Here's how you can become an occupational safety and health assessor

by StudyMalaysia.com on April 17, 2019 | Top Stories

Here's how you can become an occupational safety and health assessor - StudyMalaysia.com

Are you passionate about ensuring people's welfare and wellbeing at work? Do you have an investigative mind and good attention to detail? Are you interested in the law and the importance of implementing and maintaining regulations? Read on if this piques your interest – a career as an occupational safety and health assessor could be what you’re looking for!

The field of occupational health and safety covers many different industries such as construction, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, healthcare, service sectors, and more. In this field, specialists inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on safety, health, and the environment. They also design programmes to prevent disease or injury to workers and damage to the environment.

One of the careers in this field is that of an assessor. As an assessor, you'll be responsible for inspecting and evaluating workplace environments, equipment, and practices for compliance with corporate and government health and safety standards and regulations. You will help a company or organisation to identify risks and provide recommendations on how to appropriately eliminate, control, and reduce those risks.

What does an assessor do?

According to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia, the duties of an assessor are to:

Carry out assessments of health risks arising from the use of chemicals hazardous to health at the workplace
Furnish a report of the assessment to the employer
Inform the employer without delay of any immediate danger discovered during the assessment process
Make recommendations on the necessity to:
- make changes to control the risks
- control any accidental emission of a chemical hazardous to health
- carry out a health surveillance programme
- conduct exposure monitoring
- institute a training programme for employees
Present findings and recommendations to the employer when the report is completed
Submit a summary of the assessment to a DOSH office

So how does one register to become an assessor?

According to DOSH, there are several routes that enable one to register as an assessor.

Option 1:

Certified Industrial Hygienist
Has passed Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

Degree / Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health, Occupational Safety, Occupational Health or Industrial / Occupational Hygiene
Has attended the course for CHRA
Has passed CHRA (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH
Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

According to DOSH, a competent person is a person approved by the Director General by qualification and experience to carry out specified duties and responsibilities.

Other types of competent persons listed under DOSH are:

Option 3:

Degree in Medicine, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Ergonomics or Natural & Applied Science
Has attended the course for CHRA
Has passed CHRA examination conducted by NIOSH
Has a minimum of 3 years working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Option 4:

Degree of Science (Environmental & Occupational Health) from UPM
Has passed CHRA examination conducted by NIOSH
Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Option 5:

Diploma in Medicine, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Ergonomics, Natural & Applied Science or nursing
Has attended the course for CHRA
Has passed CHRA examination conducted by NIOSH
Has a minimum of 3 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Find out the full details from DOSH.

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