ASSIGNMENT 3 (individual)

(A) In the context of Occupational Safety and Health

1) Discuss why safety at the workplace is important and should be given priority by employer
and employees.

2) Discuss common examples of work-related accidents at a typical construction site and

explain how such accidents can be avoided or minimized.

3) Explain why we should identify “Danger/Hazards” at workplace at the workplace. Explain

the implication if we ignore or dot not give such concern on danger and Hazard at the
workplace.

(B) With reference to the hand out given on “Case Study chemical-company of
Malaysia”.

1) Has the existing plant up to the necessary standards with respect to safety and ricks to
health?

2) Has the environment regularly been monitored to ensure that, where known health hazards
are present, protection measure confirm to current health standard, including medical
surveillance of workers?

3) Has monitoring been carried out to check the adequacy of control measures at that plant?

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 CONTENT

1. Section A ~ In the context of Occupational Safety and Health

➢ Discuss why safety at the workplace is important and

should be given priority by Employer and employees...............................................................3

➢ Discuss common examples of work-related accidents at a

typical construction site and can be avoided or minimized………………………….………4-6

➢ Explain why we should identify “Danger/Hazards” at workplace………………………..…7-8

1. Section B ~With reference to the hand out given on “Case Study chemical-company of Malaysia”.

➢ Hazards and Problems been identify at chemical company of Malaysia (CCM)………….….9

➢ Has the existing plant up to the necessary standards

with respect to safety and ricks to health?................................................................................10

➢ Has the environment regularly been monitored to ensure that,

where known health hazards are present, protection measure
confirm to current health standard, including medical surveillance of workers?.....................10

➢ Has monitoring been carried out to check the adequacy

of control measures at that plant?.............................................................................................11

3. Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................12

4. Reference...............................................................................................................................................13

(A)In the context of Occupational Safety and Health

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1)Discuss why safety at the workplace is important and should be given priority by
Employer and employees.

Workplace in construction site is to importance because place like this where more technical
works going on time by time. A safe situation is one where the risks of injuries or damage to
property are low. Safety is generally meant to impact the risk of death or injury. Different
employees do different types of work in an organization. Some types of work may involve
great risks. There are some professions characterized as being hazardous. Organizations need
to ensure safety of their workers by dealing with all the safety issues raised by their
machinery.

Workplace safety is a responsibility of the management. It includes the formation and

execution of safety programs and policies. Insurance is often seen as something that cans
rectitude the loss caused to the employee while working. The company can issue policies for
the employees to help them feel financially secure.

Workers in engineering and chemical industries need to be protected from the dangers that
their professions carry. Those working with fire or electricity are always faced with serious
threats to their life and property. Those serving in defence services are at a constant risk of
losing their life. Even the war journalists have to often confront dangerous situations.

The organizations should employ safety procedures and practices and provide the employees
with proper training of dealing with the accidents at work. A measurement of risk and risk
management through proper safety inspections is vital for the safe functioning of an
organization.

Ultimately, workplace safety is about considering people, the people who work with you. The
most important assets of an organization are its employees. Their safety and well-being is of
utmost importance.

We must always remember that human lives are priceless.

2) Discuss common examples of work-related accidents at a typical construction site and

explain how such accidents can be avoided or minimized.

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The construction site is obviously one of the most accident-prone places. The presence of
machines, equipment and materials, and the activity of men make it an inherently risky place.
In some cases, accidents also occur when harmful chemicals or substances come in contact
with equipment that can lead to fires or explosions.

While most of these injuries are not fatal, they can lead to long-term unemployment or a
disability condition such as spinal cord injury, severe burn, and in worst cases, death. With
these, the victims are entitled to file their legal actions with the help of their construction
liability attorneys.

The following construction accidents commonly occur:

• Falls from ladders, roofs and scaffolding

• Injuries caused by falling debris or materials
• Scaffolding collapse accidents
• Falling material or debris
• Accidents caused by contact with electrical wires
• Open trenches
• Nail gun accidents and puncture injuries
• Forklift and crane accidents
• Delivery truck accidents
• Injuries to pedestrians

Typical Construction Site Accidents

Construction site injuries vary greatly based on the type of work being performed and the
circumstances surrounding the environment and the individual affected. The following is a

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lengthy list of the possible injuries construction workers face following construction site
accidents:

• Head injury: Unfortunately, hard hats are not barriers to all forms of head injuries that can
happen at a construction site.

• Closed head injury: This occurs when the head sustains a blunt force by striking against an
object. Most head injuries are closed head injuries.

• Concussion: A concussion is caused by a blow to the head that results in a temporary loss
of awareness. it is due to cerebrospinal fluid being unable to cushion the brain from the skull.

• Severed nerve: Nerve damage can occur as a result of injury or swelling, and in extreme
cases, nerves may be completely severed.

• Spinal cord injuries: The spinal cord carries sensory signals and motor control to most of
the skeletal muscles in the body.

• Paralysis: Paralysis occurs when all muscle function is lost for one or more muscle groups.
This can be caused by a spinal cord injury, and depending on the type of injury.

• Severe cuts: With a variety of tools being used in a busy environment, it is not surprising
that serious cuts are common amongst construction workers.

• Burns: Burn injuries are a very real risk at construction sites because of huge amounts of
heated water, steam, chemicals and electricity at construction sites

• Amputations: Amputations are sometimes necessary following an accident to preserve life.

• Dislocations: Dislocations are a risk inherent in many forms of physical work such as
construction and often cause damage to ligaments.

• Broken bones: Broken bones are not only painful but take a long time to heal and require
time off from work.

• Blindness: Construction accidents can result in vision loss or complete blindness.

To minimize the risk of accident in the construction site, here are important things to
consider:

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Some accidents may be preventable. In construction sites, the wearing of hard hats and other
protective clothing are required as part of safety measures. And despite strict safety laws,
thousands are still injured or get killed due to construction site accidents.

1. Develop a formal, written accident prevention program - An accident prevention program

must suit the needs of your particular workplace or operation and to the types of hazards
involved. This is an outline of your safety and health plan or an injury prevention program.

2. Make sure your accident prevention program has the following elements:

✔ A description of your total safety and health program

✔ How to report unsafe conditions, hazards and practices
✔ The use and care of required personal protective equipment (PPE)
✔ How to exit the workplace during emergencies
✔ Identification of hazardous gases, chemicals, or materials used and instruction about
its safe use
✔ Emergency action to take after accidental exposure to substances or chemicals

3. Develop and supervise the implementation of your safety and health training programs to
make it effective in practice

4. Enforce the training program to improve the employee’s skill, awareness, and competency
in the occupational safety and health.

5. Train workers and employees before being assigned to their job, which may also include
on-the-job safety instructions on the use of the following:

✔ Powered materials-handling equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, etc.

✔ Machine tool operations
✔ How to handle toxic materials
✔ The use and operation of utility system

3) Explain why we should identify “Danger/Hazards” at workplace.

At the workplace, identifying “danger” is very necessary. It relates the safety and health of
the people who work with the risk.

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First, we should know what workplace is. Workplace is defined as “any physical location in
which work-related activities are performed under the control of the organization”. So in the
workplace, usually, there are many kinds of equipment’s, implements and tools and so on.
Maybe those plants are harmful for the people who work at the workplace.

Since those plants are different, so the danger that the plants may cause are also different. We
should use various ways to prevent or minimize danger. But if we do not identify the danger,
then we will not know what will happen, so we cannot do the exactly right way to prevent it.

There are so many categories of danger, such as violence, drugs, noise, and so on.

For example, if we want to deal with the violence in a workplace, we should investigate
violence. Preventing workplace violence and creating safe and secure business environments
are two of the most important issues facing employers.

I find some details thru worldwide survey:

 One out of six employees has been so angry in the workplace that he or she has
wanted to strike a co-worker.
 Homicide is the leading cause of workplace death for women and workers under the
age of 18.
 Each week, 18,000 persons are assaulted at work.
 Of all workplace incidents of homicide, 75% involved a shooting. More than 80% of
the victims died from gunshot wounds.
 Nonfatal workplace assaults result in more than 876,000 lost workdays and
$16,000,000 in lost wages annually.
 Of violent workplace episodes, 82% occurred during robberies or attempted robberies.

Then we can know why it happens and how it happens, so we can think about preventing
it.Review hiring processes, including background checks, reference verification, and
applicant screening for possible propensities toward violence.

 Institute handgun policies regarding the carrying of concealed firearms on the

premises and review them with employees.

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  Promote a safe environment by establishing workplace violence policies, providing
employee assistance or counselling programs for workers who threaten or harass
fellow employees, and take all threats of violence seriously.
 Educate employees by developing crisis-management procedures and train
supervisors to recognize troubling behaviour in workers.
 Update security measures--such as installing alarms and door and window locks--and
improve lighting in areas such as parking lots.
 If violence occurs, respond immediately by alerting proper authorities and providing
counselling to employees.

We can make the advice above just because we identify the danger, it is about the violence,
so we know it is different from others, we use the certain method to prevent or minimize it.

If we do not identify it, we do not the detail about the violence, then maybe we use the wrong
way which lead the violence happen.

So it is very important for us to identify the danger in the workplace.

(B) With reference to the hand out given on “Case Study chemical-company of
Malaysia (CCM )”

Hazards and Problems been identify at chemical company of Malaysia (CCM)

• A few years ago, a worker collapsed at the workers changing room after an asthmatic
attack.

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 • Earlier this year, a worker died from inhaling chlorine fumes from a leaking gas valve
in the chemical factory and his two colleagues who also inhaled chlorine were given
outpatient treatment and discharged
• The residents at large in Padang Jawa have encountered breathing difficulties and
smarting of the eyes because of the gaseous heavy mist caused by chemical fumes, the
worker inside the factory get stronger doses of the hazards effect because of their
proximity to the chemicals.
• In the rock mill plant where phosphates are ground, the workers complain of dust and
deafening noise.
• In the gramoxone plant which turns out parquet for killing weeds, the survey showed
traces of the chemical on pressure gauges which could be injurious to health
• The surrounding of the chlorine plant, which produces liquefied chlorine, are
sometimes subjected to gas leaks when it is heated.
• The British based company, with ICI having a majority share, is situated next to the
SekolahKebangsaan, Padang Jawa. The 822students there have to endure the
discomfort of dust, smoke and smell of gases when the factory is in operation.

1) Has the existing plantup to the necessary standards with respect to safety and ricks to
health?

The plant Chemical Company Malaysia (CCM) has not complied with the relevant
requirement of safety and health. Because of so many hazards and problems as above, such as
gas leaks, breathing difficulties and smarting of the eyes because of the heavy mist, dust and
noise and so on.

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They did not provide a good environment for working, there is no suitable equipment for
prevent hazard. If the plant has complied with the relevant requirement, there will not so
many hazards and problems.

2) Has the environment regularly been monitored to ensure that, where known health
hazards are present, protection measure confirm to current health standard, including
medical surveillance of workers?

There is very little information from the company about the working conditions in the
factory. The CCM is of the opinion that everything is in order apparently.

However, what the plant has done is not enough, there are still many hazards among the plant
and the surrounding environment since the plant is too huge to monitor every condition. Even
though there is a good report result about the emission monthly, it does not mean that the
plant is safe, because the accident will happen sometime. So the plant does not have a good
monitoring.

The most important thing is to comply with the relevant requirement of safety and health, so
that the plant can provide a safe and healthy condition for the workers.

For example, earlier this year, a worker and two colleagues were rushed to hospital after
inhaling chlorine fume from a leaking gas valve in the chemical factory.

The worker, LasiminSardi, 43, died while the other were given outpatient treatment and
discharged. In this case the problem is the leaking gas, i.e. the equipment and the materials.
The chlorine leaked because the valve has some problem.

3) Has monitoring been carried out to check the adequacy of control measures at that
plant?

There is some monitoring of safety and health has been conducted.

Chemical Company of Malaysia (CCM) claims that the factory is conforming to the law in its
operations and the factory was built to standards applicable to the time it’s started in 1965.
The company runs its own check and submits a monthly report to the Department of
Environment on emission levels. So that means the company has done some monitoring to

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the plant. From those report, we can know what the emission level is, whether the plant
environment is safe and whether the condition is harmful for the people health or not.

In the chemical plant, we have to determine which materials are safe for people and which
materials are harmful. After identifying these materials, first separate them then determine
whether the situation that stores is safe for people or not. Assess it is totally safe or how big
the danger it can cause.

Conclusion

A construction site needed supervision from the safety and health aspect. This is to sure there
is no bad tragedy occurring while works arising in construction site. A well and systematic
safety and system can reduce or bringing low accidents in construction site. This safety and
health precaution should be taken by every labour that works in construction site.

However, since the hazards or risks are not always the same because different chemical
materials can lead to different danger, thus a proper system for assessing should be taken into
account.

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There are many different ways and approaches for conducting hazard identification and risk
assessment. Therefore, no one approach will suit every organization. An organization with
limited hazards is not required to implement complex risk assessment procedures. In
addition, different types of hazards may require different risk assessment strategies. For
example, the methodologies for evaluating the risks associated with employee exposure to
noise may be distinctly different from the ones used for evaluating equipment safety. The
methodologies selected need to be appropriate for the hazards identified.

Reference

 http://ohsas18001expert.com/
 http://www.bsee.co.uk/news
 (NIOSH) Information centre
 Books in (Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University Library )
 Case of study Chemical Company of Malaysia (notes which given)

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