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@#Workplaces in tropical countries are associated with increasing temperature and humidity, thus, the workers are susceptible to heat hazards. The inability for self-cooling properly toward exposure to head hazards can lead to severe dehydration and even death. To date, there are several indices and models to assess heat stress, such as WBGT, ISO 7933, discomfort index, HIS, PhSI, etc. However, their accuracy and suitability for tropical regions are still under investigation since they are mostly developed for subtropical regions. This review assessed the indices to estimate heat exposure in tropical regions based on the various online database. Among those indices, WBGT is the most suitable despite its inability to estimate human thermal response in tropical regions with several adjustments. Based on this review, it showed that there is a need for improvement of current indexes to be used in tropical regions since they are more suitable for the subtropical countries.
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@#Laboratory workers exposed to diverse occupational exposures to accidents. Evidently, extant, yet very limited empirical underpinnings suggest that knowledge, practices and awareness of safety precautions are uncharacteristically poor among laboratory workers. As such, their demonstration of safety-related attitudes and practices have remained questionable. This paper, thus presents a systematic search of the literature on laboratory workers’ safety-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Specifically, literature published between 2007 and 2017 that characteristically attempted to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices among laboratory workers on Occupational Safety and Health were reviewed. Evidently, results from the review indicate poor knowledge, attitude and practice among the laboratory workers. It is critical that strategies be put in place by the management of the health facilities to institute and undertake activities in the form of training, improved safety management practices, organizational commitment and improved safety culture.
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@#Introduction: Safety helmets are one of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that to decrease the impact of any falling object to the skull and to avoid head and brain injury by many industries, including palm oil plantation. Nevertheless, the level on the usage of the current safety helmet is very low due to a few factors that lead to the discomfort. Among the common issues for the non-compliance of safety helmets are their discomfort, ventilation, weight and safety. This study aims to determine subjective preference of the new prototypes’ safety helmets device among palm oil plantation harvesters. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 124 harvesters in three palm oil plantations located in Sabah, Malaysia. A set of questionnaires used to collect data on their socio-demographic background, perceptions toward existing safety helmets and their subjective preference of new safety helmets prototypes. Apart from that, six harvesters were randomly choosing to attend an interview session for qualitative study. Results: The descriptive analysis indicate that among the emphasized issues regarding non-compliance of existing safety helmet were due to discomfort (66.1%), poor ventilation (97.6%), load of safety helmet (83.3%) and safety issues (68.5%). In terms of new safety helmets prototypes, 72.6% of the harvesters preferred Design C to be worn for work in the plantation. Conclusion: It can be suggested that the existing safety helmet is uncomfortable and was not design ergonomically namely loose size and discomfort. Design C was the most preferred to be worn for work in the palm oil plantation.
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@#Introduction: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among office workers found to be high worldwide, leading to considerable economic impacts and health issues. The relationship between MSDs and productivity loss is widely recognized. This study investigates the possible relationships between the self-reported musculoskeletal disorders and productivity in term of absenteeism/presenteeism and self-evaluated productivity levels during presenteeism time among office workers. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried among office workers (n=398) in three public sector organizations in Putrajaya. Socio-demographic and productivity data were determined using self-administered general questionnaire whereas prevalence of MSDs evaluated using Cornell Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (CMDQ). Results: This study found that prevalence of MSDs symptoms among office workers in any body parts is high (83.7%), low-back pain reported the highest (58.5%) whereas thighs pain reported less prevalent MSDs symptoms (25.4%) among participants. Also, the results showed a significant association between prevalence of MSDs and productivity loss in regard with presenteeism (p<0.01). In addition, self-evaluated productivity levels of office workers during presenteeism time also found to be significantly associated with MSDs (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that majority of office workers reported MSDs symptoms. Presenteeism was significantly affecting productivity in term of quality and or quantity of work that workers could do. One more concluded point of this study is the need for applying changes that could help in minimizing presenteeism due to MSDs so as to decrease workers productivity loss.
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Abstract@#Introduction: Not only does flood affects the household community, but it also has an impact on business entities, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in flood-prone areas. In order to assist SMEs to prepare for a flood disaster effectively, the set-up of a disaster preparedness plan is essential. The purpose of this study is to develop a validated instrument for identifying the different levels of disaster preparedness among SMEs in their readiness to face a flood disaster. Methods: In this preliminary study, 26 items of flood disaster preparedness activities (FDPA) reviewed from works of literature were adopted and adapted to be randomly administered to 30 respondents (SME business owners) located in the Temerloh province, Malaysia, which is identified as a flood-prone area. A Rasch analysis technique was used to identify the psychometric properties of the instrument. Results: Using the Rasch measurement analysis technique, the instrument used was able to categorise the SMEs into two level of preparedness: low and moderate. About 25 items were found to possess good psychometric features in determining the flood preparedness level of SMEs despite the lack of items on measuring high-level preparedness activities. Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study have served to highlight the strength of the instrument and gaps identified for further improvement in the near future.
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@#Background: Quality of Work Life (QWL) is a subset of the quality of life which expresses the interactions between workers and their total working environment with individual or human dimension. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of QWL among Malaysian workers. Methods: 2740 respondents (1921 males and 819 females) were randomly selected from 11 different industries from all states of Malaysia. Respondents were aged between 18 to more than 55 years and were a local OSH Personnel and local general workers. Face to face interviews were conducted in all the selected industries using a structured questionnaire form adapted from Malaysian OSH Profile 2016. Respondents have completed the questionnaire under instructions and supervision of the research team. Results: Majority of the respondents were male (70.1%) and from manufacturing industries (76.3%). 50% of the respondents identified a high level of QWL in each component like not having a stress with the work load (85.5%), good work environment (78.4%), family life (83.1% and 83.6%), enough income and distribution (58.9%), good communication and harmonies relationship between colleagues and boss (93.4% and 88.7%), good facilities (88.6%), welfare at work (71.3%) and productive working condition (80.8%). There is a significant difference between QWL and type of industries [F(10)=12.897, p=0.001] where agriculture industry had the highest QWL. There is significant difference between QWL and gender (p=0.009) where male reported higher QWL compared to female. Conclusion: These findings could be used by the organizations in order to enhance its performance, productivity, employees’ commitment and satisfaction.
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@#Background: Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 was intended to increase awareness, knowledge and commitment to Occupational Safety and Health in all undertaking to reduce the number of injuries, diseases and fatalities. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Occupational Safety Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 (OSH-MP 15) in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace culture. Methods: This cross sectional study covered all the states in Malaysia, constituting of 309 employers, 350 Occupational Safety Health practitioners and 360 employees as respondents. There were three questionnaires for three different groups which were employers, Occupational Safety Health practitioners and general employees. The respondents were selected through random sampling. Results: For strategy 1, there was a significant difference in mean of effectiveness of OSH-MP15 between sectors for general workers [F (11, 348) =12.06, p=<0.001], OSH practitioners [F (11, 338) =1.19, p=0.033] and employers [F (11, 297) =5.62, p=<0.001]. For strategy 2, a significant difference in mean of effectiveness of OSH-MP15 between sectors was found for general workers [F (11, 348) =4.52, p=<0.001], OSH practitioners [F (11, 338) =2.28, p=0.011], employers [F (11, 297) =5.74, p=<0.001]. Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the effectiveness of fostering, and enhancing government leadership and inculcating preventive workplace culture among respondents. This study acts as the baseline data for the effectiveness of Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2015 in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace culture.Keywords: Occupational Safety; health; leadership; prevention; accidents
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Safety helmet become vital personal protective equipment especially in the plantation in preventing the head from injury. This study evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice on safety helmet usage among harvesters, the association between knowledge, attitude and practice of safety helmet usage with head injury; and the significant differences of the safety helmet practices before and after the intervention. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 109 harvesters in two oil palm plantation located in Selangor, Malaysia. A set of questionnaire was used to collect the socio demographic background data, knowledge, attitude and practice on the usage of safety helmet. An intervention program through tool box talk on proper usage of safety helmet also was given followed by an observation to look for the differences before and after the tool box promotion on the use of safety helmet. Result from the descriptive analysis showed high score for knowledge, fair score for the attitude and practice among harvesters. There is no association between knowledge (X2=2.733; p>0.05), attitude (X2=2.546; p>0.05) and practice (X2=2.473; p>0.05) with the head injury. The result also gave no significant differences (p>0.05) of the practices before and after the intervention. However, the trends showed decrease in number of practices after the intervention. This study reveals that the knowledge, attitude and practice are not a prominent indicator for head injury among harvesters.