Malaysian Safety Law Reference Hub
Authoritative index of Malaysian safety legislation — every instrument linked to its official government source.
Malaysian OSH law is built on the OSH Act 1994 [Act 514], as amended by Act A1648 from 1 June 2024. The Factories and Machinery Act 1967 was repealed on the same day by a separate Act (Act 835). Existing FMA certificates and registrations continue under Act 514 (Act 835 s.4). Every instrument below links to its official DOSH, CIDB, DOE or HRD Corp copy.
Key regulations under the OSH Act 1994
The OSH Act 1994 is supported by subsidiary regulations covering committees, chemicals, noise, construction and incident notification. Each summary below is followed by the official source in English and Bahasa Malaysia.
OSH (Safety and Health Committee) Regulations 1996
Employers with 40 or more employees must establish a safety and health committee. The committee must meet at least once every three months.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
USECHH Regulations 2000
Employers must assess health risks from hazardous chemicals and ensure engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation are examined and tested by a competent person at least annually.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
NADOPOD Regulations 2004
Employers must notify DOSH of accidents, dangerous occurrences, occupational poisoning and disease within seven days, and submit a written report in the prescribed form.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
CLASS Regulations 2013
Suppliers must classify hazardous chemicals, label containers and provide Safety Data Sheets. Employers must keep chemicals properly labelled and ensure SDS are accessible to employees.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
OSH (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019
The exposure limit is 85 dB(A) over an eight-hour time-weighted average. Employers must provide hearing-conservation training and ensure appropriate hearing protectors are available where the action level is exceeded.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
Construction Work (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 [P.U.(A) 147/2024]
The principal contractor must appoint a Site Safety Supervisor for every construction site and ensure all workers receive adequate safety induction before commencing work.
DOSH PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
Core duties under the OSH Act 1994 [Act 514]
It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees.
OSH Act 1994 [Act 514] s.15(1) · English PDF ↗ · Bahasa Malaysia PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
Every employer, self-employed person or principal shall conduct a risk assessment in relation to the safety and health risk posed to any person who may be affected by his undertaking at the place of work.
OSH Act 1994 [Act 514] s.18B(1) · English PDF ↗ · Bahasa Malaysia PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
A person who contravenes the provisions of section 15, 16, 17, 18, 18A or 18B shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
OSH Act 1994 [Act 514] s.19 · English PDF ↗ · Bahasa Malaysia PDF ↗ · accessed 2 Oct 2026
Legislation Index
Core OSH Law
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 | Act 514 | as amended, 1 Jun 2024 | General duties; OSH coordinators (s.29A); committees (s.30); risk assessment (s.18B); director liability (s.52) | OSH compliance advisory, safety documentation, OSH coordinator training | DOSH PDF ↗ (English · Bahasa Malaysia) |
| OSH (Amendment) Act 2022 | Act A1648 | 1 Jun 2024 | Inserts s.18B, s.29A, s.52; raises penalties | OSH compliance advisory | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Commencement notice for Act A1648 | P.U.(B) 128/2024 | appoints 1 Jun 2024 | Appoints commencement date of Act A1648 | — | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Factories and Machinery (Repeal) Act 2022 | Act 835 | 1 Jun 2024 | Repeals FMA 1967; existing certificates continue under Act 514 | OSH compliance advisory | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Commencement notice for Act 835 | P.U.(B) 127/2024 | appoints 1 Jun 2024 | Appoints commencement date of Act 835 | — | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024 | P.U.(A) 99/2024 | 1 Jun 2024 | Certificate of fitness for plant; valid 15 months (reg 5(6)) | Safety documentation support | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Safety and Health Committee) Regulations 1996 | P.U.(A) 183/1996 | current | Committee for 40+ persons, or when DG directs | OSH committee training | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Notification of Accident …) Regulations 2004 (NADOPOD) | P.U.(A) 128/2004 | current | Notification requirements for accidents and dangerous occurrences | Incident investigation training | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Safety and Health Officer) Regulations 1997 | P.U.(A) 315/1997 | current | Appointment and duties of SHOs | OSH compliance advisory | DOSH PDF ↗ |
Fire Safety & Emergency
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Services Act 1988 | Act 341 | current | Fire certificates; fire safety requirements for premises | Fire safety training, emergency response planning | Fire Dept ↗ |
| Fire Services (Fire Certificate) Regulations 2013 | P.U.(A) 203/2013 | current | Fire certificate application, renewal, inspection | Fire safety compliance support | Fire Dept ↗ |
Chemicals, Hazardous Materials & Waste
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSH (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazardous Chemicals) Regulations 2013 (CLASS) | P.U.(A) 134/2013 | current | Chemical classification, labelling, SDS; risk assessment | CHRA, chemical handling, safety documentation | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2000 (USECHH) | P.U.(A) 139/2000 | current | Chemical health risk assessment (CHRA); exposure monitoring; control measures | CHRA services, chemical handling training, industrial hygiene assessments | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| OSH (Prohibition of Use of Substance) Order 2025 | P.U.(A) 115/2025 | 1 May 2025 | Prohibits asbestos, beryllium, lead, mercury | CHRA, safety documentation | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Environmental Quality Act 1974 | Act 127 | current | Hazardous waste management; environmental licences | Chemical safety documentation, waste management advisory | DOE site ↗ |
| Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005 | P.U.(A) 294/2005 | current | Scheduled waste classification; consignment notes; storage limits (180 days) | Waste management advisory, chemical handling training, Scheduled Waste Management Awareness course | DOE site ↗ |
Related service: Respirator & Earplug Fit Testing — on-site qualitative and quantitative fit testing for workplaces using scheduled chemicals.
Noise & Physical Agents
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OSH (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019 | P.U.(A) 60/2019 | current | Above 82 dB(A) is "excessive noise" requiring registered assessor assessment; exposure limit 85 dB(A) 8-hour TWA, 115 dB(A) maximum, 140 dB(C) peak; annual audiometric testing and annual training where limit exceeded | Noise exposure assessment, hearing conservation training | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| DOSH Guideline on Management of Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Conservation at the Workplace | — | current | Guidance on noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing conservation programmes | Noise exposure assessment, hearing conservation | DOSH PDF ↗ |
Related services: Noise Exposure Assessment | Hearing Conservation Training | Hearing Protector Fit Checks
Construction & Working at Height
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site Public Safety and Health Guidelines (DOSH) | — | current | Construction site safety; scaffolding; excavation; public safety barriers | Site safety supervisor, scaffold safety, OSH compliance advisory | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Construction Industry Standard 22:2023 — Scaffolding for Supervisors and Users (CIS 22) | — | current | Scaffold safety awareness; tagging and inspection; supervisor competency | Scaffold safety awareness training (supervisors/users) | CIDB site ↗ |
| Construction Industry Standard 23:2023 — Scaffolding for Erectors (CIS 23) | — | current | Scaffold erector competency; inspection and erection standards | Scaffold safety awareness training (erectors) | CIDB site ↗ |
| Construction Industry Standard 25:2018 — Construction Activities Risk Assessment (CARA) | — | current | HIRARC for construction; hazard identification; risk control; site-specific assessment | HIRARC / CARA training, OSH compliance advisory | CIDB site ↗ |
| OSH (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 | P.U.(A) 147/2024 | current | Safe places of work including work at height; principal contractor duties; design risk management | MEWP Safety, Working at Height, Site Safety Supervisor, Scaffold Safety | DOSH PDF ↗ |
CIDB Contractor Requirements
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Industry Development Board Act 1994 | Act 520 | current | Construction Industry Development Board; CIDB registration; levy | CIDB SICW (Green Card programme), OSH compliance advisory | CIDB site ↗ |
| CIDB SICW (Green Card programme) (Competency and Training for Construction Workers) Regulations | — | current | Mandatory construction worker safety awareness card; SICW for foreign workers | CIDB SICW (Green Card programme) training | CIDB site ↗ |
Environment (DOE)
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises)(Scheduled Waste Treatment & Disposal Facilities) Regulations 1989 | P.U.(A) 11/1989 | current | Licensing of scheduled waste treatment and disposal facilities | Safety documentation, waste management advisory | DOE site ↗ |
HRD Corp (Training Funding)
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) — Skills Development Levy Amendment Order 2020 | — | 1 Aug 2020 | Reduced levy from 1% to 0.5% for Jul–Dec 2020; then reverted | — | Inland Revenue (LHDN) ↗ |
| Skills Development Levy Act 1973 | Act 1973 | current | Levy on employers; training fund management | — | Inland Revenue (LHDN) ↗ |
| HRD Corp Act 2001 | Act 622 | current | Training grant approval; eligible programme criteria; 24-month ineligibility rule; RM10,000 retention | HRD Corp grant advisory, training programme design | HRD Corp ↗ |
| Budget 2025 — EIS contribution reduction | — | 1 Jan 2025 | EIS employer contribution reduced from 0.2% to 0.1% | — | HRD Corp ↗ |
Key DOSH Guidelines & References
| Instrument | Number | In force | What it requires | Naja programmes | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in an Office Environment (DOSH) | — | current | Office ergonomics; manual handling; emergency preparedness | Office safety training, ergonomic assessments | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| DOSH Guideline on Management of Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Conservation at the Workplace | — | current | Noise monitoring; audiometric testing; hearing conservation programmes | Noise exposure assessment, hearing conservation training | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| Code of Practice on Working at Height 2014 (DOSH) | — | current | Fall protection; harness inspection; anchor points; rescue planning | Working at height training, site safety supervisor | DOSH PDF ↗ |
| DOSH Guideline on Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) at Workplace | — | current | CHRA methodology; exposure monitoring; health surveillance; control hierarchy | CHRA services, chemical handling training | DOSH PDF ↗ |
Key Numbers
5 employees — mandatory OSH Coordinator where no SHO is required (Act 514, s.29A).
40 employees — threshold for mandatory safety and health committee (P.U.(A) 183/1996).
Above 82 dB(A) — "excessive noise": a registered noise risk assessor must assess (P.U.(A) 60/2019). Exposure limit 85 dB(A) 8-hour TWA, 115 dB(A) maximum, 140 dB(C) peak; annual audiometric testing and annual training where the limit is exceeded.
15 months — maximum validity of Certificate of Fitness for plant (P.U.(A) 99/2024, reg 5(6)).
24 months — period after which unused HRD Corp levy becomes ineligible, excluding RM10,000 retained balance (HRD Corp Act 2001, s.26A(1)).
RM50,000 — maximum fine for failure to appoint OSH Coordinator (Act 514, s.29A(4)).
RM500,000 / 2 years — maximum penalty for breach of general duties (Act 514, ss.15–18B, as amended).
Sources last verified: 30 September 2026
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