CHRA Requirements Malaysia: When Is It Mandatory?

The short answer: If your workplace uses, stores, or generates chemicals that pose health hazards to employees, a Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) is mandatory under the USECHH 2000. This applies to all hazardous chemicals — not only those on the DOSH Schedule of Chemicals.

Naja Safety scopes your CHRA, coordinates the DOSH-registered assessor, and trains your chemical-handling team.

1. What Is a CHRA?

A Chemical Health Risk Assessment evaluates:

• The chemicals used, stored, or generated at your workplace
• Exposure pathways (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion)
• Health risks to employees
• Control measures required (engineering, administrative, PPE)

2. Who Needs a CHRA?

You need a CHRA if your workplace handles:

• Any hazardous chemicals (acids, solvents, heavy metals, toxic gases, dusts, vapours)
• Any chemical with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) indicating health hazards
• Processes generating chemical by-products (welding fumes, exhaust gases)

Common industries affected: Electronics manufacturing, metal finishing, printing, furniture (wood dust + solvents), chemical processing, laboratories.

3. Who Can Conduct a CHRA?

Only a DOSH-registered competent person can sign off on a CHRA. This is not a self-assessment you can delegate to your safety officer.

Naja Safety scopes the assessment, coordinates site access, and manages the submission — the assessment itself is performed and signed by a DOSH-registered assessor.

4. What Happens If You Skip It?

Under the OSH Act 1994 [Act 514], as amended by the OSH (Amendment) Act 2022 [A1648], employers who fail to conduct a required CHRA face:

• Stop-work orders until compliance is demonstrated
• Prosecution under the Regulations
• For general duty breaches under the amended Act, fines can reach up to RM500,000

5. How Long Is a CHRA Valid?

A CHRA must be reviewed every 5 years, or sooner if:

• New chemicals are introduced
• Processes change
• An exposure-related illness occurs
• DOSH requests a re-assessment

Next Steps

If you suspect your workplace needs a CHRA, the safest course is a gap assessment. Naja Safety evaluates your chemical inventory and determines whether a full CHRA is required — before DOSH does. Once the CHRA is complete, the people who handle the chemicals usually need chemical safety training so they can work with the controls in place.

← All articles · Regulatory Hub · Services