A workplace with 40 or more persons needs a safety committee (section 30). The committee checks the workplace, studies accidents and advises the employer. This post gives you the members, the meeting rules and a set-up checklist.
Learn these skills in the course Occupational Safety and Health (BG-OSHA), module 2.
Who This Is For
Employers and HR managers of workplaces with 40 or more persons. Also safety officers who act as committee secretary.
When You Need a Committee
- 40 or more persons are employed at the place of work (section 30(1)(a)).
- Or the Director General of DOSH directs it (section 30(1)(b)).
- With 5 to 39 employees, appoint an OSH coordinator instead (section 29A).
Who Sits on the Committee
| Role | Who | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | The employer or an authorised manager | 6(1) |
| Secretary | The safety and health officer; if none, a person the chair or members appoint | 6(2), 6(3) |
| Management representatives | At least 2 with 100 persons or fewer; at least 4 with more than 100 | 5(2) |
| Employee representatives | At least 2 with 100 persons or fewer; at least 4 with more than 100 | 5(2) |
Employees nominate their representatives. If there are more nominees than places, hold a vote (regulation 7).
Meeting Rules
| Rule | What the Regulations Say | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace inspection | At least once every three months | 12 |
| Meetings | At least once every three months, more often for higher risks | 21(1) |
| After a serious accident | Call a meeting at once after a death or serious bodily injury | 21(3) |
| Quorum | The chair, the secretary and at least half of the other members | 24 |
| Minutes | To all members and the employer within two weeks; keep for at least seven years | 27 |
| Time and place | The employer gives a room and lets members attend during working hours | 22 |
Set Up the Committee in Six Steps
- Count the persons employed at the place of work.
- Appoint the chair and the secretary.
- Invite employees to nominate their representatives. Hold a vote if needed.
- Appoint the management representatives.
- Call the first meeting. Present the safety and health policy and your plans (regulation 23).
- Set the dates for the quarterly inspections and meetings for the year.
Example: A Plastics Manufacturer With 85 Staff
Take a plastics manufacturer in Penang with 85 staff. The plant manager chairs the committee. The safety officer is the secretary. Two employee and two management representatives join. They inspect each quarter and meet the week after.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Appointing all employee representatives without a nomination.
- Meeting only after an accident. The regulations set at least every three months.
- Sending the minutes late or losing them. Keep them for seven years.
- Discussing matters that are not about safety and health (regulation 26).
Try It This Week
Check your last four committee meetings. Count the months between them. Check that each set of minutes went out within two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who chairs the committee?
The employer, or a manager the employer authorises (regulation 6).
Do committee members need training?
Yes. The regulations require the employer to give members adequate training (regulation 29).
Sources: Act 514, updated text as at 1 June 2024 (DOSH); Safety and Health Committee Regulations 1996 (DOSH, Malay text).
Next Step
Read the full outline of Occupational Safety and Health (BG-OSHA). The next public class is on 11 and 12 November 2026. All dates are on the Training Calendar. For a group from your company, get a quote for in-house training. More Work Tips are in the skill area Sustainability, Health and Safety. Read also:
