This document outlines plans to implement international safety standards in Myanmar. It discusses current occupational safety and health (OSH) frameworks around the world and in the region. The current OSH framework in Myanmar is described. The document proposes preparing a national OSH committee, assisting small businesses, and developing inspector capabilities. It outlines roles for stakeholders like developers, designers, and contractors. A short term plan includes preparing a legal framework and enhancing capabilities, while long term plans aim to secure professionals and achieve safety targets through continuous improvement.

1. HOW TO APPLY
INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARD
IN MYANMAR
U Thant Zaw Aung
24 December 2012

2. • Introduction1
• What is Occupational
Safety and Health (OSH)?2
• General Approach to OSH3
Today’s Overview

3. • OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
• OSH Framework and
Standards in the Region5
• Current OSH Framework
in Myanmar6
Today’s Overview

4. • Preparation OSH
Framework in Myanmar7
• Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
• Short Term / Long Term Plan
for Effective Implementation9
Today’s Overview

5. Name : U Thant Zaw Aung
Education : B.E (Civil)
Occupation : Workplace Safety & Health Manager
(Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co.
Ltd, Singapore)
Qualification : MOM Approved WSH Trainer
: MOM Approved WSH Auditor
: Environmental Control Officer
: Fire Safety Manager
Contact No : (65) 9488 7612
Email : zaw64ster@gmail.com
Introduction1

6. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with
protecting the Safety, Health and Welfare of
people engaged in work or employment.
What is Occupational
Safety and Health (OSH)?2

7. The goals of occupational safety and health programs
include to foster a safe and healthy work environment.
OSH may also protect co-workers, family members,
employers, customers, and many others who might be
affected by the workplace environment.
Occupational safety and health can be important for
Moral, Legal, and Financial reasons.
General Approach to OSH3

8. All organisations have a duty of care to ensure that
employees and any other person who may be affected
by the companies undertaking remain safe at all times.
Moral obligations1 would involve the protection of
employee's lives and health.
Legal reasons2 for OSH practices relate to the
preventative, punitive and compensatory effects of laws
that protect worker's safety and health.
Financially3, OSH can also reduce employee injury and
illness related costs, including medical care, sick leave
and disability benefit costs.
General Approach to OSH3

9. Because different countries take different approaches to
ensuring Occupational Safety Health , areas of OSH need
and focus also vary between countries and regions.
Similar to the findings of a survey conducted in Australia,
the Institute of Occupational Medicine found that in the
UK, there is a need to put a greater emphasis on work-
related illness.
In contrast, in Australia and the USA a major
responsibility of the OSH professional is to keep
company directors and managers aware of the issues
regards to OSH principles and legislation.
General Approach to OSH3

10. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
In 2001, the International Labour Organization (ILO)
published ILO-OSH 2001 - "Guidelines a on
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems"
to assist organizations with introducing OSH
management systems.
These guidelines encourage Continual Improvement in
Employee’s Health and Safety, achieved via a constant
process of policy, organization, planning &
implementation, evaluation, and action for
improvement, all supported by constant auditing to
determine the success of OSH actions.

11. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
The ILO Management System was created to assist
employers to keep pace with rapidly shifting and
competitive industrial environments.
The ILO recognizes that National Legislation is essential,
but sometimes insufficient on its own to address the
challenges faced by industry, and therefore elected to
ensure free and open distribution of administrative tools
in the form of occupational health and safety
management system guidance for everyone.

12. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
OHSAS 18000 is an International Occupational Health
and Safety Management System Specification
developed by the London-based BSI Group, a
multinational business chiefly concerned with the
production and distribution of standards related
services.
OHSAS 18000 comprises two parts, OHSAS 18001 and
OHSAS18002 and embraces a number of other
publications. OHSAS 18000 is the internationally
recognized assessment specification for occupational
health and safety management systems.

13. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
This internationally recognized specification for
occupational health and safety management system
operates on the basis of policy, planning, implementation
and operation, checking and corrective action,
management review, and continual improvement.
The British Standards - Occupational Health and Safety
management Systems Requirements Standard BS OHSAS
18001 was developed within the framework of the ISO
standards series. Allowing it to integrate better into the
larger system of ISO certifications.

14. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001
Environmental Management System can work in tandem
with BS OHSAS 18001/18002 to complement each other
and form a better overall system.
Each component of the system is specific, auditable, and
accreditable by a third party after review.
Also Standards Australia and the Association Française
de Normalisation (AFNOR) in France have developed
occupational safety and health management standards.

15. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
Guidance Note HSG65: Successful Health and Safety
Management, published by the British non-
departmental public body Health and Safety Executive,
promotes a systematic management of health and
safety through a six step system, Policy1, Organizing2,
Planning3 and Implementing4, Measuring Performance5,
Reviewing Performance6.
These components are all linked to an audit system
providing for evaluation and a feedback loop to improve
performance.

16. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
European Union (EU)
In the European Union, Member States have enforcing
authorities to ensure that the basic legal requirements
relating to occupational health and safety are met.
In many EU countries, there is strong cooperation
between employer and worker organisations (e.g.
unions) to ensure good OSH performance as it is
recognized this has benefits for both the worker
(through Maintenance of Health) and the enterprise
(through improved Productivity and Quality).

17. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
European Union (EU)
In 1996, the European Agency for Safety and Health at
Work was founded.
Member states of the European Union have all
transposed into their national legislation a series of
directives that establish minimum standards on
occupational health and safety.
These directives (about 20 on a variety of topics) follow
a similar structure requiring the employer to assess the
workplace risks and put in place preventive measures
based on a Hierarchy of Control.

18. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
United Kingdom (UK)
In the UK, health and safety legislation is drawn up and
enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and local
authorities (the local council) under the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974.
Increasingly in the UK the regulatory trend is away from
prescriptive rules, and towards risk assessment.
Recent major changes to the laws governing asbestos
and fire safety management embrace the concept of risk
assessment.

19. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
Denmark
In Denmark, OSH is regulated by the Danish Act on
Working Environment and cooperation at the
workplace.
The Danish Working Environment Authority (DWEA)
carries out inspections of companies, draws up more
detailed rules on health and safety at work and provides
information on health and safety at work.
The result of each inspection is made public on the web
pages of the DWEA.

20. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
United States (US)
In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 created both the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA, in the U.S. Department of Labour, is responsible
for developing and enforcing workplace safety and
health regulations. NIOSH, in the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, is focused on research,
information, education, and Training in Occupational
Safety and Health.

21. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
United States (US)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has been regulating occupational safety and health since
1971.
Occupational safety and health regulation of a limited
number of specifically defined industries was in place
for several decades before that period.
Broad regulations by some individual states was in place
for many years prior to the establishment of OSHA.

22. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
Canada
In Canada, workers are covered by provincial or federal
labour codes depending on the sector in which they
work.
Workers covered by federal legislation (including those
in mining, transportation, and federal employment) are
covered by the Canada Labour Code; all other workers
are covered by the health and safety legislation of the
province they work in.

23. OSH Framework and
Standards in the World4
Canada
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
(CCOHS), an agency of the Government of Canada, was
created in 1978 by an Act of Parliament.
The act was based on the belief that all Canadians had
"...a fundamental right to a healthy and safe working
environment.“
CCOHS is mandated to promote safe and healthy
workplaces to help prevent work-related injuries and
illnesses.

24. OSH Framework and
Standards in the Region5
People’s Republic of China (PRC)
In the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Health
is responsible for occupational disease prevention and
the State Administration of Work Safety for safety issues
at work.
On the provincial and municipal level, there are Health
Supervisions for occupational health and local bureaus
of Work Safety for safety. The "Occupational Disease
Control Act of PRC" came into force on May 1, 2002 and
“Work safety Act of PRC” on November 1, 2002.

25. OSH Framework and
Standards in the Region5
Malaysia
In Malaysia, the Department of Occupational Safety and
Health (DOSH) under the Ministry of Human Resource is
responsible to ensure that the safety, health and welfare
of workers in both the public and private sector is
upheld.
DOSH is responsible to enforce the Factories and
Machinery Act 1967 and the Occupational Safety and
Health Act 1994.

26. OSH Framework and
Standards in the Region5
Singapore
The Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 replaced the
1973 Factories Act and fundamentally reformed
legislative approach towards a performance-based
regime.
In Singapore, the Occupational Safety and Health
Department (OSHD) under the Ministry of Manpower is
responsible to ensure that the safety, health and welfare
of workers in both the public and private sector is
upheld.

27. OSH Framework and
Standards in the Region5
Singapore
The Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) was
formed on 1 April 2008. The WSHC is an industry-led
Statutory Body that is based in Singapore.
The WSHC comprises 18 leaders from the major industry
sectors (including Construction, Manufacturing, Marine
Industries, Petrochemicals and Logistics), the
Government, unions and professionals from the legal,
insurance and academic fields.

28. Current OSH Framework in
Myanmar6
At present, there are 5 Legal Instruments in
Industrial Sector in Myanmar as follows:
1. The Private Industrial Enterprise Law, 1990
2. The Factories Act, 1951
3. The Oilfield (Workers and Welfare) Act, 1951
4. The Petroleum Act, 1934
5. The Oilfields Act, 1918

29. Current OSH Framework in
Myanmar6
The OSH legislative framework in Myanmar is embodied
in the Factories Act of 1951 and the Oilfield (Labour and
Welfare) Act of 1951.
The primary OSH regulator is the Factories and General
Labour Laws Inspection Department (FGLLID). Other
agencies involved in regulating OSH standards include:
• the Boiler and Electric Inspection Division (Ministry of Industries);
Planning and Inspection Department (Ministry of Mines);
• Occupational Health Division (Ministry of Health);
• the Ministry of Construction;
• the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation; and
• the Yangon City Development Committee.

30. Current OSH Framework in
Myanmar6
Number of Factories covered by the 1951 Factories Act

31. Current OSH Framework in
Myanmar6
Myanmar has a policy framework such as National
Strategic Policy Document on workers’ health.
The framework includes elements such as enactment of
legislation, establishment of mechanisms for
intersectoral coordination of activities, funding and
resource mobilization for workers’ health, strengthening
the role and capacities of ministries of health and
integration of objectives and actions for workers’ health
into national strategies.

32. Current OSH Framework in
Myanmar6
Aspects of Workers’ Health covered by this policy
framework are:
• Occupational Health
• Occupational Safety
• Workplace Health Promotion
• Provision of Occupational Health Services
• Chemical Safety
• Environmental Health
• Prevention of Communicable Diseases at the workplace
(HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, avian influenza)
• Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases at the workplace
(cancer, cardiovascular diseases).

33. Preparation OSH
Framework in Myanmar7
1. Set up National OSH Committee
2. Assist SME to Improve Work Conditions
3. Develop Capabilities of Inspectors
4. Upgrade Occupation Hygiene Laboratory
5. Upgrade Internal OSH Capabilities
6. Establish OSH Training Centre
7. International Collaboration to learn experiences
Strategy to raise Occupational Safety and Health Standard

34. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Developer / Client
Developer Profile
• A ‘Developer / Client' is anyone having construction or
building work carried out as part of their business.
• This could be an individual, partnership or company and
includes property developers or management companies
for domestic properties.
• The developer or client, being the pay master at the top of
the value chain, is in the best position to influence the
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) performance of the
project.
• Depending on the objectives and requirements
developers set, the suppliers and contractors they decide
to engage, and the resources they provide, the eventual
outcome can vary greatly.

35. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Role of the Developer / Client
Developer / Client’s Duties
• On all projects, developer / client will need to:
– Check competence and resources of all potential contractors and
suppliers.
– Ensure there are suitable management arrangements for the project
including welfare facilities.
– Allow sufficient time and resources for all stages.
– Provide pre-construction information to designers and contractors.
– Must lead in Design for Safety or DfS. DfS refers to active identification
and addressing of WSH risks right from the conceptual and design
phase of construction projects.
– Appoint a principal contractor.
– Make sure that construction work does not start unless a construction
phase plan is in place and there are adequate welfare facilities on site.

36. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Designer
Designer Profile
• The term ‘Designer' has a broad meaning and relates
to the function performed, rather than the profession
or job title.
• Designers are those who, as part of their work,
prepare design drawings, specifications, bills of
quantities and the specification of articles and
substances.
• This could include architects, engineers and quantity
surveyors.

37. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Role of the Designer
Designer’s Duties
On all projects, Designer will need to:
– Eliminate hazards and risks during design stage.
– Provide information about remaining risks.
Where projects are notifiable under the Regulations,
designers must also:
– Check that the client is aware of their duties and
that a site representative has been appointed.
– Provide information needed for the health and
safety of the all personnel involved in the project.

38. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Contractors
Contractors Profile
• A ‘Contractors' are those who are involved in
construction, alteration, maintenance or demolition
work. This could involve building, civil engineering,
mechanical, electrical, demolition and maintenance
companies, partnerships and the self-employed.
• All those who work in the construction industry have
their part to play looking after their own health and
safety and in improving the industry’s health and
safety record.

39. Roles of Stakeholders in
Myanmar OSH Framework8
Role of the Contractor
Contractor’s Duties
On all projects contractors will need to:
• Plan, manage and monitor their own work and that of their workers.
• Check the competence of all their appointees and workers.
• Train their own employees.
• Provide work related information to their workers.
• Ensure that there are adequate welfare facilities for their workers.
In addition, where projects are notifiable under the Regulations,
Contractors must also:
• Co-operate with the principal contractor in planning and managing work,
including reasonable directions and site rules.
• Provide details to the principal contractor of any contractor engaged in
connection with carrying out work.
• Inform the principal contractor of reportable accidents, diseases and
dangerous occurrences.

40. Implementation (Phase by Phase)
ProjectsWorkedOn
Preparation
of Legal
Frame Work
Enhance
WSH
Capabilities
Working Toward Safety Journey
Secure
Talents /
Professional
Achieve
WSH Target

41. Short Term / Long Term Plan
for Effective Implementation9
Occupational Safety and Health Management System
(OSHMS) requires a ‘Plan - Do - Check - Act’ approach,
based on the principle of continual improvement.

42. Short Term / Long Term Plan
for Effective Implementation9
OSHMS is structured into 14 distinct sections as follows:
1. Occupational Safety and Health Policy
2. Identification of Hazards
3. Assessment of Risks
4. Establishments of Occupational Safety and Health Objectives
5. Development of OSH Plan
6. Implementation of OSH Plan
7. Routine Monitoring and Improvement
8. Investigation of Work Related Accidents, Incidents and Diseases
9. Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
10.Performance Monitoring and Measurement
11.Audit
12.Preventive and Corrective Action
13.Management Review
14.Continual Improvement

43. QUESTIONS?