Introduction to

Industrial Safety
and Health
Issues
CHAPTER 1
• VIDEO ACCIDENT AT WORKPLACE
 Introduction
• Accident –Undesired circumstances which give
rise to ill-health or injury, damage to property,
plant, products or the environment; production
losses or increased liabilities.
• Incident –Undesired circumstances and ‘near
misses’ which could cause accidents.
• Ill health – Acute and chronic ill health caused
by physical, chemical or biological agents as well
as adverse effects on mental health.
 Introduction
• Hazard – The potential to cause harm. Harm
including ill health and injury, damage to property,
plant, products or the environment, production
losses or increased liabilities.

• Risk- Means the likelihood that a specified

undesired event will occur due to the realisation of
a hazard by, or during work activities or by the
products and services created by work activities.

• Safety- The ‘control of accidental loss’.

OSH Concept
Hazard/ Danger
Observable or predicted from
knowledge

Risk
Not directly observable - probability of harm
to system elements being realised from
exposure to hazards and danger.

Harm
Damage to system elements - long or short
term

Accidents
Injuries, Ill Health and Damage
 Reasons for Preventing Accidents

• Moral / Humane- No-one comes to work to be

injured or killed

• Cost - Accidents cost organisations money.

• Legislation - Organisations have a legal obligation.

Accidents at workplace in Malaysia

Source: www.dosh.com.my
Statistics of workplace accident (States)

Source: www.dosh.com.my
Recent Accident

Source: www.dosh.com.my
 Major Accident cases
Disasters

• Local
• Bright Sparklers, Sg. Buloh (1991)
• Gas Processing Plant Fire, Kertih (2012)
• Middle Distillate Plant Explosion, Bintulu (1997)
• Highland tower collapse (1993)

• International
• Bhopal
• Chernobyl
• Piper Alpha- 1988
Accident
 Bright Sparkles Tragedy.
Sungai BULOH 1991

VIDEO : Bright
Sparkles Tragedy
 Bright Sparkles Tragedy.
Sungai BULOH 1991
• 7 May 1991 Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster

• Bright Sparkles Sdn The Bright Sparklers Fireworks

Bhd fire occurred in Malaysia on 7 May
1991.[1][2] The Bright
Sparklers Fireworks Factory in Sungai
• Explosion of 200 tons Buloh, Selangor caught fire and caused a
of sulfur hugeexplosion.[1][2] Twenty six people
were killed and over a hundred people
• “Hiroshima Sg Buloh” were injured in the disaster.[2] The
explosion was strong enough to rip the
• The incident killed 22 roofs of some local houses, and ended
people and injured 103 up damaging over 200 residential
others properties.[3]
The Bright Sparklers Fireworks fire-
Sungai Buloh
 Fire Incident at Gas Processing Plant
Complex A, Kertih

Announcement Details :

PETRONAS Gas Berhad (PGB) hereby inform that a fire incident had occurred on 10 May 2012 at approximately
1500hrs at a gas processing plant (GPP) within its GPP Complex A in Kerteh, Terengganu.

The fire was brought under control by the Complex’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) at 1530 hrs.

The incident happened at GPP 3 which is under planned maintenance shutdown. There is minimal damage to plant
equipment. This incident has not affected the operations of the other gas processing plant units and there is no
interruption to the gas supply to the Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) pipeline network. Arising from this incident,
there is minimal impact to PGB’s earnings.

PGB however regrets to inform that a number of employees of Hyundai-PFCE Consortium (HPC), which is the
contractor engaged to undertake the maintenance works at the GPP, were affected by the incident.

One fatality has been reported while two personnel are still warded at a hospital. The remaining affected personnel
have received appropriate medical treatment.

PGB is extending all necessary assistance to the affected personnel and their family members.

This announcement is dated 11 May 2012.

 BINTULU EXPLOSION 1997
Shell Bintulu (MY) 11997 25 DEC

SUMMARY

• An explosion and fire occurred at a gas-to-liquids

(GTL) plant in Bintulu, Sarawak. The fire was brought
under control on the next day.

• The plant was one of only two commercially

successful GTL plants in the world at the time, with a
capacity to produce 12,500 bbl-per-day of middle
distillates and waxes from natural gas feedstocks. The
explosion occurred in the air separation unit (ASU)
which supplied oxygen for the production of
synthesis gas feedstock.

• The investigation into the incident pointed to an initial combustion event in the ASU as
the most probable cause. This combustion event is thought to have initiated explosive
burning of the aluminium heat exchanger elements in the presence of liquid oxygen, such
that the elements ruptured explosively. Twelve people were injured, none seriously, and
the plant was shut down for several months for repairs.
• [ Property Damage $275 Million. Estimated Current Value $510 Million ]
 Highland Towers collapse
1993
• The Highland Towers collapse occurred on December
11,1993 in Taman Hillview, Ulu Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
The towers collapsed following a major landslide that is
said to be the cause of the tragedy. The Highland Towers
consisted of three 13 story buildings or "blocks".
• The collapse of the Highland Towers' Block 1 resulted in
48 deaths. Residents and citizens occupying neighboring
establishments, as far as two blocks away, were
evacuated due to safety concerns.

• The Highland Towers complex was built in phases between 1974 and 1982. They were
constructed at the western base of a steeply sloped hill, terraced extensively in the early
1980s. Block 1 was the southernmost building, Block 2 was built north-northwest of Block
1, and Block 3 was built west of Block 2.
• These towers were home to affluent middle-class families; a sizable percentage of the
residents were expatriates.
• In 1991, the constructions of the Bukit Antarabangsa Development Project began on the
hilltop behind Highland Towers. Due to the clearing of trees and land-covering plants on
the hill, the soil was exposed to land erosion.
 Flow Chart of Occupational
Safety and Health in Malaysia
Government of Malaysia

Ministry of Human Resources

Department of Occupational Safety and Health

NIOSH OSHA
 Responsibility of DOSH
• Standard Setting
The standards on safety, health, and welfare had to be reviewed, drafted, and
finalized from time to time. This ensured that the prepared standards were relevant
to the safety and health conditions of the workplace.

• Policy Study
Studies on existing OSH policies were conducted from time to time to assess the
extent to which these policies had achieved their original objectives. Changes would
be made, if necessary, to ensure that the goals and the practice of self regulation
among employers and employees were achieved.

• Drafting Regulations, Guidelines, and Industrial Codes of Practice

The Department had and currently in the process of amending the new industrial
Regulations, Codes of Practice, and Guidelines. This was intended to assist the
industry in complying with and fulfilling its responsibilities as an employer, as
required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
 Responsibility of DOSH cont’d

• Enforcement activities Enforcement activities that were

carried out by DOSH include:
The Department carried out
enforcement activities aimed at a. Approval and Authorization
ensuring the safety, health, and
welfare of workers and other b. Registration
persons from the hazards of work
activities, as required under the
following Acts: c. Certification

• Occupational Safety and Health d. Inspection

Act 1994 (Act 514)
e. Investigation
• Factories and Machinery Act 1967
(Act 139); and f. Litigation
• Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act
1984 (Act 302).
 NIOSH
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

• The responsibilities are as follows:

• Provide training

• Provide Examination

• Information Services

• Research and Development

• Consultation
 Application of OSHA
• Manufacturing • Finance

• Mining and Quarrying • Insurance

• Construction • Transport, Storage and

Communication
• Agriculture,
• Hotels and Restaurants
• Forestry and Fishing
• Real Estate and Business
• Utilities Service Sector

• Wholesale and Retail • Public Service and

Trades Statutory Authorities
 Scope of OSHA
Includes all working personnel except:

• Armed Forces

• Crew of Merchant Ships

 Objectives of OSHA
• To secure the safety, health and welfare of
persons at work against risks to safety or
health arising out of the activities of persons at
work

• To protect persons at a place of work other

than persons at work against risk to safety or
health arising out of the activities of persons at
works
 The needs for safety & general
engineering goals
• reduce accidents

• Control or eliminate hazards

• Develop new methods & techniques to improve safety

• Maximize returns on safety efforts

• Maximize public confidence w.r.t product & service

safety