Chemical usage at workplace

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), as the lead agency in this field within the United Nations (UN), promotes a global occupational safety and health (OSH) campaign intended, among others, to focus on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities.

It also deals with ­measures, at national and workplace levels, to prevent and mitigate the hazardous consequences of chemical usage at work.

Chemicals are widely used throughout the world, including Malaysia, and although these substances bring benefits to our daily lives, a large number of chemicals pose a variety of potential adverse effects.

The vast and almost unavoidable use of chemicals ranges from pesticides and herbicides in agriculture, to vector-control agents, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, industrial applications and products and processes aimed at making life and work more “comfortable”.

A few of the many chemical substances used at work and known to be hazardous to safety and health are: asbestos, benzene and its ­derivatives, formaldehyde, silica and lead. Others include arsenic and a wide range of solvents, resins, glues and fluxes.

In reality, however, the list is endless and most working people will be exposed to hazardous substances at some time in their life, whether they know it or not.

Exposure to these hazardous substances can affect the body in many ways – through skin contact, inhalation and ingestion and in many instances cause long-term damage to health.

Scientific evidence continues to link chemical exposure to an increasing number of health ­problems, including asthma, certain types of cancer, infertility, mental impairment and neurological diseases, besides causing physical injury, disability and death.

Furthermore, physical hazards like flammability and environmental hazards such as widespread contamination and toxicity in the air, on the ground and in water sources and, in a number of instances, ensuing massive disasters result from inadequate control of chemical usage.

According to the Social Security Organisation (Socso), in Malaysia dozens of cases of occupational diseases and injuries are reported each year due to exposure to chemicals.

Compensation paid out to affected workers amounts to several hundred thousand ringgit annually.

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), under the Human Resources Ministry, actively:

> Promotes the proper management of and issues guidelines on the usage of chemicals at work;

> Makes information and training widely available to users;

> Provides special advice and support on safety and health issues to small and mediun enterprises – one of the biggest generators of jobs and income in the country;and

> Enforces related legislation.

In 2012, Malaysia ratified ILO’s landmark, comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), committing the Government to ensure a solid legal basis for the promotion and implementation of an effective OSH policy.

Additionally, each year, special significance is given to events such as observing World Day for Safety and Health at Work and convening the Occupational Safety and Health Week in July.

With the continuing and concerted efforts by the Government, in partnership with other stakeholders – workers and employers and their organisations, relevant institutions and OSH practi­tioners – we can achieve the sound management of chemicals for an appropriate balance between the benefits of chemi­cal use and the preventive and control measures of potential adverse impacts on workers, workplaces, communities and the environment.

RUEBEN DUDLEY

Former UN/ILO Regional Deputy Director for Asia & the Pacific