OSH Regulations: SHO, Committee, Hazardous Chemicals and Incident Notification
Domain 3 - OSH Regulations: SHO, Committee, Hazardous Chemicals and Incident Notification
This domain tests the operational regulations that convert OSHA duties into workplace systems: who must be appointed, what committees must do, how chemicals are assessed, and how incidents are reported.
Core rules
- Safety and Health Officer Regulations 1997: an employer must employ a registered SHO at a place of work with more than 500 employees, and where the Director General directs. The SHO advises on OSH, inspects the workplace, investigates incidents and promotes compliance.
- Safety and Health Committee Regulations 1996: a committee is mandatory where 40 or more employees are employed; below that, the DG may require one. The committee includes management and employee representatives and must meet at least quarterly.
- USECHH 2000: for chemicals hazardous to health, the employer must keep a chemical register and SDS, conduct a Chemical Health Risk Assessment by a competent person, apply control measures, monitor exposure, provide health surveillance and train workers. The assessment is reviewed at least every five years or after significant change.
- NADOPOD Regulations 2004: notify DOSH of accidents, dangerous occurrences, occupational poisoning and occupational disease by the fastest means within 24 hours, then submit a written report within 7 days.
Worked example
A spray painter develops asthma after toluene diisocyanate exposure. The employer must notify DOSH under NADOPOD as an occupational disease, and must have a current chemical health risk assessment, exposure controls, SDS and medical surveillance under USECHH. If the site has 60 employees, a safety and health committee is required; it does not need a full-time SHO on the 500-employee trigger alone.
Traps
Do not use the 40-employee committee threshold for the SHO requirement. Do not treat a chemical health risk assessment as a one-off. Do not report only to SOCSO; DOSH notification is separate. Do not miss the 24-hour/7-day split.