Occupational Safety and Health Standards
OSH Legislation
In Thailand, the law and legislation related to occupational safety and health have been administered mainly by the Ministry of Labour. At present, the enforcement of such legislation would be referred to the Announcement of the Revolutionary Party No. 103 (equivalent to the Labour Protection Act, 1972). Under this announcement, there are 17 notifications concerning occupational safety and health, which had been issued in order to prevent labour accidents and diseases. These notifications are based on a review process reflecting the views of employers and workers. They include:
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Working with Machinery
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety of Working Environment (Physical Agents)
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety of Working Environment (Chemical Agents)
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in connection with Electricity
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety with respect to Environment Conditions (Diving)
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Construction Work - Use of Material Hoist/Elevator
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Construction Work - Use of Scaffolding
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Construction Work governing Construction Areas
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Working with Cranes or Derricks
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Performing Work connected with Piling
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety of Work in Confined Space
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Working with Hazardous Substances
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Working with Boilers
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Safety in Working with Dangers from Elevation or Falling Objects
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Fire Prevention and Control for Safety of Employee
- Notification of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare : Committee on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Environment
- Notification of the Ministry of Interior : Occupational Safety and Health of Employee
However, a new Labour Protection Act was promulgated in 1998, providing a better basis for safety and health regulations. A number of the above ministerial notifications on occupational safety and health are being reviewed as part of a process of legislative reform being carried out under the Labour Protection Act.
Other key legislation that considerably related to occupational safety and health includes:
The Factories Act (1992) administered by the Ministry of Industry, for the controlling of factories establishment and their operations.
The Public Health Act (1992) administered by the Ministry of Public Health, for the controlling of activities those can be harmful to health.
The Hazardous Substances Act (1992) jointly administered by the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, for controlling the use of hazardous substances.
OSH Standards
A remarkable recent development in OSH in Thailand is the establishment of Thai Industrial Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHS-MS) or TIS 18000. This standard is based on British Standard, BS 8800 (1996): Guide to Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. This standard has been formulated by the joint collaboration of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Labour. Currently, there are 2 series of standard:
- TIS 18001 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System: Specification
- TIS 18004 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System: Technical Guides on Implementing OHS-MS
The key objectives of this standard are:
- To minimize the risk among workers and concerned persons
- To enhance the organzation's work performance and effectiveness
- To express responsibilities of the organization to the public
As export is a major national income, the government, therefore, thas put great efforts supporting business sectors on labour standards, which are currently considered as a trade barrier. The cabinet resolution of 18 December 2001 has granted the project on labour standards development for free trade promotion and budgeted around 300 million baht over the next 5 year (2002-2006) in order to encourage enterprises to implement labour standard management in compliance with labour standard requirements. |
