Make OSH priority at home and work: Lee
Published on: Sunday, September 24, 2017
Kuala Lumpur: National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) has called for the promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) as a people's agenda that covers every worker and family member at all places of work, including schools and educational institutions.Its Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said most injuries and ill health/health hazards at workplaces can be prevented if good OSH practices are followed and carried out.He said the institute recently embarked on a Vision Zero campaign which stressed on changing mindsets to increase safety and reduce the possibility of accidents at a workplace.
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Lee said the Vision Zero campaign is not to ensure zero accidents but instead focuses more on how to avoid mishaps or accidents and reducing such incidences at work place."We feel it is all the more urgent in the wake of a horrific fire at a religious school in Datuk Keramat which killed 21 children and two teachers about a week ago."Schools and education institutes are also considered as workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994, as such OSH committee must be set up if it has 40 workers or above," he said in a statement, Saturday.With the help of other agencies and non-governmental organisations, Lee said Niosh would continue to educate the public and create awareness on safety and health at work through various initiatives such as campaigns and courses.
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He said various fatal tragedies, including fires at tahfiz schools, could have been prevented if a good occupational safety and health (OSH) management system was implemented at workplaces and if safety audits were carried out."Malaysians must embrace the "Vision Zero" mindset. Although Vision Zero is not a new target, but an effort to change in our mindset towards thinking that all injuries and ill health can be indeed be prevented.
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"Globally, there has been a growing interest in Vision Zero and we must also encourage our people to subscribe to the belief that zero harm is possible," he added.Lee said the International Social Security Association (ISSA) launched Vision Zero campaign at the 21st World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in Singapore early this month and he said he intends to share the ideas and aspirations from OSH practitioners at the congress with the Government for further improvement initiatives.He said the congress was the first ever global campaign to improve safety, health and wellbeing where more than 1,300 OSH practitioners had joined.Lee added that in conjunction with the National Day on Aug 31 and Malaysia Day on Sept 16, Niosh was also offering 20 per cent discount for eight of its competency courses from September to November this year.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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