PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has called on all occupational safety and health (OSH) practitioners in the country to discuss the latest amendments to the OSH Act (OSHA) as it strengthens “self-regulation”.
At a conference attended by about 200 OSH experts on Wednesday, MEF president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husnam said the amendments seek to enhance existing OSH legislation in Malaysia.
He said OSH legislation has come a long way since its inception in 1967, with the introduction of the Factories and Machinery Act. Enforcement was administered by the government through inspectors who check safety elements at workplaces.
The government introduced the Act in 1994 and it covered the philosophy of self-regulation, among others.
“This meant that those who worked with risks and those who created the risks were jointly responsible for ensuring workplace health and safety, causing the term ‘self-regulation’ to become the backbone of health and safety management.”
He said almost 30 years after its original enactment, the OSH (Amendment) Act 2022 will strengthen the self-regulation component and come into force on June 1, along 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 said the OSH (Amendment) Act brings about substantial changes to OSHA by expanding its scope and applicability to all workplaces, including public service agencies and statutory authorities, with few exceptions.
“The new law will be fully guided by the philosophy of self-regulation, so all OSH practitioners must be fully appraised of its contents.”
He said enforcing the new Act will be a Herculean task for the government and industry, adding many uncertainties to an already challenging business environment.
The conference explored how OSH self-regulation aligns with the new Act through discussions with Department of Occupational Safety and Health members, Socso representatives, International Labour Organisation (ILO) specialists, union leaders and safety professionals.
Syed Hussain said MEF is dedicated to promoting the rights and interests of employers, as the apex employer organisation in Malaysia taking part in a national response to global requirements outlined in the 1998 ILO Declaration.
“We believe OSH is a critical element that needs to be taken into consideration by employers to ensure business sustainability.
“The lack of attention to OSH may damage overall business performance. OSH is not just a legal requirement but a responsibility shared between employers and employees.”
Topics discussed at the conference included implementation of the OSH (Amendment) Act that specifically affects employers and employees, new self-regulation enforcement approaches, emerging OSH issues related to implementing the Socso Act and challenges faced by OSH practitioners in the workplace.
The conference also discussed why Malaysia should ratify the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 1981.
It ended with a panel discussion on the OSH (Amendment) Act and its implications for industrial enterprises.
