In 2005, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) of Malaysia, together with other ministries and departments including the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), published the Guidelines in Storage of Hazardous Chemicals: A Guide for Safe Warehousing of Packaged Hazardous Chemicals. This Guidelines stipulates the following provisions:
- key responsibilities of stakeholders;
- chemical hazards;
- siting and design of storage area;
- hazard identification and communication (chemical safety date sheet, classification, labeling and relabeling of chemicals);
- warehouse management, and
- emergencies.
Legal basis
This Guidelines provide practical guidance and advice on how to comply with:
- Section 15 (1) and (2) of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 with respect to the duty of employers and self-employed persons to their employees;
- Regulation 15 of The Occupational Safety & Health (Use and Standard of Exposure of Chemical Hazardous to Health) Regulation 2000 (USECHH Regulation) with respect to the duty of employers to control chemicals hazardous to health at workplaces during storage; and
- Regulation 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health (Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards) Regulations 1996 with respect to the duty of employers to identify and notify of an industrial activity.This Guidelines specifies practical measures on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of storage areas and buildings used for storing packaged hazardous chemicals when they are contained in packages such as drums, gas cylinders, bottles, boxes, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and sacks. These measures are designed to protect people at work and others who may be affected by storage of packaged hazardous chemicals.
Since its publication, this Guidelines has not been revised. In view of the rapid development of chemical storage and processing technologies, and the roaring growth of chemicals in the global range, Malaysia DOSH proposes to revise the Guidelines to ensure its timeliness and practicality.
Before its revision to the Guidelines, DOSH intends to seek public comments on this proposed revision from interested parties and the period for public consultation is from December 20, 2023, to January 19, 2024.
DOSH expects to receive comments from any interested persons or parties in the following aspects:
- Hazard identification and communication (CSDS/MSDS, labels);
- Hazard classification;
- Siting and design of storage area;
- Warehouse management; and
- Emergencies.
Manufacturers, distributors, suppliers of hazardous chemicals in the Guidelines, and other interested parties are welcomed to submit their opinions. DOSH will make revisions to the Guidelines to guide the safe management of hazardous chemicals.
ChemRadar Insights:
In the storage of hazardous chemicals, enterprises are advised to take the following measures: firstly, identify the competence of the warehouse keeper; secondly, give advance notice to the warehouse keeper of the requirement; thirdly, ensure the warehouse keeper understand what is requirement of him/her and clearly specify in the contract the various responsibilities. The supplier and owner of hazardous chemicals are required to prepare and submit information on his chemicals, and confirm the emergency arrangements to minimize economical losses.
