INGENIEUR
WAY FORWARD
CIMS is spearheading one of the activities under Strategy 4 and Strategy 1 of the previous Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan ( OSHMP ) 2020 for the country . It is one of the first mandatory national hazardous c h e m i c a l s
Hazardous chemicals inventories in Malaysia . Its existence shows that DOSH is very committed to set up and design national systems for information collection which will allow identification and prioritisation of chemicals of concern to minimise risk from these chemicals . This in turn will assist Malaysia in international reporting pertaining to sound management of chemicals . However , CIMS is limited to suppliers manufacturing or importing hazardous chemicals exceeding one tonne per year for each chemicals . CONCLUSION This means chemicals less than one tonne are not reported in CIMS . The system itself needs to be maintained regularly and it involves cost to the administrator .
Moving forward , data from CIMS is currently being mapped on the Geographical Information System ( GIS ) platform to enable quick traceability in times of chemical disaster or emergency . GIS combines computer graphics with databases , stores and process spatial information . The recent incidents in Pasir Gudang , Johor involving chemicals released and which needed to be identified were an eye opener to the respective chemical management related agencies in Malaysia . They realised there is a need to identify chemicals used and their location during such incidents to anticipate and mitigate risk from further damage to community and the environment . The developed database can be used to facilitate the profiling of chemicals and
REFERENCE their risk-mapping at any location in Malaysia . A report from the Academy of Sciences Malaysia ( Academy of Sciences Malaysia , 2019 ) highlighted the lack of availability of national databases covering all chemicals in the country . The report also emphasised the lack of coordination of chemical management data in the country .
CIMS will be further expanded in 2022 to coordinate , process , register and classify incoming imported hazardous chemicals into Malaysia through a system called No CLASS No Entry ( NCNE ). This system will assist local suppliers to classify their chemicals and will increase efficiency in risk assessment and risk control pertaining to usage of hazardous chemicals .
Despite its limitation , CIMS is the only mandatory national chemical registry with GHS classified database and will continue to be an important system in the country with its expansion to include controlling incoming hazardous chemicals at the port of entry . The establishment of CIMS assists in enhancing data collection and data sharing for sound management of chemicals in Malaysia . Its very existence emphasises the commitment of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health in assisting Malaysia in the National Chemical Management Plan which involves various stakeholders and Ministries . CIMS helps to assist policy makers in tracing and assessing the probable impact of chemicals on human health and the environment , and in taking appropriate actions or planning for regulatory measures .
Academy of Sciences Malaysia . ( 2019 ). Pengajaran dari Sungai KIm Kim , Pasir Gudang . Kuala Lumpur : Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia .
12 VOL 86 APRIL-JUNE 2021