DOSH targets to lower work-related accidents each year
The Borneo Post Online, 29 April 2014
KUCHING: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is targeting to have the country’s work-related accidents reduced by 1,800 each year.
This was revealed by its director-general Datuk Dr Johari Basri, who said the department under the Ministry of Human Resources hoped to achieve the target within five years.
“We are aiming to reduce the rates of work related accidents by 1,800 each year between 2011 and 2015,” he told reporters at a press conference after witnessing the official opening of World Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Day launched by Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Ismail Abdul Muttalib on behalf of Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem at the former State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here yesterday.
He pointed out that between 2012 and 2013, the number of workplace accidents was considered more stable compared to commuting accidents.
“Workplace accidents recorded a slight increase of 602 cases from 35,296 in 2012 to 35,898 in 2013 whereas for commuting accidents, there was an increase of 1,403 cases from 26,256 in 2012 to 27,659 last year,” Johari revealed.
However, he said there was a slight decrease in number of fatalities in both years from 983 in 2012 to 933 last year.
Meanwhile, Social Security Organisation (Socso) chief executive officer and director-general Datuk K Selvarajah disclosed that the organisation paid out a total of RM2.2 billion in compensation to more than 350,000 workers last year.
“This is an increase compared to the year 2012 when the total compensation was RM2 billion to 396,914 workers,” he said.
On the level of compliance among employers to register and make contributions to Socso in Sarawak, Selvarajah said the state’s compliance rate was good, much like other states in the country.
“Generally, the national average for compliance rate is more than 90 per cent and it has improved basically with compliance problems getting less as employers now see the benefits in covering their workers,” he explained.
Also present at the press conference was Ismail.
