The Role and Development

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 in five eras. 1. Steam Boiler Safety Era - before 1914 Job relating to occupational safety was first establish in Malaysia in the year 1878, when Mr. William Givan was appointed as Machinery Inspector. His job was to inspect the safety aspect of steam boilers, which was usually used in tin mines. Circa 1890?s, the Perak state government created a system of inspection by individual surveyors. Individual with steam boiler related qualification are given license to survey boilers. In 1892, there were 83 steam boilers in the state of Perak. All of it was used in tin mines except for 6 units, which were used in sugar factory. This boiler surveyor system was terminated in 1900 with the appointment of Mr. C. Finchman as an inspector of boiler. Steam boiler enactments at that time were state oriented as each of the four allied Malay states or Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu (Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan) uses it?s own steam boiler law. The first steam boiler law of Malaysia was believed to be legislated in Selangor, which is the Selangor Boiler Enactment 1892. Meanwhile in Perak, their first steam boiler law was enforced in the year 1903. Only by 1908, did the Allied Malay States have a uniform steam boiler legislation that was enforced by inspectors of boiler.

2. Machinery Safety Era - 1914 till 1952 On the 1st of January 1914, the steam boiler enactments of the Allied Malay States were abolished and were replaced with Machinery Enactment of 1913. Effective with this legislation, inspectors were not only to inspect steam boilers but also had to inspect machineries, including self-combustion engines, water turbines and other related auxiliary machineries. At the same time, the job title of Inspector of Boiler was also abolished and was replaced with Inspector of Machinery and Assistant Inspector of Machinery. In the year 1932, the Machinery Enactment of 1913 was abolished and replaced with Machinery Enactment of 1932. Registration and inspection of installation were enforced. At that time, the inspectors of machinery was under the administration of the Mineral Department, under the machinery branch. This was because most machineries were being used in the mining sector and furthermore, mining was also the main industry.

3. Industrial Safety Era - 1953 till 1967 The Machinery Branch was under the Mineral Department until 1952, when the branch was split of from the department and renamed Machinery Department. The split was a must because most inspections had progressed to other industries besides mining.

In 1953, all of the machinery enactments of the Allied Malay States (Negeri-Negeri Melayu Bersekutu), Non-Allied Malays States (Negeri-Negeri Melayu Tidak Bersekutu) and Strait States (Negeri-Negeri Selat) were abolished and replaced with the Machinery Ordinance 1953. With the enforcement of this ordinance, the roles of inspectors were not only limited to steam boiler or machinery safety but also covered all aspect of factory workers safety where those machineries were being used. Ordinance 1953 lack a lot in worker?s health aspects even though there were regulations on safety, health and welfare of workers under the ordinance, as it was not fully enforced. The main provisions of the ordinance were as follows: y y y y y y y y y y Hence there must be established a Board of Inspectors with powers to conduct inspections and to approve certificates of fitness; Hence regulations can be made; Hence only machinery with approval certificates can be use; Hence only approved persons can operate machineries; Hence approval from Inspections must be given before a machine can be licensed or be modified; Hence all accidents to person or property relating to machinery must be notified and investigated; Hence no person should be acting in a manner that could cause injury to others or to use safety tools; Hence no person should be acting in a manner that could cause injury to others or to use safety tools; Hence all non-complying machinery should not be sold, borrowed or rented Hence Inspectors are given powers to enter premises and to stop unsafe machineries

Until 1964, there were 786 steam boilers, 4537 unfired pressure vessel, 981 hoisting machines and 11366 other installations. The staffs of Machinery Department consisted of 10 Inspectors which were made up of mechanical engineers, 5 Assistant Inspectors which were holders of engineering diploma and lastly 5 Factory Inspectors (Technicians).

4. Industrial Safety and Hygiene 1970 till 1994 In the year 1967, the Factory and Machinery Act was approved by the Parliament. Beside that, reorganization of the department was undertaken near the end of 1960s, in which the function and responsibilities of inspectors, administrative method and filing system are reorganized beside the closing down of small branch offices in Rawang, Taiping, Tapah and Muar. In 1970, the Factory and Machinery Act and eight regulations under the act were enforced. With the commissioning of this act, Machinery Ordinance 1953 was abolished and the name of the department was changed to Factory and Machinery Department. The inspectors who enforce the act are renamed as Factory and Machinery Inspector. This act was legislated to overcome the weaknesses in the Machinery Ordinance 1953, in the scope of workers coverage, as they were not protected if they are working in a workplace that doesnt use machinery. Provisions relating to industrial health are further added. Generally, the Act was drafted to provide minimum standard of safety, health and welfare of workers at workplace consisting of 5 employees or more and at premises which machinery were being used, including factories, building construction sites and works of engineering construction. The Act was only enforced in Peninsula Malaysia until 1980 when it was further enforced in Sabah and Sarawak. Until the year 1968, Chief Inspectors were made up of British citizens. By 1968, the posts of inspectors in the Machinery Department were fully filled by locals. The year 1968 was also the year when the post of

Medical Officer and Surveillance Unit was created in the department. The unit did not stay that long under the Labour Ministry as it was placed under the administration of the Health Ministry in the year 1971. This era also witnessed the existence of a few important activities and sections like the formation of the Anti-Pollution Section in the year 1971; formation of Industrial Hygiene Unit in the year 1971 and upgrade of its status to Industrial Hygiene Section in the year 1980.; start of petroleum safety activities with the formation of Petroleum Safety Section in the year 1985; start of special inspection activities to prevent major industrial accident; industrial safety and health activity exercises with expert help from International Labour Organisation in the year 1987; formation of C.I.S in 1988; and formation of Major Hazards Section in the year 1991. Petroleum Act (Safety Measures) was enforced in the year 1984 and its enforcement is carried out by a few government agencies including the Factory and Machinery Department. The department enforced provisions in the act relating to transportation of petroleum using pipeline, petroleum distribution, storage and also related equipment and instrument. Regulations (Safety Measures) (Transportation of Petroleum By Pipelines) 1985 have been fully enforced by the department. With these new responsibilities, the Factory and Machinery inspectors were also gazetted as Petroleum Inspector. Suggestion to establish a National Institute Of Occupational Safety and Health had been carried forward by the department to the National Advisor Council Of Occupational Safety and Health in the year 1985. The Cabinet approve the establishment of the institute in 1991 and its opening was officiated by the Minister Of Human Resource on December 1992. The institute is a government-backed company with the purpose to do training activities; information pooling and dissemination; research and development in occupational safety and health. A national workshop on occupational safety and health information strategy development was organised by the Factory and Machinery Department, Asia-OSH and International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 2628 April 1993. The purpose of this workshop was to create an information link relating to occupational safety and health practices in order to enhance information transfer and dissemination. After the reorganisation of the Department in 1969, a lot of changes have taken place due to the countrys speedy economic development and the enforcement of laws related to the department. 5. Occupational Safety and Health Era after 1994 The new legislation on occupational safety and health was made in the year 1994. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) was approved by the Parliament in 1993 and was gazetted on February 1994. This legislation was made considering the fact that the Factory and Machinery Act 1967 only covers occupational safety and health in the manufacturing, mining, quarrying and construction industries, whereas the other industries are not covered. Workers that are covered by Factory and Machinery Act 1967 consists only of 24% of the nations total man power, while Occupational Safety and Health 1994 would cover 90% of the nations total man power and would exempt those working on ships and in the armed forces. The purpose of Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 is to promote and encourage occupational safety and health awareness among workers and to create organisation along with effective safety and health measures. This would be carried out by self-regulation schemes that match the industry or related organisation. This Act, which contains 15 section, is a measure that supersedes any conflict in existing occupational safety and health laws such as the Factory and Machinery Act 1967. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 complements any existing legislative provision and if there are any conflicts, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 will overcome it. This Act also defines the responsibilities of employers, manufacturer, employees, self-employed workers, designers, importers and vendors. Even though those responsibilities are general, it would still need

serious attention and would carry all kind of liabilities. There are three main principles that had been taken as the foundation in the drafting of this Act. The first principle is self-regulation. To handle issues relating to occupational safety and health, employers must develop a good and orderly management system. Starting with formation of a safety and health policy and consequently employers have to make the proper arrangements to be carried out. The second principle is consultation, where employers, employees and the government must negotiate to settle issues and problems relating to occupational safety and health at the workplace. The third principle is co-operation, where employers and employees must co-operate to take care, nurture and to increase the quality of occupational safety and health at the workplace. Without co-operation between employers and employees, none of the occupational safety and health programmes carried out would succeed. This Act also provide for the appointments of enforcement officers, establishment of National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, formation of policy and arrangement of measures to protect safety, health and welfare of people at work and others who might be endangered by the activities of people at work. The powers to enforce, to inspect and the liabilities for breaking the law are also clearly defined. With the approval of this Act, starting from April 1994 the Department of Factory and Machinery has been renamed as the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Inspectors are called Occupational Safety and Health Officers. Under this act, industrial sectors that are covered by it are as follows: y y y y y y y y y y Manufacturing mining and quarrying construction agriculture, forestry and fishing utilities - gas, electric, water and sanitary services transport, storage and communication wholesale and retail traders hotels and restaurants finance, insurance, real estate, business service public services and statutory authorities

Function
y y To study and review the policies and legislations of occupational safety and health. To enforce the following legislations : a) Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and its regulations. b) Factories and Machinery Act 1967 and its regulations. c) Part of Petroleum Act 1984 (Safety Measures) and its regulations. y To conduct research and technical analysis on issues related to occupational safety and health at the workplace.

y y y

To carry out promotional and publicity programs to employers, workers and the general public to foster and increase the awareness of occupational safety and health. To carry out promotional and publicity programs to employers, workers and the general public to foster and increase the awareness of occupational safety and health. To become a secretariat for the National Council regarding occupational safety and health

Activity
Efforts to increase awareness of employers, employees and the general public on the need for a safe workplace with no health hazards require diligent efforts and the participation of numerous parties. Different approaches are required for the implementation of these efforts, and they should be carried out in an integrated, comprehensive and continuous manner in order for maximum effectiveness. This also assures all parties involved that OSH is indeed an important issue towards ensuring a quality working life as well as the survival of employers in any business transaction. As such, all allocated expenditure and efforts to ensure the success of the OSH program and its management system should be regarded as an investment. To accomplish the assigned responsibility, the department performs three important activities: the formulation of standards, enforcement, as well as promotion and communication activities. The department?s organisation structure consists of its head office and 13 state offices. The scope of duties for the former focus on the formulation of standards, approval, accreditation and data analysis; whilst the latter concentrate more on enforcement of acts and regulations, inspection, audit, legal proceedings and investigations. i. Formulation of Standards To draft (legislation) and regularly review via a tripartite process the policies, laws, codes of practice and guidelines pertaining to occupational safety, health and welfare as a basis in ensuring safety and health at work. Policy Analysis The department will, from time to time, study and review existing occupational safety and health policies to gauge the extent to which they have achieved the original planned objectives. These policies are amended if deemed necessary, according to the needs and requirements of current circumstances, to achieve the aim of developing a safe and healthy working culture that is self-regulated by employers and employees. Drafting / Legislating New Industry Regulations, Guidelines and Codes of Practice To assist industry players in achieving their general responsibility in occupational safety and health as required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, the department has commenced and continues to draft (legislation) and amend existing regulations, as well as formulate new industry regulations, guidelines and codes of practice.

ii. Enforcement As a government agency responsible for ensuring the occupational safety, health and welfare of people at work as well as protecting other people from the safety and health hazards arising from work-related activities, the department carries out enforcement activities on industries governed by the following legislation : y y y Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 Factories and Machinery Act 1967 Petroleum Act (Safety Measures) 1984

Enforcement activities conducted by the DOSH include : Approval The discharge of approval and/or permission for the design, installation or fitting of machinery, and the repair procedure for steam boilers, unfired pressure vessels and hoisting machinery. Registration The registration of factories, work sites and machinery which require recommendatory certificates (a certificate of fitness) such as steam boilers, unfired pressure vessels, lifts and hoisting machinery. Accreditation Individuals with the appropriate qualification, experience, expertise and knowledge in specific fields as specified by the Act and regulation(s) will require accreditation. Accredited competencies are Competent Firm and Competent Person. Inspection The conducting of preliminary, repeated (scheduled) and/or supplementary inspections on steam boilers, unfired pressure vessels, hoisting machinery, factory premises and other work sites. Investigation of Accidents and Complaints Investigation of complaints, accidents, occupational diseases and/or poison occurrences at the workplace. Legal Proceedings

iii. Promotion and Communication In order to increase occupational safety and health awareness of employers and employees, the department strives to provide clarification and pointers to ensure that all occupational safety and health legislations are adhered to. As a partner in the implementation of the Corporatisation of Malaysia policy, the department subscribes to the belief that that all its customers should be provided with sufficient information on occupational safety and health. Therefore, various promotion and communication activities have been implemented in order to distribute such information. The promotion and publicity efforts and activities by the DOSH include:

y y y

Organising and conducting lectures or public talks as well as exhibitions and training related to occupational safety and health. Carrying out promotion works and encouragement/motivation activities via campaigns and exhibitions related to occupational safety and health. Providing specialist services in occupational safety and health to public and private agencies as well as associations of employers, employees and professionals, in the effort to further upgrade the standard of occupational safety, health and welfare. Collating and preparing informative materials related to occupational safety and health for reference, loan and distribution purposes. In addition to the principal activities listed above, the department is also responsible for :

y y y y y y y

Providing input and serving as the secretariat to the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH). Conducting research and technical analysis to determine steps to control occupational safety and health hazards at the workplace. Preparing the examination and assessment syllabus and coordinating the examination for accreditation of Competent Persons. Formulating accreditation criteria as well as providing accreditation for Competent Institutions and organisations. Determining and reviewing safety reports and emergency action plans, information to public as well conducting inspections and audits on hazardous and non-hazardous equipment / tools. Monitoring of health hazards at work sites. Perusing reports on the monitoring of health hazards for Competent Persons

History
The Machinery Department in Malaya undertakes the duties of engineer Surveyors and of factories inspectors, and is responsible for the safety of boilers, unfired pressure vessels and hoisting machine. In addition it is responsible for the safety, health and welfare of persons employed in factories. Information on the earliest days is incomplete but there is reason to believe that and inspector of machines was appointed at Taiping, Perak as early as 1878. He retired in 1889 and was granted annual pension of $530, a small amount compared with the house allowance of $240 per annum paid to him while he was and inspector. His duties is not known, neither is the legislation under which he was appointed, but it is probable that he was concerned only whit the safety of the boilers that coming in to use for pumping water at the mines of Larut. About 1890 the Perak state government instituted a system where by private persons were permitted to act as boiler surveyors. They were granted licenses for which they paid a fee of $1 per annum, and were empowered to charge $12 for a complete inspection of a boiler and $5 for testing a boiler under steam to ensure the correct setting of the safety valves. Transport was provided and paid for by the owner of the boiler. In 1892 eighty-three boilers were at work in Perak, but there were few licensed surveyors.

A Perak order in council of 1887 lay down that all boilers were to be fitted with fusible plugs. This was confirmed by a further order, signed by the late Sir Frank Swettenham, in 1890 which also required fusible plugs to be renewed after each complete inspection or more often on the order of the registrar of Mines in Larut or the district Magistrate elsewhere. The penalty for none compliance was $5 a day of continuing offence. The 'Licensed Surveyor' system must have ended about 1900 as in that year a Mr. Fincham was appointed inspector of boiler. His carrier was varied and interesting. Born in 1852 he was pupil with J&H. Gwynne at Hammersmith, London in 1870, served at sea in 1879. He returned to England and was Chief Mechanical Engineer on a section of the construction of the Manchester ship canal in 1887. He returned to Malaya as manager of the Larut tin mining in 1889. In the following year he was appointed inspector of mines and in 1900 inspector of boilers. His salary was $2100 per annum. A photograph of Mr. Fincham exists in the Perak Machinery Office. Engineers Certificates of Competency (Steam) were also issued about this period. The earliest Certificate known is that issued, under the Selangor Boiler Enactment early record is of a Certificate which was issued in 1905 under the Perak Boiler Enactment of 1903. The earliest known Drivers Certificate of Competency (Steam) was issued in 1909 and endorsed for oil engines in 1916. It was in the possession of an elderly Chinese in 1949. All these Certificates were countersigned by the British Resident. The first steam Boiler Enactment in the State of Selangor was probably introduced in 1892 and this was followed by another in 1898. There is a record of Perak Boiler Enactment of 1903. All four of the Federated States enacted boiler legislation in 1908. These Enactments were replaced by the Machinery Enactment of 1913 which came into force on 1 January 1914. Until the beginning of 1914, therefore, inspection was confined to boilers and examinations of persons working on boilers. With the advent of the Machinery Enactment the Safety of machinery other than boilers also became a part of Inspectors duties and the title was changed to Inspector of Machinery. No copy of the Rules made under the Enactment has been found but a copy of the Enactment itself exists. The last section is interesting in that while providing for actions to be brought against an Inspector by aggrieved owner of machinery it sought to discourage these. An action could only be brought after one month's notice of intention and within three months of the decision causing grievance. An express allegation that the Inspector acted maliciously, negligently or without reasonable or probable cause was necessary, and the tender of sufficient amends invalidated the action. Furthermore a successful complainant was not to receive costs unless the Magistrate certified his approbation of the action. A new Machinery Enactment came into force in 1927, superseded by another in 1932. It is probable that the 1927 Enactment involved only minor changes and its introduction was possibly necessitated by the Constitutional change in the composition of the Federal Council in that year. The section mentioned above was not included in the 1932 legislation. The 1913 Enactment introduced the inspection of Internal Combustion Engines and defined an 'Installation' but it was not until 1932 that the registration and inspection of installations was started. This included steam, oil, and electrically driven plants. Passenger lifts were brought under inspection by an amendment to Enactment in 1936. Except for a brief period after the Japanese occupation when it was attached to the public works department, Machinery inspection remained a branch of the Mines Department until 1952. In this year the Machinery Department was born, a separation long overdue, as inspections outside the mining industry had been increasing monthly.

Straits Settlements legislation was in force in Singapore, Malacca and Penang at least from 1921 onwards. The Enactment of that year does not include a repeal clause so that it may well be that thus was the first attempt to control ever boilers in the Settlements. The Enactment remained in force until 1953 in Penang and Malacca and was only replaced in Singapore by a Factories Ordinance in 1958. The Surveyors of Ship in Singapore and Penang were also Inspectors of Machinery until 1941. Malacca was visited quarterly from Singapore. In Kedah, probably as a result of boilers being condemned in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States being sold for further use there, legislation was enacted in 1933 to provide for the inspection of boilers, it was administrations were carried out by the Works Assistant. Johore introduced legislation for the control of machinery in 1921, and regulations made under the Enactment followed in 1922. Both were very similar to the Straits Settlements legislation. At the formation of the Malayan Union machinery inspection was the responsibility of a branch of a Government Department, changes with the enforcement of four separate Enactments which applied to eight of the eleven territories in the Union-Johore and Kedah with their own legislation, Penang and Malacca covered by Straits Settlements legislation and Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Perak by the Federated Malay State Enactment. Perlis Terengganu and Kelantan had no legislation. In 1953, a year after the birth of the Machinery Department, a new Ordinance, was passed by which the Federated Malay States, Johore, Kedah and Straits Settlements (as far as Penang and Malacca were concerned) Enactments were repealed, together with any Rules made under the Johore, Kedah and Straits Settlements Enactments. The Federated Malay States Rules remained in force and applied to all the territories comprising the Federation of Malaya. Thus machinery throughout the country became subject to one Ordinance and one set of regulation. Under the Machinery Ordinance No. 18 of 1953 various Regulations have been made. The Ordinance itself is an enabling instrument and its purpose is to lay certain duties on Inspectors and owners of machinery. The main provisions are :1. The provision of a Board of Examiners with power to hold examinations and issue Certificates of Competency. 2. The making of regulations regarding all aspects of factories and machinery. 3. The necessity for Certificates of Fitness, without which machinery cannot be operated. 4. The necessity for qualified person to be in charge of machinery. 5. The periodic inspection of machinery. 6. The approval of an Inspector before installing or altering machinery. 7. The reporting of accidents, both to persons and property on premises which contain machinery, and the investigation of such accidents. 8. That no person shall act in a manner likely to cause injury to any person or tamper with safety devices. 9. That machinery which does not comply with the regulations shall not be sold or let on hire. 10. The granting of power of entry to Inspectors and the power to render inoperative any unsafe machinery. The first Regulations to be made under the Ordinance concerned Electric Passenger and Goods Lifts. No revolutionary requirements are contained in the Regulations which are based on accepted Codes of Practice in use throughout the world.

Then followed the Safety, Health and Welfare Regulations, a notable advance in social legislation in Malaya in that minimum standards are laid down regarding the safety, health and welfare of factory employees. The main requirements are :1. Access to machinery and available floor space to prevent overcrowding. 2. Alternative means of exit from upper floors in case of fire and the provision of fire extinguishers. 3. Safety in the use and storage of inflammable, volatile and dangerous liquids. 4. Provision of protective clothing where processes are wet, dusty, hot or dangerous and where foodstuffs are manufactured. 5. Provision of first aid materials. 6. Extraction of dust and fumes. 7. Provision of drinking water, washing and sanitary conveniences which must be separate for male and female employees. 8. Provision of seating accommodation for employees where the process permits sitting and in any case for female and young person so that they can sit when the opportunity arises. 9. Minimum standards of lighting for various trades. 10. Provision of adequate ventilation. The Small Businesses Exemption Order freed a small factory from certain duties under these Regulations. This has been of considerable help to small family businesses in New Villages. The Board of Examiners Regulations was the next to be passed. These prescribe the types of Certificates of Competency that may be issued, the conditions under which persons may be accepted for examination and the general lines on which examination are to be conducted. An Engine Drivers Certificate entitles the holder to take charge o prime movers and or boilers. The grades issued are 1st and 2nd Grade Steam and 1st and 2nd Grade Internal Combustion Engines with endorsement. The examination is verbal and interpreters are available for candidates who do not speak Malay. Examinations are held at various centers that vary according to need. Examinations for Engineers are divided into the same categories as for Drivers. This extends over two days. The first day is devoted to Applied Mathematics papers and the second to an Engineering Knowledge paper, followed by a verbal examination. Examinations are held quarterly at the main centers, and endorsements may also be obtained. The third category of Certificates is the Dredge masters Certificates for persons in the Tin Dredging industry. The exam is held monthly and occupies one day. In the morning the candidate sits the Applied Mathematics paper and in the afternoon an Engineering Knowledge paper followed by a short verbal examination. The three classes of certificates are "Steam and Electric Dredges", "Electric Dredges", and "Internal Combustion Engines and Electric Dredges". As for other Certificates, endorsements can be obtained. At the same time the Persons-in-Charge Regulations were passed and, briefly, these pertain to the category of certificate which must be held by the person in charge of the boiler, the records to be kept and the duration of shifts. There are also provisions which require persons employed on driven machinery to be trained and instructed in the use of safety devices and safe methods of working. The machinery (Inspection and Certificates of Fitness) Regulations passed at the same time as the two previous Regulations, lay down the class of machinery for which a Certificate of Fitness must be held also provide for the regular inspection of such machinery. The classes of machinery are steam boilers, unfired

pressure vessels, hoisting machines and installations. In the original list prime movers were included, but the inspections of these were ended early in 1958. The Regulations also detail the preparation required for an inspection. A boiler must be opened up, cool and effectively disconnected from the steam range. Effectively does not mean simply a closed valve with chain and padlock. Unfired pressure vessels must also be opened up for internal inspection. Steaming inspections of boilers are required, for the purpose of ensuring that safety valve is correctly set and otherwise checking the boiler under steam. Under the same Regulation owners must inform an inspector more than 36 hours before the schedules time of inspection if the machinery is stopped and an inspection is not required. If such notification is given the inspection fee is payable even if no inspection is carried out. The next Regulation issued was mainly for Departmental use-they are Machinery (Administration) Regulations. They prescribe the records to be kept and provide for these records to be searched, for extracts to be supplied and for the charges for loan of certain equipment to the public. The Steam Boiler and Unfired Pressure Vessel Regulation control the design of boiler and unfired pressure vessel by ensuring the use of an approved code. Drawing are required showing the full details, with calculation. The code to which the vessel is made must be stated and a Certification from the Inspecting authority to the effect that the authority has supervised the construction of vessel and that it complies with the state code supplied. A schedule of approved Code and Inspecting Authority is given. Where details required are not available the Chief Inspector may assign a safe working pressure. A drawing must be provided and the design and strength is then checked against one of the approved Codes. The Regulations also lay down the fitting that must be provided, e.g. safety valves, water gauges, etc, the requirements for hydraulic testing, automatic control equipments, provision of drainage and expansion arrangements in steam piping and other safety precautions. Pressure Vessels may be manufactured in Malaya by registered firms only. Registration is confined to known firms which have necessary equipment, space for manufactured and experience. These other sets of Regulations only, but recently issued are the Transmission Machinery, Driven Machinery, Foundry and Dredging Regulations. Again these are not revolutionary. The old Rules required machinery to be guarded to the satisfaction of an Inspector whilst the new Regulations detail what guards and other safety measures are required. That is the guards required previously continue to be required. In addition machinery sold in the Federation must comply with the Regulations. From a small beginning in 1878 a policy of industrial safety, health and welfare, favorably, comparable with that in any other country in the world has risen, mainly during the last six years. Following articles will detail various safety precautions and their application.

Objectives and Corporate Value

Objectives The objective of the Department is to prevent industrial accidents and occupational diseases by achieving the following by 2010:

Reducing the rate of fatalities up to 20%

y y y

Reducing the rate of reported accidents (death, permanent loss of ability, temporary loss of ability) up to 20% Increasing enforcement investigations up to 100% and promotional activities up to 200%; and Increasing the number of Occupational Safety and Health practitioners to 10,000 people Corporate Values Firm, Fair and Friendly

Vision and Mission

Mission To Secure Safety and Health at Work Vision To be the Ultimate Leader of Occupational Safety and Health

Introduction
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is a department under the Ministry of Human Resources. This department is responsible for ensuring the safety, health and welfare of people at work as well as protecting other people from the safety and health hazards arising from the activities sectors which include: y y y y y y y y y y Manufacturing Mining and Quarrying Construction Hotels and Restaurant Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Transport, Storage and Communication Public Services and Statutory Authorities Utilities - Gas, Electricity, Water and Sanitary Services Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services Wholesale and Retail Trades As a government agency, the department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of legislations related to occupational safety and health of the country, with a vision of becoming an organisation which leads the nation in creating a safe and healthy work culture that contributes towards enhancing the quality of working life.

Training Policy
It is the aim of this department to develop an efficient, trained, virtuous and professional workforce through a systematic and well-planned training management system devised in accordance with the mission and objectives of the department to : Groom a qualified, educated, capable and virtuous workforce; Improve skill, efficiency and expertise; Achieve productive and high quality work performance; and Improve career development This department is committed to prepare sources and facilities that are needen to achieve the aim stated above.

y y y y

Quality Policy
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health is committed in ensuring and developing occupational safety and health at the workplace by enforcing established laws through a quality management system. DOSH Management shall ensure that: y y y y y y y Quality will meet customers needs and requirements. Quality is controlled and enhanced at every facet of the organisation management. All quality requirements are complied with. The integrity of the quality management system is preserved whilst continuous improvement is in progress. The effectiveness of the quality management system is assessed. The objective of quality is constantly verified and revised. The concept of quality is conveyed to and understood by all staff, thus becoming the core culture of the DOSH. This Quality Policy shall be made-known to all staff members through suitable media.

Safety and Health Policy

It is the policy of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all its employees and protect others who may be affected by its activities. The management and staff will work together to achieve the aims and objectives of this policy through discussion/negotiation (conference) and cooperation. Specifically, the department policy comprises the following objectives: y To prepare and preserve a workplace with a safe and healthy working system;

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To ensure that all staff are provided with the relevant information, instruction,training and supervision regarding methods to carry out their duties in a safe manner and without causing any risk to health; To investigate all accidents, diseases, poisonous and/or dangerous occurrences, and to have action taken to ensure that these occurrences will not be repeated; To comply with all the requirements of legislations related to safety and health as stated in the Occupational Safety And Health Act 1994, as well as regulations and codes of practice which have been approved; To provide basic welfare facilities to all workers; and To revise and improve on this policy whenever necessary. The department is without any doubt certain that safety and health must be an integral part of our daily activities, and that the proper practice of safe and healthy working procedures would be the main factor in achieving the success of our mission. To ensure that the objectives of this policy are fully met, a safety and health officer is appointed in every state office for the purpose of coordinating and discharging the planned activities related to safety and health.

y y