Occupational Health and Safety Management System:
Implementation at the Faculty of Medicine,
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Chaiear N, MD, MMedSc, PhD1,2, Seehamoke C, MPH1, Krisorn P, MD, MSc1, Soonthornvinit W, MD, MSc1,
Janpho P, BNS2, Lerdruampattana S, BNS, MSN2, Song-Arsa T, BSc2
Affiliation :
1 Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
2 Occupational Health and Safety Office, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OH&SMS) at the Faculty of Medicine, KKU started in 2001. In 2003,
the Faculty set up the Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) committee. In 2006, the Faculty established the governing bodies of
OH&SMS, including the office of occupational health and safety (OH&S) and a number of occupational health and safety management
committees. The office comprised a safety officer, an administrative assistant, and an occupational physician appointed as head of
the office. Six years later, two registered nurses were allocated to OH&S office. The OH&S office and OH&S committee are responsible
for OH&S policy preparation, the regular monthly meeting, strategic planning, budgeting plan development, goal achievement,
management evaluation and review, and continual improvement. For the past 18 years, occupational safety, health, and environment
policy has had a formal structure. The OH&S office has essentially managed implementation of both workplace safety and
occupational health service activities. Approximately 80% of the heads of the operational sections and units were trained 12 hours
in the OH&S management system after which they were appointed as supervisory safety officers. KKU’s Faculty of Medicine thus
followed both the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act and 85% of the earlier Ministerial Regulation on the Prescribing
of Standard for Administration and Management of Occupational Safety and Health and Environment. Occupational health service
activities follow standard guidelines albeit gaps exist in workplace safety activities evidenced by repeated correction of faults and
control of hazards.
Keywords : Occupational health, Occupational safety, Hospital, Health workers
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