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This initiative builds on the recent strengthening of Malaysia's OSH legal framework, including amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 that introduced stronger risk assessment requirements.
For many employers, managing workplace safety is not simply a matter of meeting legal requirements. It means identifying risks early, making sure workers understand how to stay safe, and building systems that continue to work as workplaces, technologies and workforces change.
A new digital assessment tool developed by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is intended to help with that task. Supported by the European Union-funded PROTECT project, the MEF–ILO Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Digital Assessment Tool helps employers conduct occupational safety and health assessments in a more systematic, practical and efficient manner through a digital platform.
More than 80 employers from across the Klang Valley attended hands-on training in Port Klang on 20 July, where they learned how to apply the tool in their own workplaces. Participants were also introduced to MEF’s OSH Workplace Assessment (OSHAWA) Handbook, a practical guide designed to support stronger workplace safety and health management.
“As work environments continue to evolve with new technologies and emerging risks, continuous learning is essential,” said MEF Chief Executive Dato' Seri Rosman Mohamed. He added that the programme offers employers an opportunity to build stronger OSH capacity, improve compliance with safety standards and foster a positive safety culture.
The initiative comes as Malaysia’s occupational safety and health framework has been strengthened. Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 expanded coverage across workplaces and introduced stronger risk-assessment requirements. At the same time, employers are facing increasing expectations from international buyers and supply chains to demonstrate responsible business practices, including stronger safety performance and human rights due diligence.
For migrant workers, consistent safety assessments may be especially important. Migrant workers make up a substantial part of Malaysia’s workforce, including in manufacturing, construction, plantations and services — sectors where occupational risks can be higher. Language barriers can make it more difficult for workers to understand hazards and safety procedures, while some workers may face added vulnerability to violence and harassment.
The programme also reflects a longer-term approach. Rather than being used only for a single training cycle, the OSH Digital Assessment Tool and OSHAWA Handbook are intended to become part of MEF’s continuing advisory and training services for members. This would allow the federation to keep supporting employers after ILO project support ends.
The Port Klang session is part of a wider ILO–MEF programme that will reach other parts of Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. A pilot advisory component will also support companies as they begin using the tool directly in their workplaces.
The PROTECT project is supporting MEF and Malaysian employers in other OSH-related areas as well. This includes a recently launched survey on migrant-worker housing, as well as work on fair recruitment and human rights due diligence, including a toolkit recently launched by MEF.
Lead image / ILO
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