Occupational safety and health is a multidisciplinary field which deals with the health, safety, and welfare of everyone at a given workplace. Occupational safety and health policies are implemented to foster a safe and healthy working environment. For this reason, every employer and employee ought to fully understand the occupational safety and health policies which pertain to their specific field and workplace.
One field in which occupational safety and health policies are of particular importance is that of offshore engineering. This is because those who work in offshore engineering find themselves at particular risk of several mishaps which might not befall workers in other fields. Therefore, any offshore engineering student ought to master occupational safety and health policies. Doing so will guard both themselves and their future colleagues from harm when they enter the workplace after graduation.
Occupational Safety and Health Policies in Offshore Engineering
The majority of occupational safety and health policies in the field of offshore engineering are based on quality management systems in line with ISO 9000. Occupational safety and health policies in this field which deal with environmental matters, meanwhile, generally abide by the standards laid out in ISO 14001. That being said, these are not the only occupational safety and health standards which exist. Policies will be effective as long as they fulfill any relevant standards which adequately protect workers.
Occupational safety and health policies in offshore engineering ought to address topics such as established rules and procedures, training, hazard identification and assessment, and commitment to monitoring and mitigation of risks. In order for such policies to be successful, they must be backed by policy goals and objectives and be clearly communicated to all workers.
Several approaches may be used to implement occupational safety and health policies in offshore engineering. One approach is the top-down safety assessment approach. This approach is mainly used by offshore engineering systems which have fairly simple layout designs. It only deals with the failure path which leads to the top events. In the inherently safe design method, information generated from a design review is used to formulate apt occupational safety and health policies.
The bottom-up safety assessment approach initiates hazard identification from the component level. Further identifications are subsequently conducted at the subsystem and system levels. Regardless of which approach is used, all these approaches are suitable for protecting anyone who works in offshore engineering.
The Importance of Occupational Safety and Health Policies in Offshore Engineering
Among the reasons why occupational safety and health policies in offshore engineering are of the utmost importance, the main one is the prevention of accidents caused by occupational hazards. The leading occupational hazards in this field include illnesses caused by exposure to geographical and climatic events while working outdoors, personal injury from accidents involving engineering equipment, stress caused by frequent long-distance travel, and mental health issues stemming from physical isolation and extensive working hours.
These occupational hazards can sometimes manifest themselves in ways so severe that victims lose their lives. Therefore, it is crucial for offshore engineering students to understand and master all relevant occupational safety and health policies. After doing so, they may be able to actively influence the formulation of such policies at their future job, paving the way for a safer and more employee-friendly workplace to exist for both themselves and their colleagues.
All offshore engineering students in Malaysia must also understand the four Acts which govern occupational safety and health in the country. These are the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 (Act 302), the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (Act 139), and the Factories and Machinery (Exemption to Petroliam Nasional Berhad) Order 2013.
Occupational safety and health policies are to be in line with the stipulations presented in all four of these Acts. To fully master concepts related to occupational safety and health in Malaysia, offshore engineering students should become as familiar as they can with these Acts. By doing so, they will understand in what areas a certain set of occupational safety and health policies can be improved and provide feedback about their possible enhancement.
Additionally, the offshore engineering sector itself needs proper occupational safety and health policies in order to attract skilled workers to it. The industry currently faces a shortage of skilled workers; many who have left the industry cited a lack of physical protection as their reason for doing so.
Offshore engineering graduates who have a thorough knowledge of occupational safety and health policies can readily fill this void. They can use their deep knowledge in this area to elevate the overall quality of the industry.
Ranaco Education & Training Institute’s Offshore Engineering and Occupational Safety & Health Diploma Programmes
Having taken in all of this information, you might now be inspired to pursue offshore engineering yourself. Should such be true, let Ranaco Education & Training Institute be of service. Our Diploma in Offshore Engineering Programme produces qualified and skilled graduates who are knowledgeable in soil mechanics, oceanography, subsea pipelines, and welding technology, among other topics. The course lasts for eight semesters over three years. Industrial training is provided.
Ranaco Education & Training Institute also provides the Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health if you’re interested in that. A graduate of this course will have acquired much insight into every aspect of industrial safety and health. Spanning eight semesters over three years, this diploma programme which has been certified by Malaysia’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) includes ample industrial training.
If you believe that your future lies in either offshore engineering or occupational safety and health, do consider joining us at Ranaco Education & Training Institute. We welcome all students who have a genuine passion to learn all they can and excel within their chosen field.
