EMPLOYERS are advised to allow staff to work from home if transboundary smoke over the country worsens, the Human Resources Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said employers should carry out proper risk assessments and implement measures to minimise health risks to workers.

“Malaysian labour laws do not prohibit the employer from further determining place of employment other than which is specified in the contract of employment,” the statement said.  

“In certain circumstances, a need may arise that the job task is required to be carried out from a different location other than specified in the contract of employment.”

For instance, due to smoke or flood, employees could be required to carry out their tasks from home temporarily, until the situation is safe, the ministry added.

If the current episode of smokey air from forest fires worsens, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health can order an immediate stop to work in places where employees are at risk from exposure to dangerous levels of smoke.

The ministry published a list of measures employers should take, which include:

• identify susceptible employees such as those with heart or respiratory conditions.
• identify employees with haze-related medical symptoms and ask them to seek medical treatment such as coughing; itchiness in the throat; irritated and watery eyes; running nose and sneezing; itchy skin; and breathing difficulties.  
• reduce outdoor work.
• conduct respirator fit testing for employees who need to work outdoors.
• ensure sufficient stock of disposable N95 respirators.
• improve efficiency of air cleaning devices for workplace and equipment.
• implement communication system between employer and employees. – September 19, 2019.