Construction Safety

Introduction
 Construction is a noisy, hazardous and sometimes the
most uninhabitable work place one can ever be
exposed to.

 It is also an industry that contributes persistently to

high accident rates; especially fatalities.

 Everything that is taboo in the safety practitioner’s

book can be found in the construction site.
 Introduction (contd)
 For example, employees are easily exposed to hazardous
substances such as paints, thinners, glues, varnishes,
asbestos, and also to toxic agents mainly from
underground work.

 Sites can easily accumulate debris which can be a fire

hazard or a health hazard.

 Drilling and excavation work can cause accidental fires or

even explosion. Working at height can result in debris
falling on workers or even workers falling from heights
 Recognizing the problem
 The construction site indeed versatile and accident are
increasing both in absolute terms and by percentage.

 Take for example the statistic on permanent disablement

cases in the construction sector, which has risen from 190
in 1991 to 305 in 1993. The appalling safety record is a
clear indication that things are not right, and something has
to be done about the construction site.

 We shall now look at issues of why managing safety and

health is necessary, and how it can be achieved?
Construction hazard
OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS BY SECTOR (UNTIL AUGUST 2015 )
Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia
 How is it to be done?
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
ACT 1994 (ACT 514)
 DOSH
Department of Occupational Safety And Health
 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994
(Act 514) OSHA
Who Does This Act Protect?

 This Act clearly defines the general duties of

employers and self-employed person - Section
15

 Section 18 of the Act defines the duties of an

occupier of a place of work to persons other
than his employees.
 What is Occupational Safety and Health Act?
The aims of this Act are
 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 person at a place of work other than persons at work against risks to
safety or health arising out of the activities of persons at work

 to promote an occupational environment for persons at work which is adapted to

their physiological and psychological needs

 to provide the means whereby the associated occupational safety and health
legislation may be progressively replaced by a system of regulations and approved
industry codes of practice operating in combination with the provisions of this Act
designed to maintain or improve the standards of safety and health.
 How does the act protect?
 The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 is enforced by the
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), a government
department under the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia.

 Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will ensure

through enforcement and promotional works that employers, self-employed
persons, manufacturers, designers, importers, suppliers and employees
always practice safe and health work culture, and always comply with
existing legislation, guidelines and codes of practice.

 Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will also formulate

and review legislation, policies, guidelines and codes of practice pertaining
to occupational safety, health and welfare as a basis in ensuring safety and
health at work.
 How does the act protect? (contd)

 Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is also the

secretariat to National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, a
council established under section 8 of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act 1994.

 The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health shall have power
to do all things expedient or reasonably necessary for or incidental to the
carrying out of the objects of this Act.
 How does the act affect the employees?
 All employers with more than 5 employees are required by the legislation to
formulate a written Safety and Health Policy.

 The object of the Safety and Health Policy is to demonstrates the company's
commitment and concern to ensure safety and health at place of work. When
making decision or performing work activities of the organization, issues on
safety and health stated in the policy must be taken into account.

 Safety and Health Committee

The main contractor of a worksite in which 40 or more persons are for the
time being employed (whether by him or by other contractors employed by
him or the client) shall establish a safety and health committee (on which
both employees and management are represented) for the purpose of
keeping under review conditions in the worksite which may effect the safety
and health of the persons employed therein or the public. (Section 30,
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, Occupational Safety and Health
(Safety And Health Committee) Regulations 1997)
 How does the act affect the emlpoyees?
(contd)

 The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 specifies the

general duties of employers, self-employed persons,
manufacturers, designers, suppliers and employees.

 Among the provisions of the Act is the establishment of the

safety and health committee, the appointment of a safety and
health officer and the enforcement, investigation and offenses.
 Parties important to the act
The employer

The employee

The safety officer

 What are the duties as an employer?
 As an employer, you have duties to your
employees and to persons other than your
employees.

 The general duties of employers and self-

employed persons are stated in Part IV of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
 Part IV of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
S.15. General duties of employers and self-employed
persons to their employees.
S.16. Duty to formulate safety and health policy.
S.17. General duties of employers and self-employed
persons to persons other than their employees.
S.18. Duties of an occupier of a place of work to
persons other than his employees.
S.19. Penalty for an offence under section 15, 16, 17
or 18.
 What are the duties as an employer?
(a) the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as
is practicable, safe and without risks to health;
(b) the making of arrangements for ensuring, so far as is practicable, safety and
absence of risks to health in connection with the use or operation, handling,
storage and transport of plant and substances;
(c) the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is
necessary to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety and health at work of his
employees;
(d) so far as is practicable, as regards any place of work under the control of the
employer or self-employed person, the maintenance of it in a condition that is
safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of the means
of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
(e) the provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees
that is, so far as is practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as
regards facilities for their welfare at work.
 What are the duties as an employee?
The duty of employee at work:

 to take reasonable care at work for the safety of yourself and other
persons

 to cooperate with employer or any other person in the discharge of any

duty, under the Act or Regulations

 to wear or use at all times any protective equipment and clothing provided
by the employer for the purpose of preventing risks to the safety and
health

 to comply with any instruction or measure on occupational safety and

health as required under the Act or Regulations
 What are the duties of a Safety and Health
Officer?
 A safety and health officer shall advise
employer on the measures to be taken in the
interests of safety and health at place of work.
 Shall possess such qualifications or have
received training prescribed by the Minister
from time to time. (under NIOSH)
 What are the duties of an Occupational Safety and
Health Officer if he is to conduct an inspection at a
workplace?
 An occupational safety and health officer shall
take all reasonable steps to notify the employer
and the safety and health committee of the entry.

 The occupational safety and health officer shall

produce on demand to the employer or any
person in charge of a place of work a certificate
of authorization issued by the Director General
of the Occupational Safety and Health.
 Can an Occupational Safety and Health
Officer enter a place of work without
search warrant?
 Where an officer is satisfied upon information received that he
has reasonable grounds for believing that, by reason of delay in
obtaining a search warrant, any article or part thereof in a place
of work or residential place used to commit or intended to be
used to commit an offence under the Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994 or any regulation made there under is likely to
be removed or destroyed, he may enter the place of work or
residential place without a warrant and seize or seal the article
or part thereof found therein
 How to be a Safety and Health Officer
 Must have 3 year experience, pass 4 exam papers then can
get GREEN BOOK, must collect CPD and renew every 3
years
 Depending on type of industries, 200 employees (IWK),
construction RM2 million above, if less but more than 5
staffs must have SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE
 The safety committee will be checked by DOSH officers
from time to time. Show written Safety and Health Policy,
procedures, minutes of meeting, safety drills, etc
 Section 15, 18,19, 20, 24 of the OSHA.
 NIOSH
 National Institute Of Occupational Safety And
Health (NIOSH)
- under Ministry Of Human Resources
Malaysia
- Provide training courses
 National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH)
• Course Programmes
 Course Programmes

 1. Safety and Health Officer SHO

  2. Safety and Health Officer (Part Time)SHOP
  3. Safety and Health Officer (Modular)SHOM
  4. Chemical Health Risk Assessment CHRA
  5. Legislative Requirement For Hazardous Chemicals
  6. Control of Chemicals Hazardous To Health
  7. Industrial Hygiene Technician (Chemical Monitoring)IHT
  8. Industrial Hygiene Technician (Inspection, Testing and Examination of Engineering
Control Equipment)IHT 2
  9. Monitoring of Noise Exposure MNE
  10. Indoor Air Quality Assessor IAQ
  11. Occupational Health Doctor OHD 
  12. Occupational Health Nurse OHN
  13. Safe Handling of Forklift Truck SHFT
  14. Safe Handling of Forklift Truck Refresher SHFTR
  15. Basic Occupational First Aid BOFA
  16. Basic Offshore Occupational First Aid OSFA
 Course Programmes


 17.
Authorised Entrant and Standby Person for Confined Space
  18. Authorised Gas Tester and Entry Supervisor for Confined Space
 19. Confined Space Safety (Trainer’s Program)CS-TTT
 20. Working Safely at Height WAH
 21. Safety Induction for Construction Worker (Trainer’s Programme)SICW
 22. Site Safety Supervisor SSS
 23. Train The Trainer TTT1
 24. Training Management for Business TTT2
 25. Inert Space Entry Refresher IETR 
 26. Basic Rigging and Slinging BRS 
 27. Working At Height Refresher WAHR 
 28. Confined Space Rescue and First Response CSR
 29. High Pressure Water Jetting HPWJ
 30. Inert Space Entry Training IET
 31. Basic Scaffolding
 The collapse of an incomplete
pedestrian bridge at KL Eco City

at KL Eco City here after

 The collapse of an incomplete
pedestrian bridge at KL Eco City

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 ― The Department of Occupational Safety and Health

Malaysia (DOSH) has issued a stop-work order on construction at KL Eco City here
after the collapse of an incomplete pedestrian bridge that killed one worker and hurt
five others today.
National news agency Bernama reported DOSH director-general Datuk Mohtar Musri
saying the stop-work order was on construction on the building located at Abdullah
Hukum as well as the pedestrian bridge, to enable full investigations into the
incident.
“The probe has to be carried out to determine whether there was negligence or use
of substandard building materials,” he was quoted saying.
Bernama further reported Mohtar saying the stop-work order was temporary, but
added that action could be taken under Section 15 of the Worker Safety and Health
Act 1994, which carries a maximum jail term of two years and a maximum fine of
RM30,000 upon conviction for negligence.

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia
 Thank you!

References:

 http://www.lawyerment.com.my/library/doc/empl/osha/

 http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?
p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1926

 http://www.cookstown.gov.uk/business/environmentalhealth/healthan
dsafety/accidentsandemergencies/#d.en.60

 http://dosh mohr gov my