk.
Besides visible threats, workers also face hidden threats such as bullying by other
workmates which may progress to a more serious stage such as murder.
One example of hidden violence is sexual harassment. The number of sexual

harassment cases reported in Malaysia is low because not many of the victims
lodge a report. However, this does not mean sexual harassment is not serious.
Some steps can be taken to overcome violence at the workplace such as by vetting
workersÊ applications, and forming a basic procedure for safety at the workplace.
This procedure includes prohibiting workers from bringing in any weapons and
banning any practice that can pose a threat to the work environment.
10.4.2 Work Stress

Stress can be classified into three types: neustress, distress, and eustress (Schafer,
2000).
 Neustress is neutral pressure which does not bring any benefit or harm.
 Distress happens when there is too much or too little stimulation such as
overworrying, and becoming sad and angry easily.
 Eustress or positive stress refers to a moderate level of worry which drives a

person to do something.
Although stress has been proven to increase the productivity and creativity of
workers, negative stress or distress is one of the examples of occupational illness
that can lead to physical injuries, heart disease, bone aches, asthma, and gastric
problems. It is the main source of workersÊ disability (French, 1998).

According to Faizuniah, et al. (2002), these factors cause stress:
 unsettled conflicts;
 high expectations set by leaders or managers;
 disturbance by other workers;
 too many responsibilities;
 stiff competition among employees;
 short time span to complete tasks;
 failure to control the sources of stress e.g. finances;
 lack of control in the job and role conflicts; and
 unrealistic goals.
A few steps can be taken to reduce the negative effects of pressure. These are as
follows:
 Have a good relationship with other employees.
 Openly voice out feelings or problems to the supervisor or workmates.
 Get ready to face any changes in the future.
 Do not perform something that is beyond your ability.
 Set realistic deadlines which are easy to reach.
 Take quick action to solve problems before they become worse.
 Stop for a while or rest before continuing work to avoid boredom.
SELF-CHECK 10.1
Have you ever felt stressed? What factors led to your stress?

10.4.3 HIV/AIDS at the Workplace

How would you react if you were to find out that a workmate is HIV positive?
Would you stay away from the person out of fear that you would get infected or
would you behave as usual? If you were an employer, how would you react if one
of your employees were HIV positive? Would you fire or help the worker in
dealing with this affliction?
Whatever action you take, the important question is: Do you understand what
HIV/AIDS is and its implications on workers, the job, and the surroundings?
AIDS is a condition whereby the bodyÊs immune system becomes weak or is

destroyed and the afflicted person cannot fight the disease. According to statistics
received from the Ministry of Health, after the first cases were reported in 1986
until the end of December 2008, a total of 84,630 Malaysian citizens had tested
positive for HIV. Out of this number, 11,234 died. These figures increase every
year.
Most people living with HIV/AIDS isolate themselves from society out of
embarrassment and fear of discrimination by family members and society. They
fear losing their jobs because awareness of this disease among employers is still
low.
According to a DOSH research in 154 factories, most employers stated that

HIV/AIDS:
 would not have a great impact on business, productivity, expenses, health care,
and absence at the workplace;
 has not affected the work field;
 is only contracted by non-expert and lowly educated employees; and
 is not an issue for organisations but the country.
Although there is no specific provision in the Occupational Health and Safety Act
1994 with regard to AIDS, Section 15(1) stated, „It can be assured that the employer
is responsible to take care of workersÊ welfare from any HIV infection, and at the
same time, responsible to take care of them no matter what health condition they
are in.‰

Unfortunately, the worries and misconceptions of employers and employees

towards people living with HIV/AIDS have obstructed efforts to create a safe
work environment. Geotsch (1996) suggested three solutions to help employers in
handling the problem:
(a) Through Education

Educational programmes can be organised by occupational safety and health
professionals with support from employers to increase awareness of AIDS
for all employees. These programmes can explain the disease, the risks, and
how a person can be infected. This can help employees to be more aware of
this disease and learn how to deal with it.
(b) Formulating an AIDS-Related Policy

Although AIDS has proven to have a negative effect on the work
environment, minimal steps have been taken to overcome it. While
discussing how American companies handle this problem, Minetos (1998)
found that only 5% of all employers have a written corporate policy on AIDS.
Malaysia should take this matter seriously.
(c) Protecting Employees from AIDS

Employees involved in handling blood or any bodily fluid are likely to be
exposed to the danger of AIDS infection. Therefore, they require adequate
training before they start working. The employers should also provide
enough equipment and tools to prevent employees from being exposed to
injuries.
10.5 FORMING A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORK

ENVIRONMENT
A safe and healthy work environment is important to an organisation. It increases
employeesÊ productivity and has a positive effect on the organisation especially in
terms of reducing costs related to accidents and compensation. To have a safe
and healthy work environment, a few steps can be taken, such as by requesting
workers to help in organising safety and health programmes.

10.5.1 Employee Aid Programme

One way employers can improve the occupational safety and health environment
is by creating an Employee Aid Programme (EAP). According to Cunningham
in French (1998), the EAP provides direct services to workers who have many
personal or work problems.
Under this programme, employees who face problems such as alcohol or drug
addiction, stress, human relationship problems (usually between workers and
supervisors), family and marital problems, and financial problems are provided
with counselling.
The EAP also provides services like career counselling, education on AIDS and
health, and counselling on mental stress, as well as counselling for employees who
are going to retire or be terminated (Mathis & Jackson, 2000).
10.5.2 Safety Programmes

Employers can create a safe work environment through careful safety planning.
Although most programmes conducted by organisations focus on accidents, the
main objective is to make sure that employees always prioritise their safety while
working.
Generally, the human resource department is responsible for conducting safety

programmes. However, the success of these programmes depend on the
commitment given by top management and managers. EmployeesÊ focus on the
importance of safety while working also contributes to the success. The human
resource department only acts as a programme administrator, supervises safety
records, and collaborates with managers and supervisors to ensure the success of
the programmes.
In promoting a safe work culture, an employer can do many things, such as:
 making the work as interesting as possible. Uninteresting work will make

workers feel bored and tired easily, which will lead to accidents;
 forming a safety committee which includes representatives from the employer

and employees. The responsibility of this committee is to check, supervise
work, investigate accidents and make recommendations to overcome a
problem;

 displaying safety statistics such as a monthly report on the noticeboard or in

the monthly bulletin for workers to remind them of the importance of safety at
the workplace;
 using a notice board in the organisation to promote a safe work culture;
 encouraging workers and supervisors to practise a safe work culture. The

employer needs to recognise every positive action taken by workers in
maintaining a safe way of working by providing rewards; and
 organising meetings and safety training from time to time.
Gomez-Mejia et al. (2013) suggested the following steps to increase workplace

safety:
 Form a safety committee which comprises every department in the

organisation. Encourage employees to take part in decision making on safety
issues and consider ideas contributed by employees to improve workplace
safety.
 Convey safety messages to employees through different media such as

lectures, films, posters, and brochures.
 Train supervisors on how to convey safety messages to employees and how to

handle safety tools so that they can train their subordinates.
 Use incentives, rewards, and positive reinforcement to encourage employees

to practise working safely. Offer rewards to employees who provide feedback
or suggestions on safety. Reward employees who maintain a good safety
record.
 Enforce safety rules and take action against employees who break or do not
follow safety rules.
 Deploy a safety director or committee to investigate and identify places in the

workplace that are not safe, find out why accidents happen, and find solutions
to overcome them.

ACTIVITY 10.9
Visit http://oshacc.dosh.gov.my/ and describe how employers can

estimate workplace accident costs and use the information to create
awareness on the importance of safety and health to their employees.
Create an estimation of your own for the industry you are in. Share and
compare your work with your coursemates in myINSPIRE.
10.5.3 Health Programme
ACTIVITY 10.10
In your opinion, why does a good health programme need to be held in

an organisation? Discuss.
Some organisations show concern for their employeesÊ health by organising

programmes such as exercises, healthy diet campaigns, and football/netball/
badminton matches. They help employees monitor weight problems and avoid
things that are harmful to health. These organisations provide facilities such as a
gymnasium and exercise classes. Organisations that wish to conduct a health
programme can start it with the following steps:
 Organise health assessment sessions for high-risk employees.
 Identify illnesses that incur large medical expenses.
 Include family members and those who had retired in the health programme.
 Seek advice from food technologists regarding healthy ways of eating.
 Prohibit smoking at the workplace.
 Obtain discount prices from health clubs to encourage employees to join and
enjoy the facilities.
 Start a health bulletin.

EXERCISE 10.3
1. Burnout is one of the service illnesses that is closely related to

HIV/AIDS.
2. Sexual harassment and bullying are two examples of concealed

threats at the workplace.
3. According to a DOSH research, employers in Malaysia have a high

awareness of the HIV/AIDS issue.
4. One of the problems tackled by a workers aid programme is

financial problem.
5. Displaying the figure of accidents at the workplace can help

employers to promote a culture of working safely.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 obligates the

establishment of a committee of safety and health if there are:
A. 50 workers or more
B. 40 workers or more
C. 75 workers or more
D. 100 workers or more
2. A condition caused by injury to the wrist is known as:

A. carpal tunnel syndrome
B. repetitive stress injury
C. cumulative trauma disorder
D. all of the above are true
3. Which of the following is NOT workersÊ responsibility towards

safety and health?
A. Obey all standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health
Act
B. Report any dangerous situation
C. Obey all safety and health rules set by employers
D. Use discretion in handling safety tools

4. _________ is related to the protection of workers from injuries or

accidents caused by work.
A. Health
B. Trauma
C. Safety
D. Disability
5. The __________ syndrome can be caused by cigarette smoke and

emissions from office equipment such as ozone and hydrocarbon
produced by computers, photocopy machines, laser printers, and
fax machines, and also dust from carpets, paper, and wood.
A. carpal tunnel
B. sick building
C. ergonomics
D. burnout
Essay Questions
1. If you were given the responsibility of promoting a safe work

culture at your workplace, what steps would you take?
2. State five ways an employer can reduce accidents at the workplace.
Ć Workplace safety and health is everybodyÊs concern. Therefore, everyone has

to be responsible in ensuring that a workplace is safe and does not cause any
illness.
Ć The varied aspects of safety and health are the reasons for the Occupational
Safety and Health Act 1994 to exists. The Act specifies the responsibilities
of employers, the self-employed, workers, designers, manufacturers, and
suppliers in ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.

Carpal tunnel Neustress

Distress Occupational accidents
Ergonomics Occupational safety and health
Eustress Safety
Health Work stress
Bernadin, H. J., & Russell, J. E. A. (1998). Human resource management: An

experiential approach. Irwin/McGraw-Hill.
Bohlander, G. W., Snell, A. W., & Sherman, S. A. (2009). Managing human

resources (15th ed.). South-Western College Publishing.
Byars, L. L. & Rue, L. W. (2000). Human resource management (6th ed.). McGraw-
Hill.
Ivancevich, J. M. (2006). Human resource management (10th ed.). McGraw-

Hill/Irwin.
OÊConnell, L. M., & Motavalli, J. (1995). Sick building syndrome. E. Magazine: The
Environmental Magazine, 6(1), 20.
Faizuniah Pangil, Aini Hayati Mohamed, Daratul Ambia Che Mit, Khulida Kirana
Yahya, Norazuwa Mat, & Norsiah Mat. (2002). Pengurusan sumber manusia.
McGraw-Hill.
French, W. L. (1998). Human resources management (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin

Company.
Goetsch, D. L. (1996). Occupational safety and health: In the age of high technology
for technologists, engineers and managers (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.
Gomez-Mejia, L. R., Balkin, D. B., & Cardy, R. L. (2013). Managing human

resources (7th ed.). Pearson.

Maimunah Aminuddin (1999). Malaysian industrial relations and employment

law. McGraw-Hill.
Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, J. H. (2000). Human resource management (9th ed.).
South-Western Thomson Learning.
Minetos, P. (1998). Corporate America vs AIDS. Safety & Health, 158(6), 38.
Schafer, W. (2000). Stress management for wellness (4th ed.). Harcourt College
Publishers.

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 More than 160 million employees suffered illnesses as a result of exposure to

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

 More than 10 million employers suffered injuries and diseases resulting in

Compared to death rates in developed countries, those in most developing

10.1 UNDERSTANDING CONCEPT OF

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

10.2 LAWS RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL

When Malaysia was in the process of becoming an industrialised country in the

10.2.1 Factories and Machinery Act 1967

 Power is given to the Department of Factory and Machinery, or an appointed

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

 WorkersÊ welfare is emphasised by ensuring that employers provide health

 The procedure to report accidents in the workplace is explained.

Among the criticisms were that it:

 had a limited scope;

 failed to take note of technological development; and

 emphasised the governmentÊs responsibility to resolve safety and health issues

10.2.2 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

The following industries are protected by this Act, namely, manufacturing;

 ensure the safety, health, and welfare of workers in the workplace;

 encourage a conducive work environment that meets the physiological and

(a) National Council for Occupational Safety and Health

 three members from the organisation that represents the employer;

 three members from the organisation that represents the workers;

 three members or more from the ministry or department responsible for

 three or more members from the organisation or professional bodies

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

Members of the council are required to carry out investigations when

 ways to improve administration and enforce the Act;

 ways to foster cooperation between employers and employees regarding

 safety, health and welfare problems encountered by women, people with

 formulating suitable methods to control the use of chemicals in the

 analysing statistics regarding deaths and accidents;

 resources for health facilities at the workplace;

 ways to encourage forming codes of practice in relation to the safety,

 reviving plans and facilities to assist individuals injured while working.

(b) General Duty of the Employer and Self-employed

 managing and maintaining the plant to ensure a safe work system

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

 making sure the usage or operational handling, storage, and

 providing sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision

 maintaining safety at the workplace without risking health including

Employers who have more than 40 employees need to form an occupational

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

(c) General Duty of the Designer, Manufacturer, and Supplier

 provide sufficient information regarding the use of the plant or materials

 carry out research to prevent or minimise risks to safety or health that

(d) General Duty of Workers

 have the appropriate concentration while working to ensure the safety of

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

 use protective tools or wear protective attire; and

TRUE (T) or FALSE (F) Statements

1. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 was established to

2. One of the objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

4. One of the roles of the committee members of the National

5. Employers that have more than 50 workers are required to establish

10.3 SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK

Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)

10.3.1 Accidents at the Workplace

Visit http://www.perkeso.gov.my/ for information on the following:

 the objective of establishing SOCSO