Sandakan: The country registered a total of 81,810 cases of industrial accidents in 2002 but the figure dropped to 59,897 cases last year, according to Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
In terms of payment of compensation to employees, during the year 2002, RM712.8 million was distributed to those who met with accidents, while total compensation increased to RM1.7 billion for 2011 for the same purpose.
"Although the number of accidents decreased, the remaining challenge is to build and nurture a culture of safety and health (OSH) in the country and to move towards a workplace environment free of accidents," he said at a press conference shortly after officiating the OSH Seminar For State Tourism Industry, held for two days starting Tuesday at Sabah Hotel, here.
"Therefore, in this context, all sectors of hospitality such as travel, hotels, resorts, guides, and many more are urged to take this OSH steps whether by employer or the workers themselves so that accidents can be prevented as well as providing security to tourists and the workers themselves, "he said.
Lee also called on employers and industries to invest for OSH management and empower the people through the Health Committee to reduce accidents, injuries and deaths at work.
He said creating a safe and healthy workplace requires changes in the basic principles of working methods designed and placement of staff, and how the culture of an organisation understands and responds to the security aspects.
"This change requires leadership ability to do transformation not only to the physical environment, but also the beliefs and practices of the people who create risks and to those working with risks.
"The management is responsible for safety and health at the workplace and can change the attitude of their employees and safety and health by ensuring that there is a budget for safety training to help prevent accidents and disease-related with employment among the workforce," he said.
Earlier, opening the seminar, he said, according to statistics obtained from the Ministry of Human Resources, the rate of industrial accidents has decreased from 10.3 cases per 1,000 workers in 2002 to 5.72 cases last year.
Lee said the reduction in the rate of accidents in the workplace is a reflection of their commitment and joint efforts between the Government, employers and employees to reduce workplace accidents.
He said employers need to look at training in occupational safety and health as an investment rather than an expense alone.
Meanwhile, the Chief Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Member of Parliament for Sandakan, Charles Pang, welcomed the seminar that is being held in Sandakan.
Pang, who was representing Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister cum Sandakan MP, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, said the seminar was also expected to provide a holistic approach to the participants about OSH and the next culture of OSH measures place their work.
The seminar was attended by 50 participants consisting of employers and employees of the tourism and hospitality sector around Sandakan.
Also present were Niosh Sabah and Labuan Manager, Mohd Hussin Abd Salam, and Director of Sabah Road Safety Department, Herdiansah Abdul Karim.
0 comments:
Post a Comment