Medical Surveillance Trip to SFI Sipitang

On 7 and 8 July, 2011, I went to Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd, the biggest manufacturing company of paper in the region. Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd is located in Sipitang which is 150 km from Kota Kinabalu (2 hours driving) but only 45 miniutes drivng from Lawas Sarawak. I arrived early morning at KKIA on the 7 July using Air Asia from Kuching Sarawak. For 2 days, 58 workers participated in Medical Surveillance Program.

Guideline Chart for valid Spirometry

NIOSH US has established this very useful Quick Guideline Chart for valid spirometry results every time:

Here is English version

and here is Malay version

RCOH 2011

I attended the 4th Regional Conference on Occupational Health (RCOH) 2011 which was held at Seri Pacific Hotel on 23 to 25 June 2011. On 23 June, I attended PreConference Workshop on Medical Impairment Assessment, one of the three workshop conducted before the conference.

BASIC OCCUPATIONAL ERGONOMICS TRAINING

On 15 June 2011, Hospital Sentosa Kuching invited me to conduct one day awareness training on Basic Occupational Ergonomics. About 60 participants attended the training

PSMB TRAIN THE TRAINER

Alhamdulillah, I have attended "Train The Trainer" PSMB's Certification in Training on 9 May until 13 may 2011 at Grand Continental Hotel Kuching. The training was facilitated by Dr Alex Ow from IRS Training Sdn Berhad of Kuala Lumpur.

Workplace & Occupational Hazards

Workplace is the second home for all workers as they spend about one third of their daily time at workplace. Workplace and Workers form a mini ecosystem. The hazards existed at workplace always threat the health of the worker. In order to protect the health of the worker, these hazards must be identified and list in the hazards inventory then rate its effect on the health. This process is called Hazards Identification and Rating. After this is done, check OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967, to find out which regulations is related to the particular hazards and comply accordingly. In the next process, called Risk Assessment, find out who are exposed to these hazards. Evaluate their exposure and then do the Risk Assessment by analysing and determine the probability of its occurrence. After this is done, Control the risk according to the severity of the risk assessment which normally found on the Risk Assessment Matrix(RAM). The whole process is called HIRARC. For generic HIRARC guideline, refer here

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

Above is the Graphic Presentation of the main FOCUS of Occupational Health Services (OHS). The core framework of OHS is PREVENTION. As a famous adage says: PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

The PREVENTION FRAMEWORK is obtained by 3 strategies :

1. PROTECTION of workers health and safety from Hazards and their Risk at workplace

2. PROMOTION of health to the workers so that they have knowledge and skill to empower them to safeguard their own health.

3. ERGONOMICS Implementation by humanising the workplace and work task so that it is fitting to the capability of the workers physiologically and psychologically.

In order to memorise the strategies, I called it PPE Strategy. PPE here is not acronym for Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) but just a mnemonic to recall the 3 strategies namely Protection, Promotion and Ergonomics. PPE is formed from the first alphabet of each strategy and all SHO Practitioner is familiar with the term PPE. So PPE Strategy is a good mnemonic to recall these 3 strategies.

Source: My Slide lecture to EDOSH Students Batch 4 Kuching 2010

MEDICAL REVIEW OFFICER COURSE 2010

I attended Medical Review Course for the first time in December 2005 at Subang Jaya Resort and alhamdulillah I passed the exam. After a lapse of 5 years, on 24 and 25 July 2010, I attended the MRO course for the second time at Dynasty Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The course was organised by Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia (AOEMM). 34 participants who are Appointed Medical Examiner(AME) for PETRONAS,SHELL,EXXON MOBIL and PMU attended the course. The course was coordinated and supervised by 3 resources person who are the leading Occupational Physician in the country namely Dr Abu Hasan Samad of Exxon Mobile, Dr Abdul Halim Mohamad of SHELL and Dr Mohd Hatta Usul of PETRONAS.

MRO is a medical doctor who is trained on how to verify testing on drug abuse and implement Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Program. It is an American model.

Photos from National RTW Conference 2010

One of the 'OKU' who participates in RTW program received acknowldegment from the Minister

A big banner explaining what is 'Return To Work Program'.

A booklet of the conference program was given to the participants

NATIONAL 'RETURN TO WORK' CONFERENCE 2010

I attended National Return To Work (RTW) Program organised by SOCSO at Sunway Piramid Convention Centre on 26 and 27 July 2010. About 1000 participants attended the Conference from the whole Malaysia. The conference was declared open by Minister of Human Resource Malaysia, YB Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam. 7 lectures were presented during the conference by international and local speakers. On the first day, Mr. Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, the Secretary General of International Social Security Association (ISSA) presented the first lecture entitled: Dynamic Social Security - Investing in People.

Early RTW is a program initiated by SOCSO in their effort to implement 'Prevention Before Rehabilitation Before Compensation' strategy in handling a complex workplace injury faced by the workforce in Malaysia. In order to Return To Work early, the injured workers need to attend Rehabilitation. For those who contributes to SOCSO they can claim the cost of Rehabilitation from SOCSO. The National Rehabilitation Centre located in Melaka, spearheaded by SOCSO will be ready by the end of the year.

This big step taken by SOCSO is a new era of Dynamic Social Security System in Malaysia which stressed more on Prevention and Rehabilitation rather than just paying Compensation. The success of this effort is also depending on the 'open and receptive mind' of the Human Resource(HR) Practitioner to adopt 'Disability Management' in their HR policies. This RTW program needs full support from the organisation as well as the worker. In order to make RTW program a successful national project, all of us have to learn to unlearn the 'traditional model of social security role' concept embedded in our mind.

Ergonomics Home Furnitures

All the above photos were taken from Ergoworks's Office

BASIC ERGONOMICS ASSESSMENT TRAINING

On 15 & 16th April, I went to KL to attend Basic Ergonomics Risk Assessment (ERA) Training conducted by one of Malaysia's Leading Ergonomist, Dr Jalaluddin Dahalan of ErgoWorks Sdn Bhd. 13 participants attended this training, among them - 2 from SHELL, Colgate-Palmolive and Shinetzu respectively. Among the 13 participants, 2 of us (one OHN from Shinetzu) are medical people, others are Engineer and SHO.

On the first day, Dr J explained the important of Ergonomics in reducing Financial and Legislative Risks. The definition of Ergonomics which is originated from 2 Greek Words (Ergon and Nomos) was explained in term of safety, health, productivity and efficiency.

On the 2nd day, Dr J taught us how to do Basic Ergonomics Risk Assessment (ERA). We are given 3 scenarios based on real case studies, to practice our skill in ERA.

At the end of the course 2 participants were evaluated and rated as the best presenter by the participants. Congratulations to Wan Mohd Nazeem of Colgate Palmolive and Azri Mohd Ali of Shinetzu who were the best presenter of ERA.

AUDIOMTERIC TESTING IN HOUSE TRAINING

Today, Kuching Specialist Hospital organised an in-house training on audiometric testing, conducted by Mr Derrick Chan of Top Hearing Care Centre KL. We bought our audiometric machine and static silent booth from this company many years ago. 13 staff attended the training, majority are our nurses who conduct the audiometric testing.

Mr Derrick Chan divided his teaching into theory and practical. He covered the following topics:

1. Ear 2. How we hear? 3. Pure Tone 4. Audiogram 5. Results Interpretation. During the hand on audiometric testing, each of the participants was taught on how to conduct the pure tone air conduction testing as required under FMA 1967 (Noise Exposure 1989). Beside that the participants were also taught on how to operate the audiometric machine as well as how to 'trouble shooting' in case the machine has some technical problems.

A copy of Noise Exposure regulation 1989 was also given to each of the participants. The salient features in the regulation were also highlighted.

The training started from 1 pm until 5:45 pm. Each participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Workplace Accident: Amputation of Right Thumb

2 weeks ago, a worker came with Amputation of his Right Thumb at the base, alleged accidentally cut by a machine saw. This is a workplace accident and needs further investigation to find out the root cause as well as needs to be notified to DOSH by the employer.

For the worker, it will be the worst experience, he will grieve for the loss of his right thumb, worst still he is the right handed person. He appealed to the ortho. surgeon to rejoin his right thumb back. Yes, the surgeon tried but the difficult thing is- it occured at the joint line of his right thumb, the outcome would not be that successful in term of function and might be failed.

The impact of this loss incident is a trauma and a crisis experience in his life. He will in grief for a certain duration of time. While his thumb is badly injured, his mind is traumatised by the incident. What will his employer do to help him?

EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE @ IOT Management II

EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE @ IOT Management

Today, at 2:30 pm I attended 2nd Fire Drill exercise conducted by Independent Oil Terminal Management (IOTM) at their LPG Terminal at Senari Port. The exercise took 1 hour with participation from Jabatan Bomba Dan Penyelamat and Kuching Port Authority. As a whole, the exercise has improved compare with last year exercise. Congratulation to IOTM!

HEALTH TALK AT PMB, JKR Kuching

Today (15 December,2009) I was invited by SHECOM of Pusat Makmal Bahan-Bahan (PMB), JKR at Tabuan Jaya Kuching to give a talk on Stress Management at 9:30 a.m.

My talk was entitled Occupational & Psychological Stress. My presentation is divided into two part : 1) Understand Stress 2) Basic Management of Stress.

I focused on 2 components of stress situation which is vital to understand in order to manage STRESS effectively. First component is the STRESSOR or source of stress. The first step in stress management is to identify the STRESSOR and decide whether it can be eliminate, modify or cannot at all. If the source can be eliminated and modified, it will make it easy to manage the stress. In some situation, the source cannot be changed at all for example loss event (death).So we have to be rational to accept it as a FACT in life. In this case, the strategy is to concentrate on the way you cope (response) with the situation. The approach will be individual and organizational.

Although the talk has a small crowd but during Q&A session, there were a lot of questions asked by the participants.

NIOSH : Best OSH Practice Seminar

On 14 December, 2009 I presented one topic entitled : Hazards & Risk @ Workplace : Identification, Prevention and Rectification at Merdeka Palace, Kuching. I shared the concept of HRA (Health Risk Assessment) that was practiced by SHELL as one good practice in handling health hazards at workplace. According to NIOSH Kuching, the total number of participants were 70 with many registered at last minute.

HEALTH TALK AT BROOKE DOCKYARD

On the 8 December, 2009 I have a privilege to give a health talk on occupational hazard to the workers of Brooke DockYard, Kuching. The topic of my health talk is on Noise at workplace. Around 20 workers were attending the talk. Few questions were asked by the participants.

ASSAR SENARI: Healthy workforce Health Screening Program

The first batch of ASSARSENARI GROUP's workforce participated in 'Healthy Workforce Healthg Screening Program' on 4 November, 2009. 20 staff including CEO, COO, Legal Adviser, Human Resource executives etc. attended the program.

The objectives of this program are:

1.To identify the baseline health status of the workforce

2.To identify the workforce who has risk factors for NCD occurrence

3.To identify the workers who has established NCD and also CD

4.To design a future plan for monitoring schedule of the workers health status

5.To assess the needs of health promotion to maintain the healthy life status of the worker

The program use WHO STEPS questionnaire to achieve the above objectives. The program will check each of the worker on the 8 modifiable risk factors for the Non Communicable Diseases.

The 8 Modifiable risk factors are:

1. Smoking

2. Alcohol Consumption

3.Unhealthy Diet

4. Physical Inactivity

5. Obesity

6. High Blood Pressure

7. High Sugar Level

8. High lipid levels

Second batch of the participants will attend their health screening session on 7 December 2009