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Occupational health and safety jobs in Malaysia

by StudyMalaysia on June 6, 2018 | Top Stories, Career Guide

Occupational health and safety jobs in Malaysia - StudyMalaysia.com

Occupational health and safety involves the assessment and minimisation of risks that may impact the health, safety or welfare of employees at a workplace. People who work in the field of occupational health and safety are responsible for ensuring that employers and workers comply with safety legislation and that safety policies and practices are adopted and adhered to.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 or Act 514 provides the legislative framework for the safety, health and welfare among all Malaysian workforces. The principle is to prevent and protect the workers against hazards and its risks in connection with their activities at work.

Did you know that the first job relating to occupational safety in Malaysia was established in 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 1890s, the Perak state government created a system of inspection by individual surveyors. Individuals with steam boiler related qualifications were given license to survey boilers. In 1892, there were 83 steam boilers in the state of Perak – all were used at tin mines except for 6 units, which were used at sugar factories.

Today, the department responsible for occupational health and safety in Malaysia is the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), 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 in these sectors:

  • 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

An employer who is classified under the Safety and Health Act 1994 must employ a competent person to act as a safety and health officer. A competent person is an officer who is trained and certified by DOSH to identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees – it is the responsibility of this safety and health officer to ensure that the Safety and Health Act 1994 is complied with; the officer is also instrumental in promoting a safe and healthy working environment.

Here’s more information about the jobs of competent persons listed under DOSH.

Name: Assessor

Responsibility:

Carry out chemical health risk assessment

Qualifications:

Option 1:

  1. Certified Industrial Hygienist
  2. Has passed CHRA (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

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

Option 3:

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

Option 4:

  1. Degree of Science (Environmental & Occupational Health) from UPM – beginning January 2006
  2. Has passed CHRA examination conducted by NIOSH
  3. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Option 5:

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

Procedures

  1. Applicant will be registered as Assessor if he/she meets the above requirement.
  2. Registration period is 3 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Authorised Gas Tester / Entry Supervisor

Responsibility:

Carry out atmosphere test for confined space

Qualifications:

  1. Minimum SPM or equivalent qualifications and credit / at least grade C in Science subject
  2. Has attended the course for AE-SP and AGT-ES
  3. Has passed AE-SP and AGT-ES examination
  4. Has a minimum of 3 years working experience in confined space

Procedures

  1. Applicant will be registered as AGT or ES if he/she meets the above requirement.
  2. Registration period is 2 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Hygiene Technician 1

Responsibility:

Carry out chemical exposure monitoring

Qualifications:

Option 1:

  1. Certified Industrial Hygienist
  2. Has passed Hygiene Technician 1 (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

  1. Minimum Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational / Industrial Hygiene
  2. Has passed Hygiene Technician 1 examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 3:

  1. Diploma in Engineering, or Natural & Applied Science
  2. Has attended the course for Hygiene Technician 1
  3. Has passed Hygiene Technician 1 examination conducted by NIOSH
  4. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Option 4:

  1. STPM (Principal in any Science subject) /Polytechnic Engineering certificate
  2. Has attended the course for Hygiene Technician 1
  3. Has passed Hygiene Technician 1 examination conducted by NIOSH
  4. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Procedures

  1. Applicant may be asked to attend an interview if he/she meets the above requirement (for applicant that has passed the examination before 1 July 2010). Applicant will be registered as HT 1 after he/she passes the interview.
  2. For applicant that has passed the examination after 1 July 2010, applicant will be registered as HT1 Competent Person if he/she meets the above requirement.
  3. Registration period is 3 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Hygiene Technician 2

Responsibility:

Carry out inspection, examination or test on engineering control equipment

Qualifications:

Option 1:

  1. Certified Industrial Hygienist
  2. Has passed Hygiene Technician 2 (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

  1. Minimum Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational / Industrial Hygiene
  2. Has passed Hygiene Technician 2 examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 3:

  1. Diploma in Engineering, or Natural & Applied Science
  2. Has attended the course for Hygiene Technician 2
  3. Has passed Hygiene Technician 2 examination conducted by NIOSH
  4. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Safety & Health

Procedures

  1. Applicant may be asked to attend an interview if he/she meets the above requirement (for applicant that has passed the examination before 1 July 2010). Applicant will be registered as HT 1 after he/she passes the interview.
  2. For applicant that has passed the examination after 1 July 2010, applicant will be registered as HT1 Competent Person if he/she meets the above requirement.
  3. Registration period is 3 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Indoor Air Quality Assessor

Responsibility:

Carry out assessments of indoor air quality

Qualifications:

Option 1:

  1. A registered Assessor
  2. Has attended the course for IAQ Assessment
  3. Has passed IAQ examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

  1. A registered HT1
  2. Has attended the course for IAQ Assessment
  3. Has passed IAQ examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 3:

  1. Minimum Diploma in Pure / Applied Science
  2. Has attended the course for IAQ Assessment
  3. Has passed IAQ examination conducted by NIOSH
  4. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Occupational Hygiene

Option 4:

  1. Has equivalent IAQ competency as recognised by the relevant authority.

Procedures

  1. Applicant will be registered as IAQ Assessor if he/she meets the above requirement.
  2. Registration period is 3 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Lift Competent Person

Responsibility:

Carry out duties as a Lift's Competent Person in pursuance to the provisions of regulation 6, regulation 30 and regulation 31, of the Factories and Machinery (Passenger and Goods Lifts) Regulations, 1970.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Major Hazard Competent Person

Responsibility:

To provide consultations to the manufacturer in major hazard control especially in the following areas:

  • In the preparation of a written Report (new report) containing the information specified under the Schedule 6 of the Regulations for submission to the Director General.
  • In the preparation of a further report (modification report) to take account of those changes make in any modification works for submission to the Director General.
  • In the preparation of a further report (updating report) which shall have regard in particular to new technical knowledge which materially affects the particulars in the previous report relating to safety and development in the knowledge of hazard assessment for submission to the Director General.
  • In the preparation and keeping up to date an adequate on site emergency plan for submission to the Director General.

Qualifications:

  1. Malaysian citizen; or if a foreign resident, shall hold a valid Malaysian working permit.
  2. Not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age.
  3. Hold a degree or equivalent in one of the following disciplines: engineering, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, ergonomics or applied science from a recognized University.
  4. Not less than three (3) years' practical experience relevant to the work to be performed by a Competent Person under the Regulations.
  5. Has good knowledge and experience in the following areas:
    • Malaysian legislation on Major Hazards in particular OSH Act, 1994 and the relevant Regulations make there under.
    • Safety Management System for loss prevention.
    • Emergency response plan and procedure.
  6. Has adequate knowledge and understanding in the Quantitative Risk Assessment.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Noise Competent Person

Responsibility:

Carry out noise exposure monitoring

Qualifications:

Option 1:

  1. Certified Industrial Hygienist
  2. Has passed Noise Competent Person (Part II) examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 2:

  1. Minimum Diploma in Occupational / Industrial Hygiene
  2. Has passed Noise Competent Person examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 3:

  1. Minimum Diploma in Acoustic Engineering
  2. Has passed Noise Competent Person examination conducted by NIOSH

Option 4:

  1. Minimum SPM / MCE
  2. Has attended the course for Monitoring of Noise Exposure
  3. Has passed Noise Competent Person examination conducted by NIOSH
  4. Has a minimum of 1 year working experience in Monitoring of Noise Exposure

Procedures

  1. Applicant will be registered as Noise Exposure Competent Person if he/she meets the above requirement.
  2. Registration period is 3 years.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Responsible Person

Responsibility:

The purpose of these guidelines is to lay down the procedure, stipulate the qualifications and other conditions for the registration of persons who intend to carry out duties as a hoisting machine erection, maintenance and dismantling competent person in pursuance to the provisions of Section 29A, of the Factories and Machinery Act (Act 139), 1967.

In pursuance to the provisions of section 29A, of the Factories and Machinery Act (Act 139), no person shall manufacture, fabricate, test, install, maintain, dismantle or repair any machinery which is prescribed unless he has a written authority issued by the Chief Inspector.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Occupational Health Doctor

Responsibility:

Among the main activities of the Occupational Health Division are the registration of Occupational Health Doctors and the renewal of registrations upon expiry. This is in conformance with the Regulation on the Use and Standards of Exposure to Chemicals Hazardous to Health 2000 (USECHH) which stipulates that health surveillance has to be conducted by Occupational Health Doctors registered with the department and having valid certificates. In compliance with this regulation, medical surveillances are conducted by the Occupational Health Doctors to protect workers exposed to, or likely to be exposed to, chemicals hazardous to health.

Apart from medical surveillance, Occupational Health Doctors are also responsible for carrying out health surveillance for employees who work in confined spaces to ensure the health of workers involved is in the optimum condition both physically and mentally. Health surveillance for employees working in confined spaces are as outlined in the Industry Code of Practice For Safe Working In A Confined Space 2010.

Qualifications:

  1. A Malaysian citizen; or if a foreign resident, must hold a valid Malaysian working permit;
  2. Must not be less than twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of submitting application;
  3. Is a healthy person;
  4. Has not been found guilty for any act or omission which amounts to professional negligence as a medical practitioner;
  5. Has not been convicted of an offence under the Act or regulations made there under; and
  6. Has not been convicted of an offence under any law and sentenced to more than one year imprisonment or a fine more than two thousand Malaysian Ringgit.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Safety and Health Officer

Responsibility:

Under section 29 (3) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994, the safety and health officer shall be employed exclusively for the purpose to ensure due observance at the place of work. While under section29 (4) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1994, the safety and health officer shall possess such qualifications or have received training prescribed by the Minister from time to time by notification in the Gazette.

Safety and Health Officer duties are outlined under Regulation18 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations 1997. Under Regulation 4 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations 1997, no person shall act as a safety and health officer unless he is registered with the Director General. The Director General in this context is referring to the Director General of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Site Safety Supervisor

Responsibility:

Under Regulation 25 (1), of the Factories and Machinery (Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction) (Safety) Regulations 1986 [BOWEC], the main contractor shall appoint a site safety supervisor for the safety supervision on construction activities within the site. Among the duties of a site safety supervisor are:

  • Inspect and rectifying any unsafe conditions at the construction site;
  • Correcting any unsafe practices;
  • Checking of sub-contractors’ work to ensure compliance with the Act and the Regulations made thereunder are complied with, and
  • Liaise with contractor’s safety supervisors appointed under Regulation 26 with respect to safety of work undertaken by sub-contractors.

Qualifications:

  1. Malaysian citizen who have at least a diploma in engineering or architect or construction-related fields, and attended site safety supervisor courses at training centre registered with DOSH, and have passed site safety supervisor examination managed by NIOSH or institution recognized by DOSH; or
  2. Malaysian citizen who have at least two years’ experience as a construction site supervisor or construction sites foreman, and attended site safety supervisor courses at training centre registered with DOSH, and have passed site safety supervisor examination managed by NIOSH or institution recognized by DOSH; or
  3. Malaysian citizen who have had at least ten years of experience as a construction site supervisor or construction sites foreman; and have passed site safety supervisor examination managed by NIOSH or institution recognized by DOSH;

For the record, the Department has set some additional qualifications for registration of SSS. The additional registration qualifications are:

  1. Malaysian citizen who have passed safety and health officer (SHO) examination at NIOSH, but not yet registered as an SHO due to less than three (3) years of experience, with additional requirements which are:
    • experience of at least twelve (12) months in the field of construction; or
    • attended the module 6 (construction safety) from SSS course; or
    • attended site supervisor course conducted by CIDB.
  2. Malaysian citizens who have at least a diploma in occupational health and safety or the equivalent thereof from any professional body or institution approved by the Department, with the additional requirement that -
    • experience of at least six (6) months in the field of construction; or
    • attended the module 6 (construction safety) from SSS course.

However, the additional registration is only temporary for a period to be determined, and it may be withdrawn in accordance with provisions to be determined by the Director General.

The Department also stipulates that a person cannot hold a certificate of registration as SHO and SSS at the same time. However, the Department does not have any objection to other competency at the same time.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Name: Steam/Internal Combustion Engine Engineer

Responsibility:

With reference to Section 29; Factory and Machinery Act 1967; Certain machinery are not to be operated without certificated staff.

  • Every occupier shall ensure that machinery which is prescribed to be under the charge of a certificated engineer, dredgemaster or driver, as the case may be.
  • No person shall take charge of any machinery which is prescribed to be under the charge of a certificated engineer, dredgemaster or driver, as the case maybe, unless -
    • he holds a certificate of competency as an engineer, dredgemaster or driver; or
    • he has a written authority issued by the chief inspector.
  • Every person holding a certificate of competency issued under this act shall produce a permit inspection of the same whenever called upon to do so by an inspector.

Please refer to DOSH website for additional information.

Copyright © StudyMalaysia Sdn Bhd (869848-W) & StudyMalaysia.com (April, 2018)

Source: Department of Occupational Safety and Health

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