YPNM Sarawak Knowledge Sharing with DOSH, Sibu

Yayasan Pengguna Negara Malaysia (YPNM), Cawangan Wilayah Sarawak had the privilege to be invited to conduct knowledge sharing on Chemical Risk Assessment (CHRA) – USECHH 2000 Regulation and Noise Risk Assessment (NRA) – Noise Exposure Regulation 2019 at Sarawak’s Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), Cawangan Sibu. This knowledge sharing was spearheaded by YPNM Sarawak’s Chairman, Mr Daren Ling Hang Hui and conducted by Competent Industry Hygienist & Toxicologist, Dr. Ling Yee Soon.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA) has been amended and the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA) is to be repealed. The amendments introduced by the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Act 2022 (Amended OSHA) and the Factories and Machinery (Repeal) Act 2022 were gazetted on 16th March, 2022 and shall be tentatively implemented in June, 2023 and/or pending an enforcement date to be decided by the Human Resources Minister.

Employers should take note that under the Amended OSHA, greater penalties would be imposed compare to the previous regulation whereby under Section 18B(1) of the Amended OSHA states that “Every employer, self-employed person or principal shall conduct a risk assessment in relation to the safety posed to any person who may affect by this undertaking at the place of work”. Those who contravene this provision shall be guilty of an offense and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ringgit Malaysia Five Hundred Thousand (RM500,000-00) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both under Section 19 of the Amended OSHA.

However, the local entrepreneur(s) and consumer(s) (regardless whether you are an employer or employee), the awareness of the OSHA is rather vague and shallow. Many of them do not know what are the compliances imposed and the rights to be protected. Thus, YPNM through our Bureau Education, is currently in collaboration with the Department of Occupational health and safety (DOSH) Sarawak to penetrate the local SMEs (including car workshops, plantations, mills, manufacturing factories, food and beverages factories and quarries industries) and highlight the importance of OSHA in reducing the occurrence of preventable, irreversible occupational-related injuries or death while reducing Lost –Time-Injury (LTI). Employers should be aware and make plans to accommodate these incoming changes to the Malaysian workplace. YPNM has the expertise and WE are ready to help.

Forth from left : Dr. Ling Yee Soon 林以宋博士 (Vice Chairman YPNM Kuching), Mr. Tsai Chang Yee ( Head of DOSH Sibu), Mr. Daren Ling Hang Hui 林杭辉律师 (Chairman, YPNM Sarawak)