A comparison of conventional safety management system and total safety management system in Klang Valley / Saiful Fahmi Bahari

As the building construction industry has been one of the major industries in Malaysia with many high-rise and low-rise projects across the country prior to the economic recession. The size of the workforce has increased tremendously over the years and has reached into the thousands who are providing manpower to the industry. Therefore, is a need on implementing a total safety management in order to prevent the increasing alarming rate of injuries and accidents to not take its toll on the country and economy. This study will investigate on Safety and Health Management system specifically on the comparison of Conventional Safety Management and Total Safety Management in construction project in Klang Valley. Five companies were selected the data collection is based on questionnaires to the related company and the interview with their Safety Department. The objectives of this study are a) to study the safety planning and program being practices by the construction site in accordance to the CSM concept or the TSM concept, b) To identify the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in both safety management concept, c) To compare a CSM with model of TSM and the advantages of TSM based on the case study and questionnaire, d) To conclude and recommend which safety management approach is more practicality to be implement based on the findings, trend analysis and the current practice of OSH in Malaysia. The reason on the failure of implementing safety aspect at construction project is due to ignorance of the contractors to highlight safety as an important element, especially operational activities at site. From the interview conducted, the Safety Managers with TSM revealed that by implementing TSM has been enhanced the safety working environment and improved by obtaining and maintaining the OHSAS 18001 certification which enabled them to enhance their productivity and profitability. The survey from selected respondents with the experience of management executive and employee in the companies agreed that the implementation of Health and Safety Management system through Total Safety Management will improved their safety working environment. In future, it is recommended that a research to be carried out to determine the comparative study on Safety Management on Malaysian Acts and Regulations with OHS AS 18001 requirements specifically.