Ensuring work safety in schools

TO promote safety at school, the Johor Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has launched a national-level Occupational Safety and Health At School awareness campaign at SMK Tasek Utara here, recently.

The objective of the campaign is to ensure that school administrators and their staff observe safety practices at their workplace at all times.

DOSH director Omar Mat Piah said the initiative was taken as there had been cases of physical injuries due to accidents during school hours.

“Many people think that accidents do not happen in schools but if the school administrator fails to observe safety measures, then the school could be a haphazard zone for just anyone,” he said.

“We hope that the school safety campaign will usher in better safety management at schools,” he said.

Omar said most of occupational safety and health checks were conducted by well established companies which incorporated a high standard of operating procedures in their premises.

“This is to ensure the safety of all workers as well as the quality of products. It is also done to minimise cost, especially when loss of lives and machinery could spell financial woes for the company,” he said after launching the campaign.

Various activities were held during the launch such as poster making, essay writings and spot-the-hazards hunt where students went around the school compound and listed the potential dangers found at the school.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between SMK Tasek Utara and Eco Oil Sdn Bhd, a school safety consultant.

He said aside from the school safety campaign, DOSH has initiated the Zero-Fall campaign last month to advise construction workers to observe safety measures while on duty.

“Most accidents at the workplace can be avoided if the workers pay attention to the safety guidelines.”

Omar said last year, Dosh inspected about 210,413 premises, including machinery, out of which, 415 compounds were issued and 315 offenders charged in court.

Meanwhile, SMK Tasek Utara principal Abdullah Abdul Hamid said the campaign not only protect the safety of students but also school staff, especially lab assistants, technicians and general workers.

“I hope the campaign will instil in everyone the importance of maintaining safety measures at work,” he said.