Workplace safety in Malaysia
The law, regulators and duties that apply to workplaces in Malaysia, explained in plain language with links to the official Malay and English sources.
Who regulates what
Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan, under the Ministry of Human Resources. Enforces Act 514 and its regulations across Malaysia, including the public service.
dosh.gov.my →The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, set up in 1992 under the Ministry of Human Resources. Provides OSH training, research, consultancy and professional services.
niosh.com.my →The parent ministry. The Minister makes regulations under Act 514 and appoints when amendments come into force.
Commencement notice →The Act and key regulations
DOSH keeps the full list of regulations under Act 514 on its regulations page.
| Law | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) | General duties of employers, self-employed persons, principals, occupiers, designers, manufacturers, suppliers and employees. Amended by Act A1648, in force 1 June 2024. Explained |
| Factories and Machinery (Repeal) Act 2022 (Act 835) | Repealed the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 from 1 June 2024; existing registrations and certificates of fitness are now dealt with under Act 514. |
| OSH (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 | Safety duties across the design and management of construction work, in force 1 June 2024, including fall prevention. |
| OSH (Notification of Accident, Dangerous Occurrence, Occupational Poisoning and Occupational Disease) Regulations 2004 (NADOPOD) | When and how to report accidents, dangerous occurrences, occupational poisoning and disease to DOSH. |
| OSH (Safety and Health Committee) Regulations 1996 | How safety and health committees work. A committee is required where 40 or more people work (s.30 of the Act). |
| OSH (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations 1997 | Safety and Health Officers in the classes of workplace the Minister specifies (s.29 of the Act). |
| OSH (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024 | Certificates of fitness for plant, replacing the old Factories and Machinery Act regime. |
| USECHH 2000, CLASS 2013, Noise Exposure 2019 | Chemicals hazardous to health, classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals, and occupational noise. |
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. English descriptions of the law are our plain-language summaries of the official Malay text; the gazetted Malay text prevails. Check the current official text and your site's own procedures.
Official resources in Malay
DOSH publishes the Act and most of its guidance in Malay. These are the official versions.
Bahasa Melayu
- Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 (Cetakan Semula 1.6.2024)The Act as amended, updated to 1 June 2024
- Garis Panduan HIRARC 2008Guidelines for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
- Garis Panduan KKP Industri Pembinaan (Pengurusan) 2020Construction industry OSH management guideline
- Garis Panduan Peraturan KKP (Kerja Pembinaan)(Reka Bentuk dan Pengurusan) 2024Guidance on the 2024 construction design and management regulations
Malaysia guides and explainers
Asbestos at work: what supervisors need to know
Cleaning and facilities safety: what supervisors need to know
Contractor management: what supervisors need to know
How to report a workplace accident in Malaysia
Shipyard safety: an overview for supervisors
PPE selection, use and checks: what supervisors need to know
Food and beverage kitchen safety: what supervisors need to know
Construction safety: an overview for supervisors
Logistics and warehouse safety: what supervisors need to know
Incident reporting and investigation: what supervisors need to know
Manufacturing safety: an overview for managers
Manual handling: what supervisors need to know
Confined space safety: what supervisors need to know
Noise at work: what supervisors need to know
Healthcare worker safety: what managers need to know
Oil, gas and petrochemical safety: an overview for managers
Chemical safety, SDS and labels: what supervisors need to know
Risk assessment: what supervisors need to know
Workplace safety compliance checklist: Malaysia
