The Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA), the Authority responsible for the Workplace Safety and Health Order, 2009 is pleased to announce that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the enactment of the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations, 2021 and the Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021.

Under the Workplace Safety and Health (First-Aid) Regulations, 2021, every workplace shall ensure sufficient number of first aid boxes which should be adequately equipped and properly maintained. Where a workplace has more than 25 persons employed or deals with machinery, equipment and hazardous substances specified under the Workplace Safety and Health Order, the workplace shall ensure the appointment of first-aiders who have undergone training in first-aid treatment based on the ratio of one first-aider for every 50 persons employed in a workplace. In addition, the regulations also impose a requirement for every workplace that has more than 100 persons at work to maintain a first-aid room and that occupiers of workplaces should ensure that suitable facilities are in place for emergency treatment where any person in a workplace may be exposed to toxic and corrosive substances.

Meanwhile, the Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 includes amendments to deal with the handling of hazardous substances whereby it shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace to ensure that any container of hazardous substances is affixed with one or more warning labels pertaining to classification and labelling of hazardous substances and ensure that safety data sheets are obtained and made available to all persons at work in the workplace liable to be exposed to such substances. The regulations also impose duties on sellers and agents who sell hazardous substances to provide the buyer with a safety data sheet containing accurate and adequate information on the substance. This, however, does not apply to substances in consumer packages intended for retail sale.

The Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 also include amendments to enhance protection and strengthen measures to be taken against falls such as the duty of the occupier of a workplace to ensure all openings in floors of the workplace are securely covered or fenced unless the nature of the work renders such covering or fencing impracticable.

Both of these regulations which aim to strengthen the legal framework pertaining to Workplace Safety and Health in Brunei Darussalam are effective from 1 June 2021.

Should there be any queries concerning the regulations and its implementation, please contact SHENA at +673 238 2000 or email info@shena.gov.bn. SHENA would like to thank all stakeholders for their cooperation in ensuring Brunei Darussalam is a safe place to work and live.