Muhammad Azmeer bin Abd Rahim

Bachelor of Business Administration (Risk Management & Takaful)

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kampus Gong Badak,
Terengganu, Malaysia
E-mail: azmeerzarai@gmail.com

EMPLOYEES AWARENESS ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH (OSH) ASPECTS IN EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIES
Abstract
This paper aim to study employees
awareness on occupational safety and health
aspects (OSH) in educational industries. This
paper provides information about what are the
educational industries awareness aspects that
employees need to be aware on occupational
safety and health (OSH).
Keyword: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Awareness, Working Condition

1.0 Introduction
An employee work in certain place called workplace. In any workplace, the safety of of
employees should be a priority. Whether the job is high risk or in low risk, the workplace
should be in a healthy and safe environment. A healthy workplace is a place where everyone
works together to achieve an agreed vision for the health and well-being of workers and the
surrounding community. It provides all members of the workforce with physical,
psychological, social and organizational conditions that protect and promote health and
safety. It enables managers and workers to increase control over their own health and to
improve it, and to become more energetic, positive and contented (WHO). Employees need
to be aware and understand the aspects that need to be knowledgeable in their working
arena.
Safety and health in schools has often been approached from the viewpoint of pupils
(e.g. McLellan et al., 1999; Konu and Rimpela, 2002), school health care (e.g. Libbus et
al.,003; Tossavainen et al., 2004a, b) or, more generally, health education (Moore et al.,
2004; Smith et al., 2004). Nowadays, efforts in enhancing the awareness on safety and
health among workers in the educational industries are focused. Without fully understanding
the awareness aspect of safety and health in workplace, workers are not fully be clarified as
an aware employee in term of safety.
In promoting workers safety and health awareness, development and research are
needed. This paper will show a framework of occupational safety and health model.

2.0 Literature Review

In any workplace, the safety of employees should be a priority. Whether you work in
a low or high risk job, the company and its managers should maintain a healthy environment
where safety is taken seriously. Managing workplace safety is as important for the company
as it is for the employees. The law requires employers to provide, so far as is reasonably
practicable, a safe working environment for their employees. This includes providing such
information, instruction, training and supervision to employees as are necessary to enable
them to work safely.
Several studies like Robson et al. (2007), Fernndez-Muiz et al. (2008),) and ILOOSH (2001) indicates that the OHS based management systems not only reduce accidents
and injury rates but it also improves the business and productivity of an organization. Extent
of such view has increased considerably in the past few years. Fernndez-Muiz et al.
(2008) said that occupational accidents and unsafe working conditions not only have a bad
effect on human resource but also it damages the material, reduces the productivity and
diminishes the motivation of workers.
It is presumed nowadays that workers who are employed in universities, offices or in
administration work in 'safe' workplaces thus the need for health and safety does not arise.
Recent developments according Verzosa (1999) are pointing out that these workers face a
number of hazards some of which have potentially very serious effects on their health and/or
safety. Occupational risks in educational industries workplaces as identified by her include
too much standing, too much sitting, too much arm stretching, too much bending, and
discomforts resulting from prolonged computer keyboard operation and exposure to dust and
dirt, and other indoor pollutants, that linked to some respiratory illnesses, like asthma, and
certain types of skin allergy. The educational sector environment can put workers at risk for
various injuries thus workers should be aware of health and safety hazards aspects and
employers should provide solutions for limiting worker risk.

3.0 Conceptual Framework

This paper discuss about the employees awareness on the occupational safety and
health aspects in their working environment. This is to meet the need of safety working

Occupational health
and safety aspects
Worker and work
Working community
Professional competence
Working condition

Employees awareness

awareness and condition among the workers. Basically the framework is show below:
Figure 1: The relationship between independent variable and dependent variable is
summarized into a form of theoretical framework stated above.
3.1 Workers and Work
The word workers and works covers the aspects of individual mental and physical
health. This is also relate to the workload and resource the influence the employees
occupational health and safety. The impact of physical stress among teachers of physical
education has also been explored (Sandmark et al., 1999). The employees mental and
physical health is equivalence with coping in daily working life and working community
needs. The employee itself is responsible in taking care their physical and mental health in
order to maintain healthy and safe working environment. This is because, healthy mental
and physical helps in improving employee sustainability, performance and thinking skill.
3.2 Working Community
This term effects job demand, job control and social support on occupational safety
and health. Reforms and changes taking place in the organisation have often added to
workers stress and had a negative influence on occupational wellbeing, because workers
may have experienced a lack of control over their job and the organisation relative to the
demands of the job (Sparks et al., 2001). Support from the working community is an
important resource factor in shaping occupational wellbeing. This support includes having
good fellow workers, a good working atmosphere and active co-operation between the
workers as well as common meetings, discussions and possibilities for mentoring (Saaranen
et al., 2005).
3.3 Professional Competence
This includes professional skills, ability to maintain and improve this skill and limit
work according to need. Worker recognises the demands of his or her job and has

possibilities to influence things and hence to develop in the job and to experience the job in
a positive way.

3.4 Working Condition

The title working condition consist of physical working environment and condition.
This can be shown such as sound insulation, working space, ergonomic posture and
equipment. According to the principals who participated in a study of working conditions in
Finnish comprehensive schools (years 2001-2002), nearly half of all school buildings were in
a poor or fairly poor condition (Perkio-Makela et al., 2002). Lack or less attention to these
factor may lead to under performance and will give bad impact to the safety and health of
employees and students.

4.0 Conclusion
This paper conclude that the occupational safety and health aspects that consists of
worker and workers, working community, professional competence and working condition
need to be aware and take note by the employees in the organization. All these aspects
results in the occupational safety and health either harmonize working condition or vice
versa. Each of the aspect must be knowledgeable by the employees in the educational
industries. Full knowledge about the aspects help employees to get ready and aware of their
safety and health. As for the employer, proper information communication skill needed to
ensure that all information about the occupational safety and health aspects can be
understand by all the employees.

5.0 Acknowledgement
First of all, thank you to Allah, the almighty, then appreciation to my lecturer Assoc Prof. Dr
Wan Norhayate Wan Daud for her guidance and constructive comments. Her guidance
helped me in all the time of research and writing of this concept paper. I also would like to
appreciate to my fellow friends that helps a lot in supporting me. Lastly, thank you to my one
and only beloved family for giving courage and supports.

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