When is a Safety and Health Committee required under OSHA 1994?

Under Section 30 of OSHA 1994, every employer with 40 or more employees at a place of work must establish a Safety and Health Committee. DOSH may also direct employers with fewer than 40 employees to establish one.

How often must the Safety and Health Committee meet?

The committee must meet at least once every three months (quarterly). Best practice recommends monthly meetings, with emergency meetings after serious accidents or dangerous occurrences.

What is the composition of a Safety and Health Committee in Malaysia?

The committee must include a chairman appointed by the employer, a secretary, equal numbers of management and employee representatives (minimum 2 each), with employee reps elected by workers.

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Safety Committee Requirements OSHA 1994 Malaysia

Updated May 2026 · 7 min read · Section 30, Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994

The Safety and Health Committee (SHC) is a cornerstone of workplace safety governance in Malaysia. Mandated under Section 30 of OSHA 1994, the committee serves as the formal mechanism for cooperation between employers and employees on safety matters.

When Is a Safety Committee Required?

Under Section 30(1) of OSHA 1994, a Safety and Health Committee must be established when:

40 or more employees are employed at a place of work
The Director General of DOSH directs the employer to establish one (regardless of count)
The workplace is classified as high-risk (construction, manufacturing, chemical processing)

Important clarifications:

"Place of work" means each individual workplace — not total company headcount
Contract workers, part-time workers, and temporary staff count toward the threshold
The committee must be established within 3 months of reaching the threshold
Failure to establish a committee is punishable by fine up to RM 50,000

Scenario	Committee Required?	Notes
Office with 45 permanent staff	Yes	Exceeds 40-employee threshold
Factory with 30 staff + 15 contractors	Yes	Total 45 persons at workplace
Small workshop with 20 employees	Only if directed by DOSH	Below threshold
Construction site with 100+ workers	Yes	Exceeds threshold; high-risk sector
Company with 3 branches (15 each)	No (per branch)	Each branch counted separately

Committee Composition

Role	Appointed By	Requirements
Chairman	Employer	Senior management; authority to make decisions
Secretary	Committee members	Responsible for minutes, scheduling, correspondence
Management Representatives	Employer	Minimum 2; department heads or supervisors
Employee Representatives	Elected by employees	Minimum 2; must equal management reps
Safety & Health Officer	Ex-officio	Attends all meetings; advisory role

Key composition rules:

Employee representatives must be elected by fellow employees — not appointed by management
Number of employer and employee representatives must be equal
Members should represent different departments for broad coverage
Term of appointment is typically 2 years with staggered rotation
Members must receive adequate training on committee duties

Meeting Frequency

Type	Frequency	Requirement
Regular meetings	At least once every 3 months	Mandatory under 1996 Order
Best practice	Monthly	Recommended by DOSH
Emergency meetings	As needed	After fatal/serious accidents
Special meetings	As needed	Major operational changes or audit findings

Quorum: At least half of all members present, including one from each side
Notice: Members must receive at least 7 days' notice for regular meetings
Duration: Meetings during working hours; members paid for attendance
Minutes must be recorded and kept for at least 5 years

Duties of the Safety and Health Committee

Review safety measures: Continuously review workplace safety and recommend improvements
Investigate complaints: Investigate unsafe or unhealthy matters and report to employer
Inspect workplace: Conduct regular inspections (recommended monthly)
Investigate accidents: Assist in investigating accidents, near-misses, and diseases
Review policies: Recommend updates to safety and health policy
Monitor compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA 1994 and subsidiary legislation
Promote awareness: Promote safety training among all employees
Review statistics: Analyse accident statistics and identify trends

Meeting Minutes Template

Section	Content Required
Header	Company name, meeting number, date, time, venue
Attendance	Names and roles of attendees; apologies recorded
Previous minutes	Confirmation; matters arising and status updates
Accident/incident review	Summary of all incidents since last meeting
Inspection reports	Findings from workplace inspections
Hazard reports	New hazards identified; employee complaints
Action items	Responsible person, deadline, and priority for each
Training update	Training conducted and planned
Statistics	Accident frequency rate, severity rate, near-misses
Next meeting	Confirmed date, time, and venue
Sign-off	Chairman's signature and date of approval

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Offence	Section	Penalty
Failure to establish committee	Section 30	Fine up to RM 50,000 or 2 years imprisonment or both
Failure to comply with committee order	Section 30	Fine up to RM 50,000
Obstruction of committee functions	Section 52	Fine up to RM 10,000 or 1 year imprisonment

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