OPM538:

OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY, HEALTH
&
ENVIRONMENTAL
_________________
MANAGEMENT
Chapter 1: Introduction
to Safety, Health and
Environmental
Management

by
Dr. Shariff Bin Harun
TOPIC OUTLINE:
• Definitions and Concepts: Occupational Safety, Health and
Environmental (OSHE) Management
• History of OSHE in Malaysia
• Objectives of OSHE in an organization
• Importance of OSHE in an organization
• Implementation of OSHE in an organization
• OSHE Issues

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Introduction

Occupational safety and health is identified as the

discipline dealing with the prevention of work-related
injuries and diseases as well as the protection and
promotion of the health of workers. It aims at the
improvement of working conditions and environment.

-International Labor Organization (ILO)-

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OVERVIEW
An Occupational Accident is an unexpected and unplanned occurrence, including acts of violence, arising
out of or in connection with work, which results in one or more workers incurring a personal injury, disease
or death.
-International Labor Organization (ILO)-

Occupational injury means any injury such as a cut, fracture, sprain, amputation and etc., which results
from a work accident or from a single instantaneous exposure to a hazard in the work environment.
Guidelines on Occupational Health Services (2005)
Department of Occupational Safety & Health
Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia

Occupational poisoning or disease means a poisoning or a disease arising out of or in connection with work. It
includes acute and chronic disease or poisoning which may be caused by inhalation, absorption, ingestion, or direct
contact with a hazard at the workplace.
Guidelines on Occupational Health Services (2005)
Department of Occupational Safety & Health
Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia
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OSHE DEFINITIONS
& CONCEPTS

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 HEALTH DANGER
SAFETY State of physically, mentally, Relative exposure to
Absent of Danger socially well being hazards

HAZARDS
A source, situation, or act
with a potential for harm
in terms of human injury
or ill health and damage
to property.
RISK
The chance or probability
harm, injury, property &
environmental damage and
losses likely to occur
ENVIRONMENT
Air, land, water, flora &
fauna, natural resources,
human, surroundings & its
interaction

ACCIDENT
An unexpected, undesired, unplanned
event that occurred which resulted in
deaths, Injury, property damage and other
losses or combination of all.
DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE
Event that occurred causing massive
losses; damage; loss of lives, public and
national safety.

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NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT AND DISEASE STATISTICS 2021

In Malaysia, the number

of occupational accidents
were 21,534 cases in
2021, with the number of
occupational fatalities
being 301 cases

Source: Department of
Statistics Malaysia (2021)

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The main sectors that contribute to occupational accidents are Manufacturing, followed by Services and Construction sectors. Although
the Construction sector ranks third in terms of numbers of injuries, the industry ranks first in terms of occupational fatalities rate.
However, Mining and Quarrying was reported as the most dangerous instead of showing a low fatality rate (9) as it posted the highest
rate of occupational fatalities, which is 10.98 times higher than the overall national occupational fatalities in 2021 .
9
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (2021)
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
10
(2021)
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
(2021) 11
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia
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(2021)
IMAGE SLIDE

OSHE History
1. Bhopal Disaster
2. Minamata Disease
3. Bright Sparklers Firework
4. History of OSHE in Malaysia

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 1) BHOPAL
DISASTER
 On December 3, 1984, in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, about 45 tons of dangerous gas methyl
isocyanate chemical leak from an insecticide plant that was owned by the Indian subsidiary of the American firm
Union Carbide Corporation. The gas drifted over the densely populated neighborhoods around the plant, killing
thousands of people immediately and creating a panic as tens of thousands of others attempted to flee Bhopal.
 The final death toll was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000. Some half a million survivors suffered
respiratory problems, eye irritation or blindness, and other maladies resulting from exposure to the toxic gas; many
were awarded compensation of a few hundred dollars.
 Investigations later established that substandard operating and safety procedures at the understaffed plant had
led to the tragedy.
 The company involved reached a settlement with the Indian Government through mediation of the country's
Supreme Court and accepted moral responsibility. It paid $470 million in compensation, a relatively small amount
of based on significant underestimations of the long-term health consequences of exposure and the number of
people exposed.
 The disaster indicated a need for enforceable international standards for environmental safety, preventative
strategies to avoid similar accidents and industrial disaster preparedness.

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 2) MINAMATA DISEASE
 It started with the town cats. In the mid-1950s, the people of Minamata, Japan began to notice their cats were going
crazy and falling into the sea. Soon after, a strange illness appeared to be going around town.
 The people of Minamata reported numbness in their limbs and lips. Some had difficulty hearing or seeing. Others
developed shaking (shakes) in their arms and legs, difficulty walking, and even brain damage and like the cats, some
people seemed to be going crazy, shouting uncontrollably. Something was affecting their nervous system.
 Finally, in July 1959, researchers from Kumamoto University discovered the source of the illness is related to
a high levels of mercury poisoning which they then named Minamata Disease.
 A large petrochemical plant in Minamata, run by Chisso Corporation, had dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury
compounds into Minamata Bay. The mercury dumping had poisoned pregnant women, and the children were born
with severe deformities including gnarled limbs, mental retardation, deafness, and blindness.
 According to the Japanese government, 2,955 people contracted Minamata disease and 1,784 people have since died.
To date, Chisso has financially compensated over 10,000 people and continues to be involved in suits regarding the
matter.
 The outcome from the disaster leads to a global concern on the effect of Mercury which resulted into Minamata
Convention on Mercury in 2013 – 99 Countries rectified the convention including Malaysia.

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 3) BRIGHT SPARKLERS FIREWORK
 The Bright Sparklers fireworks factory explosion on May 7, 1991, left an
indelible mark on residents of Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh.
 Before the tragedy struck, a factory manager, who was also a chemist from
Hong Kong, was testing a new product inside the factory located next to the
new village.
 Things went wrong around 3.45pm when explosive chemicals from the
experiment spilt, sparking off fires that rapidly spread to a nearby pile of large
firecrackers, known as "bazookas”
 The fires were accompanied by a series of explosions that could be heard and
felt as far as 10km away from the factory.
 The blast, described as Malaysia's version of the Hiroshima bombing, claimed
26 lives and injured 103 people.
 The Bright Sparklers tragedy led to the establishment of the Hazardous
Material Unit Team (HAZMAT) a special unit under the Fire and Rescue
Department of Malaysia that specializes in handling chemicals and
radiation.
 The Parliament also passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994
after the tragedy.
HISTORY OF OSHE IN MALAYSIA
 The role of occupational safety and health has been in existence since 120 years ago, in the late 19th century. It
started with steam boiler safety and then followed by machinery safety. After that, it was continued with
industrial safety, industrial safety and hygiene and lastly occupational safety and health that covers every work
sector. The history, role and development of this Department can be explained through the below eras.

Industrial Industrial Occupational

Steam Boiler Machinery
Safety Era Safety & Safety and
Safety Era Safety Era
(1953-1967) Hygiene (1970- Health Era
(before 1914) (1914-1952)
1994) (After 1994)
HISTORY OF OSHE IN MALAYSIA

Occupational
Safety and Health
Occupational The (Amendment)
Safety & Occupational Act 2022 and This Act comes into
Health Master Safety & The Factories & operation on a date to be
Plan 2015 Health Master appointed by the Minister
Plan (2016– Machinery
(launch on May by notification in the
2020) (Repeal) Act
2, 2009) Gazette.
2020
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF OSHE IN MALAYSIA

◉ 1972
ROBENS Committee, UK was formed to investigate the high rate of industrial accidents, diseases and deaths
at workplace.
◉ 1994
UK Health and Safety Commission revamped their piecemeal regulations and published the new OSH
regulations. Malaysia was part of the committee and therefore adopted the ROBEN Report's
recommendations:
• a single comprehensive Act dealing with OSH which contains clear statements of responsibilities of
employer/employees
• self regulations by employers and employees
• the Act shall be supported by regulations and codes of practices
◉ 1999
Government start enforcing OSH Act 1994 and directs all organizations to comply
◉ 2000
Government make it mandatory for all construction workers in construction industry to undergo compulsory
safety training and issuance of Green Card to permit entry and work at the work site.

Government enforce all organizations to have registered OSH Officer in organizations through enforcement
checks.
OBJECTIVES OF OSHE IN ORGANIZATION

◉ To manage OSH ◉ To protect lives and ◉ To comply with all

and welfare matters well being of the related government
of workers at a workers in an and national law
workplace and work organization through regulations, codes of
environment minimizing risks, practices, world and
hazards, dangers international
arising from the work standard, industry
activities and standard and other
preventing accidents requirements
at work
IMPORTANCE OF OSHE IN ORGANIZATION
To establish a safe and
conducive workplace and
environment.
Minimize losses to
organization: productivity,
delays, interruptions, miss
schedule and delivery,energy
conservation, preservation of
natural resources.
To minimize OSHE hazards at
workplace and surroundings.
To reduce costs: medical costs,
hospitalization costs,
treatments & consultation
costs, claims, operational
costs, insurance costs.
To maintain trust and
confidence from public,
investors, government.
To minimize accidents, injuries
Avoid many investigations of
and property damage rates at
workplace accidents and
workplace; and environmental
enviromental accidents.
hazards and pollutions.
To minimize penalties, fines, To maintain company
lawsuits with respect to OSHE reputation and image.
laws and regulations.
To comply with global
OSHE standards and global
trade requirements
IMPLEMENTATION OF OSHE IN ORGANIZATION
TOP MANAGEMENT
Planning and Commitment
 to formulate OSHE policies, OSHE targets, establish OSHE system, provide
resources

MIDDLE MANAGEMENT
Leading and Compliance to OSHE Law
 set up OSHE structure, establish safe work culture, provide directions &
compliance
to OSHE regulations

EMPLOYEES INVOLVEMENT
Organizing OSHE programs
 education, trainings, activities to achieve OSH Objectives

COORDINATE OSHE PROGRAMS

Coordinate efforts to implement OSHE
 documentations, investigations
 inspections, audits, promotions, investigations

MANAGEMENT AND
EMPLOYEES
Control and Monitor all OSHE
programs

OSHE ISSUES

What are the issues in occupational safety?

• limitations in the OHS legislation,

• bribery and corruption,
• inadequate funding of facilities and equipment,
• high level of insecurity,
• poor OHS culture among stakeholders,
• severity of penalties to offenders,
• outdated OHS laws
IMAGE SLIDE

THANK YOU
FOR STAYING SAFE
AND HELPING TO KEEP
OTHERS SAFE

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