Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA) Section (Act 514) the highest number of Occupational Injuries 2021 in Malaysia was recorded in Manufacturing Sector at (7,994 cases) followed by Services (4,299 cases) Construction (2,297 cases) and Wholesale and Retail Trade (1,979 cases ) According to Department of Statistics Malaysia ,30th June 2022).
According to Exhibit 3 of Number of Occupational Injuries by type of Accident & Causes of Accident 2021, 60.8 per cent of Occupational injuries are caused by three (3) types of accident, namely Steeping on, Striking Against or Struck by Object ,including Falling Object ( 5,330 injuries, 109 death) , Fall of Persons (4,094 injuries, 95 death ) and other types of Unclassified Accident ( 3661 injuries, 0 death ) No matter where each Safety and Health Professionals working either in manufacturing sector or Construction sector, chance are good that he or she will spot one or more of 5 common safety hazard. Here, Sikar Professional consultants identify for safety and health the workplace trouble spots they see over and over again.
Working at height
It shouldn’t be a surprise that every Safety and Health Professionals frequently spot hazard associated with working at height. Hazard associated with working at height can originate from lack of understanding. Employers may not know that they have to provide fall protection, or the fall protection gear may not properly worm or not properly hooked up to any safe anchorage points. Some employers don’t even have a written fall protection procedure or process.
Employers need to identify all locations where fall protection is necessary – as well as where engineered anchor point are – and train employees and regular audit fall protection program. The fall hazard was not about doing work and falling off the roof or structure or scaffolding -it was the equipment on top of that roof or structure or scaffolding . These are hidden places that safety and health professional don’t go to very often. This is as an example of the need for safety and health professionals to have a seat at the table when decisions on design or purchase are made .Their input , can save employers time and money.
More advice: buy the correct size gear for workers, and keep in mind that although some work environments may have safe anchors points readily available, other locations may need a professional engineer to design and install them. Remind employees to hook to the safe anchor point when working at height and keep a close eye on how well personal protective equipment is holding up.
Environment with shard edges, chemical or welding. for example, can weaken a harness. Regular inspect gear and remove damaged PPE from services. In some situation, it may be beneficial to build a platform with standard railing and fall protection in front of opening edges/holes. Although such as platform cost more money. It may be less costly creating a fall protection safety plan, buying a PPE, and training and re-training employees.
In coming weeks, we will release more in-depth articles on the remaining workplace hazard. Subscribe and follow us to keep receiving update from us.
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