CHAPTER 3

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT

What is an OHS Management System?

An Occupational Health and Management System (OHSMS) is a set of plans, actions and procedures that assist an organization to systematically manage health and safety risk associated with their business.

The overall aim of an OHSMS is to continuously improve OHS performance through the effective management of OHS risks and activities in the workplace.

OSH (Safety and Health Committee) Regulations

1996 Part 1: Preliminary Part 2: Composition of safety and

health committee Part 3: Functions of safety and health

committee Part 4: Meetings of safety and health

committee Part 5: Provisions of training and

information Part 6: Penalty

General Terms

"authorized manager" means a person duly authorized by an employer to deal with any matter relating to the safety and health of persons employed at the place of work.

"chairman" means the chairman of a safety and health committee; "Director General" means the Director General of Occupational Safety

and health appointed under subsection 5(1) of the Act; "member" means a member of a safety and health committee; "near-miss accident" means any accident at a place of work which has

the potential of causing injury to any person or damage to any property; "safety audits" means the safety and health audits of plant and systems

of work to ensure the safety and health of persons employed at a place of work;

"safety and health auditors' means persons, whether employed at a place of work or otherwise, appointed by the employer to conduct safety audits at the place of work;

"secretary" means the secretary of a safety and health committee.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT 1994 (ACT 514)

PART VII SECTION 30

(1)Every employer shall establish a safety and health committee at the place of work in accordance with this section if :

(a)there are forty or more persons employed at the place of work;

or

(b) the Director General directs the establishment of such a committee at the place of work.

Composition of Safety and HealthCommittee

Composition of Safety and HealthCommittee

A safety and health committee must consist of a chairman, a secretary, representatives of employer and representatives of employees.

Under the regulations the employer or his authorized manager shall be the chairman of the safety and health committee.

Where 100 persons or less are employed, there should be at least 2 representatives each from employer and employees.

Where more than 100 persons are employed, there should be at least 4 representatives each from employer and employee.

Those with managerial responsibilities may be included as employer representatives while those who are not in managerial position could be included as employee representatives.

Functions of Safety and Health Committee

Assisting in the development of safety and health rules and safe system of work and reviewing the effectiveness of safety and health programs.

To conduct investigation on any matters on safety or health and to bring it to the attention of the employers.

To carry out studies on the trends of accidents, near-miss accidents, dangerous occurrences, occupational poisoning and diseases which occurs at the place of work.

Functions of Safety and Health Committee

To inspect the place of workplace at least once in every three months.

To discuss the observations during the inspection of the place of work and make recommendations to the employer on the remedial measures to be taken on matters that could affect the person at the place of work.

Report to the employer of any unsafe or unhealthy condition or practices at the place of work with recommendations for remedial action.

Functions of Safety and Health Committee

To review the safety and health policies at the place of work and make recommendations to the employer for any revision of such policies.

To assist the employer in any competition in connection with safety and health, to conduct talks on safety and health and any other activity which is held to promote a safe conduct of work at the place of work.

To form a sub-committee to assist the committee in the performance of its function.

Functions of Safety and Health Committee

The committee must meet as often as may be necessary commensurate with the risks faced at the place of work and the nature of work but shall meet at least once in three months.

The committee must invite any person who is involved in or has knowledge of any accidents, near-miss accidents, dangerous occurrences, occupational poisoning and disease occurred at workplace to attend any meeting to discuss it. They may also invite any person to any of its meeting to discuss any matters pertaining to occupational safety and health.

1 Minute Safety Campaign!!

Safety Training

Training is an integral part of Occupational Safety & Health (OSH). To ensure the success of any OSH program at the workplace, adequate and effective training must be implemented for all those responsible for OSH.

Training enables managers, supervisors and workers to understand the workings of safety management systems and the legal compliance required.

They will then understand their own responsibilities and the necessary actions to be taken towards upgrading safety and health at their respective workplaces.

Information and advice for training may be obtained from:

a) Supplier of the material, substance or equipment; b) DOSH c) Accredited Training Provider d) Health Departments; professional bodies (for example the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health -NIOSH)

Safety Training

Training Check List

The following check-list shows what needs to be considered when preparing a typical training program: Will training be 'on' or 'off' the job? Who will do the training? (Will they be competent?) Who will supervise the training? (Will they be competent?) How will the trainees' competence be assessed? What will the trainee be competent in at the end of the training? What records will be kept? Who will keep the records?

1. Authorised Entrant & Stand-by Person For Confined Space

2. Authorised Entrant & Stand-by Person For Confined Space (Refresher)

3. Authorised Gas Tester & Entry Supervisor For Confined Space

4. Authorised Gas Tester & Entry Supervisor For Confined Space (Refresher)

5. Basic Occupational First Aid

6. Basic Offshore Occupational First Aid 

7. Certificate Programme for Safety & Health Officer (Full Time/Part Time/Modular)

8. Chemical Health Risk Assessor (CHRA) Programme

9. High Pressure Water Jetting Competency Programme  

10. Indoor Air Quality for Assessor 

11. Monitoring of Chemical Hazardous to Health (IHT Module 1)

12. Inspection, Testing & Examination of Engineering Control Equipment (IHT Module 2)

13. Monitoring of Noise Exposure

14. Safe Handling of Forklift Truck Competency Programme

15. Safe Handling of Forklift Truck Competency Programme (Refresher)

16. Scaffolding 3 in 1 (Frame / Tubular / Modular) - Basic 

17. Scaffolding 3 in 1 (Frame / Tubular / Modular) - Intermediate

18. Scaffolding 3 in 1 (Frame / Tubular / Modular) - Advanced 

19. Occupational Health Doctor (OHD) Programme

12. Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) Programme