Lee urges schools to boost safety

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health is offering to help the Education Ministry improve safety in schools through its new “OSH in school” programme.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said in a statement yesterday safety and health was paramount to schools, which must be viewed not only as a place for learning but also for working.

“Over the years, there have been reports of accidents in schools involving teachers, students and staff, arising from the collapse of building structures, ceiling fans, goal posts and toilets, as well as accidents in science laboratories involving the use of chemicals.

“As such, safety at work in schools involving teachers and students must never be compromised.”

The “OSH in school” pilot programme has been implemented in more than a dozen schools with sponsorship from corporate organisations.

Lee said although the government had implemented programmes such as the School Health Programme in 1967 and Safe School Project in 2002, they were focused on improving health and protecting schools from social ills and negative external influences, such as drug addiction, gangsterism and crime.

“The ‘OSH in school’ programme covers another dimension and views school as a workplace in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.”

Lee said the programme was aimed at ensuring safety, health and welfare for those at work, protecting students against risks to safety and health in connection with the activities of persons at work and establishing a safe and healthy working environment in areas, including the offices, laboratories, canteens, toilets and fields.

Occupational safety and health awareness, he said, should not be limited to teachers and school staff but also extended to students, parents and the public.

“This can be done through OSH education, awareness, training and exhibitions.

“Training and information dissemination are the main elements in ensuring that employees know the risks they are facing in the workplace and how to work safely to manage them.

“Apart from that, instilling awareness at an early stage is important to create a safe and healthy workplace in schools, as well as in preparing the students, who will join the workforce in the future.”