Occupational safety in Malaysia begins long before a machine reaches the
factory floor. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 places heavy
responsibilities on designers, manufacturers, and suppliers to ensure
equipment is safe from the start.
Under Section 20, anyone who designs or manufactures "plant" (machinery
or equipment) for use at work must ensure it is constructed to be safe
and without risks to health when properly used. They are also
required to carry out necessary testing and provide adequate
information regarding the equipment's intended use and safety conditions.
The 2024 amendments increased the penalty for breaching these supply-chain
duties under Section 23 to a fine not exceeding RM200,000. This ensures
that importers and suppliers cannot simply pass off dangerous equipment
to employers, but must instead provide a guarantee of safety
and updated technical information throughout the equipment's lifecycle.
