Are the guidelines for HIRARC 2008 effective for managing workplace hazard?

In 2008, the Guidelines for Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control (HIRARC) were introduced in Malaysia to provide a structured approach for organizations to identify potential workplace hazards, evaluate associated risks, and apply appropriate control measures to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of workers. Despite their widespread use, the extent of their effectiveness across sectors remains underexplored. This study aims to assess the relationship between HIRARC implementation and improvements towards workplace risk management, and to determine the primary factors that influence its implementation. This research employs a cross-sectional design involving 390 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practitioners who are registered with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), representing six regions throughout Malaysia. A structured questionnaire evaluated HIRARC implementation, with content validation by ten OSH experts. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the association between the application of HIRARC and better workplace OSH risk management outcomes. Additionally, simple logistic regression was used to assess the association of HIRARC implementation and reduction of workplace accidents by sectors. The odds ratio for HIRARC application in relation to the reduction of workplace accidents was also evaluated. The analysis showed a significant positive association between HIRARC implementation and improvements in workplace risk management. Additionally, the study observed a significant positive relationship between the application of HIRARC and reductions in workplace incidents and work-related illnesses where the logistic regression analysis revealed a good model fit with moderate effect size. The odds ratio suggested that practitioners who implemented HIRARC were 10.27 times more likely to experience a reduction in workplace accidents and health-related illnesses. Notably, three key factors were identified as significantly influencing the effectiveness of HIRARC implementation. They are identified as active organizational involvement, adequate allocation of resources, and adherence to technical guidance outlined in the HIRARC guidelines. The findings show that the implementation of HIRARC improves workplace safety and health, as well as reduces occupational accidents across all sectors.

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