Work safety in Kulaijaya factories still a concern
The Star Online, 21 May 2014
KULAIJAYA: More than half of the 500 factories in the Kulaijaya industrial areas are not registered with the state Occupational Safety and Health Department.
Department deputy director Mohd Razak Rahman said there was still a lack of awareness among employers about workplace safety of workers.
He said only about 200 factories and companies were registered with the department, making it difficult to track whether factories were complying with safety guidelines.
To overcome this, the department has embarked on a two-day operation to conduct spot checks at factories in Kulaijaya to raise awareness.
“The operations is to ensure that they follow the guidelines of providing a safe and conducive work environment for workers,” he said after a briefing session before the operation was kicked off yesterday.
Mohd Razak said notices would be served on factories which had failed to comply with the safety guidelines, and a three-month period would be given to them to improve on safety measures.
“The main objective of the operation is not to punish them but to educate and give them a chance to improve.
“We will issue compounds as a last resort and only after several warnings,” he said.
Mohd Razak said that 30 cases had been brought to court so far this year.
