PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has known as on all occupational safety and well being (OSH) practitioners within the nation to talk about the newest amendments to the OSH Act (OSHA) because it strengthens “self-regulation”.
At a convention attended by about 200 OSH consultants on Wednesday, MEF president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husnam mentioned the amendments search to improve present OSH laws in Malaysia.
He mentioned OSH laws has come a good distance since its inception in 1967, with the introduction of the Factories and Machinery Act. Enforcement was administered by the federal government via inspectors who verify safety parts at workplaces.
The authorities launched the Act in 1994 and it coated the philosophy of self-regulation, amongst others.
“This meant that those that labored with dangers and those that created the dangers had been collectively chargeable for making certain office well being and safety, inflicting the time period ‘self-regulation’ to change into the spine of well being and safety administration.”
He mentioned nearly 30 years after its unique enactment, the OSH (Amendment) Act 2022 will strengthen the self-regulation part and are available into pressure on June 1, together with two new subsidiary legislations.
“The (new legislations) are the Occupational Safety and Health (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024 and the Occupational Safety and Health (Licensed Person) Order 2024.”
Syed Hussain mentioned the OSH (Amendment) Act brings about substantial adjustments to OSHA by increasing its scope and applicability to all workplaces, together with public service companies and statutory authorities, with few exceptions.
“The new regulation will probably be totally guided by the philosophy of self-regulation, so all OSH practitioners have to be totally appraised of its contents.”
He mentioned imposing the brand new Act will probably be a Herculean process for the federal government and trade, including many uncertainties to an already difficult enterprise atmosphere.
The convention explored how OSH self-regulation aligns with the brand new Act via discussions with Department of Occupational Safety and Health members, Socso representatives, International Labour Organisation (ILO) specialists, union leaders and safety professionals.
Syed Hussain mentioned MEF is devoted to selling the rights and pursuits of employers, because the apex employer organisation in Malaysia participating in a nationwide response to international necessities outlined within the 1998 ILO Declaration.
“We imagine OSH is a crucial component that wants to be considered by employers to guarantee enterprise sustainability.
“The lack of consideration to OSH might injury general enterprise efficiency. OSH is not only a authorized requirement however a duty shared between employers and workers.”
Topics mentioned on the convention included implementation of the OSH (Amendment) Act that particularly impacts employers and workers, new self-regulation enforcement approaches, rising OSH points associated to implementing the Socso Act and challenges confronted by OSH practitioners within the office.
The convention additionally mentioned why Malaysia ought to ratify the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981.
It ended with a panel dialogue on the OSH (Amendment) Act and its implications for industrial enterprises.
