10.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. Congress established the agency under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which President Richard M. Nixon signed into law on December 29, 1970. Under the OSH Act, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace. OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. Employers must comply with all applicable OSHA standards. The main goal is to adopt a safe and healthy working environment and avoiding workers from injuries and illnesses.

            In Prangin Mall, there are few elements that are required additional caution to ensure the health and safety of users. The rules and regulations that must be taken into consideration are improvised from regulations under Prangin Mall itself while facilities of the shopping mall were according to Uniform Building by Laws (UBBL) 1984 and fire services act 1988 under Law of Malaysia in Act 341. 

Under Uniform Building by Law Act (UBBL) 1984

There are several fire safety systems installed in Prangin Mall have been stated down which compliance with UBBL 1984. Those components include the following: -

        i.            Emergency Exit SIGN

According to Uniform Building By Laws (UBBL), under part VIII section 172 to 173, there are 2 components which falls under this section which are emergency exit signs and exit door respectively. There are total of 72 “KELUAR” signs in Prangin Mall, hence the number of the “KELUAR” sign is sufficient for occupants in the shopping mall. The following clause explained that law for emergency exit signs:

·         172 clauses (1) stated that storey exits and access to such exits shall be marked by readily visible signs and shall not be obscured by any decorations, furnishings or other equipment.

·         Clause (2) stated that a sign reading “KELUAR” with an arrow indicating the direction shall be placed in every location where the direction of travel to reach nearest exit is not immediately apparent.

·         Clause (3) stated that every exit sign shall have the word “KELUAR” in plainly legible letters not less than 150 millimetres high with the principal strokes of the letters not less than 18 millimetres wide. The lettering shall be in red against a black background.

·         Clause (4) stated that all exit signs shall be illuminated continuously during periods of occupations.

·         Clause (5) stated that illuminated signs shall be provided with two electric lamps of not less than fifteen watts each.

Figure: Emergency exit sign installed above the exit doors

       ii.            Fire Extinguisher

The fire extinguishers placed along the corridor are in usable condition. During the condition survey at site, inspection has been done on fire extinguishers. As a result, all of the fire extinguisher is in good condition and does not exceed the expiration date.

·         Under section 227 of Uniform Building by Law (UBBL), portable extinguisher shall be provided in accordance with the relevant codes of practice and shall be sited in prominent positions on exit routes to be visible from all directions and similar extinguisher in a building shall be same method of operation.

Figure: Fire extinguisher installed and maintenance record in the prangin mall

     iii.            Hose reel system

There is hose reel system installed in the prangin mall to gain access to the water main when there is any event of fire. All of the hose reel system are following the standard BOMBA regulations where the hose reel is 30 meters long with disk meter of 575mm.

Figure: Fire hose reel system installed in Prangin Mall

8.2 Under Law of Malaysia, Fire Service Act 1988

In the event of fire happen, according to the fire service act 1988 under Law of Malaysia in Act 341 part IV, BOMBA Malaysia has the responsibilities to ensure several components under the law is carry out correctly and effectively to prevent any misfortune happen on the site. Storage of water premises for fire-fighting purposes is one of the main concern.

Storage of water in premises for fire-fighting purposes

Sufficient supply of water is important and serve several purposes under clause 22.

1.      The Director General May, for the purpose of ensuring that there is adequate storage of water at suitable location on the premises such directions to any person in control, or the owner, of such premises, to provide facilities and water supply for firefighting purposes:

Provided that this subsection shall not apply to water authority.

2.      Any direction issued under subsection (1) shall be made in writing and shall be binding on the person to whom the direction is given.

3.      Any person who fails to comply with any direction given under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.

Under Guidelines on Occupational safety and Health in the Service Sector

While in the event of contractor carry out maintenance work around and within the existing building, all of the responsible assigned to involve in the work must comply to the Guidelines on Occupational safety and Health in the Service Sector (Occupational safety and health institutional capacity building). Under section of manual handling in guidelines stated above, prevention or control of risk and assessment are crucial factor for contractors to carry out various services appointed by Prangin Mall.

A. Prevention or Control Of Risk

In workplaces where manual handling is impracticable sometimes, it should be minimized as far as is reasonably possible. Employers referring to the contractor’s company should consider all systems of work in the workplace involving manual handling operations and, where appropriate, redesign tasks to:

a)      Avoid the need to move loads manually.

b)      Fully utilize mechanical handling devices, for example lift trucks, trolleys, conveyors, chutes. Where necessary additional mechanical handling devices should be introduced to avoid or reduce manual handling operations.

For instance, if there are contractors executing roofing maintenance work on top of the roof, it should be ensured the safety of contractors and occupants by carefully handling all operation procedures.

B. Assessment

Where hazardous manual handling operations cannot be avoided, the employer should make an assessment of all such operations likely to be carried out in the workplace. The assessment should identify where improvements or other measures are necessary to reduce the risk of injury from manual handling operations. The following factors should be considered when making such an assessment.

        i.            THE TASK: Any tasks that involve foreseeable risks such as unsatisfactory bodily movements or posture, excessive lifting or lowering distances, excessive pushing or pulling distances. i. Plan the lift ii. Determine the best lifting technique iii. Get a secure grip iv. Pull the load in close to your body v. Avoid twisting vi. Avoid sideways of the back bending of the back

       ii.            THE LOAD: Considering loads for manual handling. For example, too heavy, bulky, slippery, wet, sharp, unknown offset centers of gravity, unstable or contents likely to shift.

     iii.            THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Areas of the workplace for manual handling operations. For example, constricted work areas, narrow aisles, areas of extreme temperature (hot or cold), over-steep slopes or changes in floor level.

     iv.            INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S CAPABILITY: Abilities of employees for manual handling operations. For example, pregnant workers, people with known medical conditions

Where assessment identifies manual handling operations that involve risk of injury appropriate measures should be taken to reduce those risks as far as is reasonably practicable, for example by redesign of the task or system of work, alteration of shelving heights or layout of the workplaces or introduction of mechanical handling devices to assist in the operation. Therefore, appropriate assessment must take into consideration to prevent undesirable injuries and also prevent excessive loss in term of financial.