Help reduce work-related accidents — Riot
The Borneo Post Online, 8 July 2013
SAFETY FIRST: Riot (second right) taking a close look at a motorcycle helmet approved by Sirim. — Bernama photo
KUCHING: The government wants to reduce work-related accidents from 3.31 cases per 1,000 employees recorded last year to 3:1000 by 2015.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem said a spotless occupational and safety record would be good for the country’s image and foreign investment initiatives.
“Trade will increase when local and international companies are confident with our level of concern for labour.
“This is in line with the focus of Budget 2013, which is to increase investment activities to RM148.4 billion this year,” Riot said when launching the national-level Occupational Safety Week
2013 and National Safe Journey to the Workplace Campaign at Kuching Waterfront here yesterday.
He stressed efforts to increase investment would not bear fruit without the cooperation of employers and employees to reduce work-related accidents.
“The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has worked out the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2015.
Its objectives are to transfer the accountability of occupational safety and health from the government to the industry.
“The role of employers and employees in matters pertaining to occupational safety and health are, therefore, required.”
Riot said the government would promote occupational safety and health at the highest level to ensure the successful implementation of the master plan.
On the National Safe Journey to the Workplace Campaign, he said it was an initiative by the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to reduce accidents and illnesses at the workplace.
“It is to ensure private sector workers are always healthy and productive in contributing to the companies’ development and country’s economy.”
Under this campaign, free health screening is provided in government hospitals and Socso panel clinics to detect non-transmittable diseases for workers aged between 40 and 55 years.
Among those present at the launching were Socso chief executive Datuk K Selvarajah, DOSH director-general Datuk Dr Johari Basri, Cuepacs president Datuk Omar Osman and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai.
