Employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) at no cost to workers to protect them from workplace hazards such as chemicals, noise, air pollution, sharp objects, wet processes, eye injuries or burns.
They also must train workers how to use the PPE, and put up notices reminding workers of their obligations to use it at the workplace.
Frequently used items including materials, tools and switches must be within easy reach of workers, in accordance with ergonomic principles.
Workers who are required to sit at his/her job should be provided with seating that is suited to their body size, comfortable, facilitate movement and have a backrest. Workers who are required to stand at his/her job should be provided with seating to rest when needed.
Employers should take measures to avoid heavy lifting by workers, for example, by providing trolleys or carts.
Employers must ensure that guards are installed on potentially dangerous moving parts of machines, for example needle guards, pulley guards and eye guards. Electric wires must be properly grounded and well maintained.
If workers believe they face an imminent and serious danger to life or health, they may refuse to work, and they should not be punished for doing so.
Example: Rubber mats are useful under electric panel boxes to protect workers from current leakages and short circuits.
Case Study: Garment workers in a spot cleaning unit were using stain remover containing acetone and other hazardous chemicals. They were provided masks, but the masks were designed to reduce dust inhalation and passed harmful chemicals over their faces instead. The OSH Committee assessed the condition and recommends improving the ventilation to reduce the level of chemicals in the work area, replaced workers’ masks with proper respiratory masks equipped with an appropriate filter, and also provided gloves and safety goggles to the workers.
LEGAL REFERENCES:
WORK SAFETY ACT NO. 1 OF 1970, ARTS. 3, 9, 12-14 [UU KESELAMATAN KERJA NO. 1 TAHUN 1970, PASAL 3, 9, 12-14];
MANPOWER ACT NO. 13 OF 2003, ART. 86;
MOMT REGULATION ON REQUIREMENTS TO REPORT ON WORK RELATED DISEASES NO. PER.01/MEN/1981, ARTS. 4(3), 5(2), 5(5) [PERATURAN MENAKERTRANS TENTANG KEWAJIBAN MELAPOR PENYAKIT AKIBAT KERJA NO. PER.01/MEN/1981, PASAL 4(3), 5(2), 5(5)];
MOMT REGULATION ON PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT NO. PER.08/MEN/VII/2010, ARTS. 2, 5 [PERATURAN MENAKERTRANS TENTANG ALAT PELINDUNG DIRI NO. PER.08/MEN/VII/2010, PASAL 2, 5].