1

HEALTH REGULATIONS
UNDER THE FACTORIES
AND MACHINERY ACT
1967


2
OBJECTIVES

1. State the objectives of Health Regulations
under FMA 1967

2. List 5 strategies of Health Regulations
under FMA 1967

3. Explain 4 Health Regulations under FMA
1967

3
SCOPE
Objectives

Strategies

Health Regulations
Important Aspects
Main Provisions

Conclusion
4
HEALTH REGULATIONS
UNDER FMA 1967
OBJECTIVES

Prevent the occurrence of diseases due to
excessive use and exposure to lead,
asbestos, mineral dust and noise

Formulation of minimum standards to
protect workers exposure
5
HEALTH REGULATIONS
STRATEGIES
PROTECTION OF WORKERS BY:
1. Determining exposure limits
2. Identifying and assessing level of exposure
3. Reducing exposure using:

Engineering controls
Administrative procedures
Personal protective equipments

6
HEALTH REGULATIONS
STRATEGIES
PROTECTION OF WORKERS BY:

4. Early detection of disease through health
surveillance

5. Creating awareness among workers
through training and information
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HEALTH REGULATIONS
UNDER FMA 1967
Factories and Machinery (Lead)
Regulations 1984
Factories and Machinery (Asbestos
Process) Regulations 1986
Factories and Machinery (Mineral Dust)
Regulations 1989
Factories and Machinery (Noise
Exposure) Regulations 1989
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IMPORTANT ASPECTS
Competent persons
Maintenance, inspection and testing of
control equipments
Approvals for monitoring and testing
equipments
Approvals for Personal Protective
Equipment
HEALTH REGULATIONS
UNDER FMA 1967
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FMA 1967 PROVISIONS
LD AP

MD

N
Preliminary


Permissible Exposure Limits



Exposure Monitoring



Compliance Methods



Respiratory Protection








Personal Protective Equipments




Hrg
Good Housekeeping



Hygienic Practices and Facilities
H&D/
CR/L
CR/L
/S


Medical Surveillance
AuD
Transfer of Medical Protection







Training and Information to Workers

Warning Signages

Miscellaneous
P P/NS P/SC P/SC


LD-Lead; AP-Asbestos Process; MD-Mineral Dust; N-Noise; Hrg-Hearing; H&D-Handling & Disposal;
CR-Changing Room; S-Shower; L-Locker; AuD-Audiometric Test; P-Penalty; SC-Schedule Change;
NS-No Smoking
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HEALTH REGULATIONS
UNDER OSHA 1994
Occupational Safety and Health (Use and Standards
of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health) 2000
Among the provisions are:

Permissible Exposure Limits
Actions to control exposure engineering
controls, administrative controls, use of PPE
Exposure monitoring
Health surveillance
Medical transfer protection
Recordkeeping
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(ASBESTOS PROCESS) REGULATIONS
1986
APPLICATION

All factories where there are asbestos
processes
except building operations and works of
engineering construction

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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(ASBESTOS PROCESS)
REGULATIONS 1986
ASBESTOS PROCESS:

Manufacturing process which involves
asbestos except processes where:

The quantity of asbestos dust produced does not
exceed the permissible exposure limit; or

Cleaning of premise, equipment and factory
facilities

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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(ASBESTOS PROCESS) REGULATIONS
1986

Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)
PEL= 1 Fibre/ml air 8 hour
average
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(LEAD) REGULATIONS 1986
APPLICATION

All factories processes where lead is
used
Does not apply on construction sites or
works of engineering construction
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(LEAD) REGULATIONS 1986
Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)
PEL = 150 microgramme/m
3
8 hour average
Action level = 75 g/m 8 hour average
If working hours is other than 8 hours,
PEL ( g/m
3
) = 1200
total working hours per day
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(MINERAL DUST) REGULATIONS
1989
APPLICATION

All factories where there are processes using
mineral dust

MINERAL DUST PROCESS

Manufacturing process involving use of
mineral dust

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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(MINERAL DUST) REGULATIONS
1989

PROHIBITION

Sand blasting process shall not be
used in any factory unless with written
approval from the Chief Inspector

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MINERAL DUST









Barite
Clay
Coal
Corundum
Cristobalite
Diatomite
Emery
Feldspar
Garnet
Graphite
Gypsum
Kaolin
Kyanite
Limestone
Magnesite
Marble
Mica
Mineral wool
Perlite
Portland Cement
Potash
Quartz
Soapstone
Talc (free of
asbestos fibre)
Tridymite

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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(MINERAL DUST) REGULATIONS
1989
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS
Dust that contain Silica <1% Silica:
Worker exposure should not exceed the
average concentration for a duration of 8
hours:
5 mg/m
3
air - respirable dust

10 mg/m
3
air - total dust
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(MINERAL DUST) REGULATIONS
1989
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS
Dust that contain Silica <1% Silica:
Worker exposure should not exceed the
average concentration for a duration of 8
hours:
0.05 mg/m
3
air - respirable cristobalite/ trydymite

0.10 mg/m
3
are - respirable quartz
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(MINERAL DUST) REGULATIONS
1989
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
If > Permissible Exposure Limits, provide:

Clothing that covers the whole body
Gloves, hats, shoes
Face shield, goggle and other relevant PPE

The employer is responsible to provide
facilities for the hygiene and disposal of
clothing and equipment
22
FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
BACKGROUND
Studies were conducted in the years 1983-1990
302 factories; 45,974 workers
Average 50% were at risk of hearing
impairment
22% actually hearing impairment
70% were exposed at levels > 90dBA
Median age: 28 years old
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INDUSTRIES WITH NOISE EXPOSURE
AND % WORKER RISK
Textile factory (59.2%)
Steel factory (54.9%)
Chemical industry (52.9%)
Drink manufacturing industry (52.1%)
Factory producing mineral products (51.8%)
Factory producing food products (49.4%)
Factory producing steel products (48.9%)
Palm oil mill (48.9%)
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
APPLICATION

All factories where workers are exposed to
excessive noise
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMITS
90 dBA for 8 hour exposure
Limits are listed in the First Schedule
Applicable Changing Rate - 5 dB
Each additional 5 dB, half a dose
Does not exceed the maximum limit of 115
dBA at any time
Does not exceed 140 dB impulsive noise at
peak level
Dose for action level is 0.5
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
EXPOSURE MONITORING
Initial Monitoring
Sampling of workers suspected of high exposure
Exposure Monitoring
Frequency (initial monitoring action level)
Depends on the level of exposure
every 6 months
every 3 months, or
once only
Monitoring is conducted by a Competent Person
(Mineral Dust and Noise Exposure)
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
ADDITIONAL EXPOSURE MONITORING
Required if there are any changes in:
Production
Processes
Controls, or
Workers
resulting in new or additional exposure
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
METHODS OF COMPLIANCE
Reduce and control exposure below the PEL
using:
Engineering controls
Ventilation, if installed, effectiveness has to be tested
Testing is conducted by a Competent Person
Water spray (Mineral dust)
Administrative controls include safe work procedures
Use of personal protective equipments if other controls
fail to reduce exposure
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FACTORIES AND MACHINERY
(NOISE EXPOSURE) REGULATIONS
1989
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Hearing/Respiratory protection is used:
simultaneously with other forms of control
Where other controls fail to reduce exposure to
below permissible levels

Provision of PPE
Approved by Chief Inspector
Suitable to worker
Suitable to work requirements
Does not effect worker health
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HYGIENIC PRACTICES AND
FACILITIES
LEAD, ASBESTOS & MINERAL DUST
EXPOSURE

Clean floor from contaminants
Cleaning should be using vacuum cleaner
Use of compressed air is prohibited
(Lead and Mineral Dust Regulations)
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HYGIENIC PRACTICES AND
FACILITIES
LEAD, ASBESTOS & MINERAL DUST
EXPOSURE

Changing Rooms, Lockers and Showers

Lockers for daily wear
Separate lockers for protective clothing and
respiratory equipments
Changing rooms (asbestos process and lead only)
Showers (asbestos process and lead only)
Separate dining facilities from work areas (lead)
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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
LEAD EXPOSURE
If exposed > 30 days per year
Frequency of Blood Lead test, every:
6 months
3 months if 40-60g/100g blood
1 months if 60-80 g/100g blood
1 months if in period of medical transfer
1 month for women who are able to conceive
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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
LEAD EXPOSURE

Medical surveillance is conducted:
Every 1 year if 40g/100g blood
Before being assigned to a work area where air
concentration action level
There are signs of symptoms of poisoning
Every worker in the medical transfer if required
by a doctor
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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
ASBESTOS PROCESS

Workers working in an area where there is
asbestos exposure, whether continuous or
intermittent
In the period of 30 days from the first day
of work
Frequency
Not exceeding 2 years
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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
MINERAL DUST EXPOSURE

If exposed > action level
Frequency of testing:
Every 2 years
Exposed worker > action level
Every year
Workers experiencing early signs of
pneumoconiosis

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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
NOISE EXPOSURE
Audiometric Testing Programme
If exposure > action level
Frequency of testing:
Every year
if worker exposure > Permissible exposure limit
If basic audiometric tests show loss of hearing
If annual test shows Standard Threshold Shift
Every 2 years
Worker exposure is at action level < Permissible
exposure limit
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MEDICAL REMOVAL
LEAD EXPOSURE
Worker should be
removed/transferred
If blood lead tests show
80g/100g blood
average 3 latest tests 73g/100g blood
40g/100g blood for women who are able
to conceive, or
Health of the worker may be affected
based on results/medical opinion
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MEDICAL REMOVAL
ASBESTOS PROCESS

Worker should be removed/
transferred if results or medical
opinion shows any early indications
of asbestos related diseases
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TRAINING & INFORMATION
Training programme at least once every two years
for workers action level
Contents of training
Rules and worker rights
Operational circumstances that may cause high
concentrations
Purpose, selection, application and limitations of PPE
Brief on the purpose of medical surveillance and
monitoring programme including its implications on
health
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WARNING SIGNAGES
WARNING!!
LEAD IN WORK AREA
POISON
NO EATING OR SMOKING
Example
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RECORDKEEPING
Monitoring records
As long as the worker is in service asbestos,
mineral dust, noise exposures
2 years lead exposure
Medical surveillance records
As long as the worker is in service lead,
asbestos exposures
5 years noise exposure
25 years mineral dust
Records are kept by employer/doctor
Medical removal records
As long as the worker is in service lead
42
MISCELLANEOUS
Upon conviction, fine not
exceeding
RM 1,000
(noise, mineral dust)
RM2,000
(lead, asbestos)
Penalties for Offences
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CONCLUSION
OBJECTIVES
Prevent the occurrence of diseases due
to use and excessive exposure to lead,
asbestos, mineral dust and noise
Formulate a minimum standards to
protect workers from hazardous
exposures while at work