‘Workplace safety should include the commute’

KOTA KINABALU: Employers should place more emphasis on improving the safety and health of its employees, especially when they commute to and from their workplaces, says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

“While the cases of accidents at workplaces have seen a reduction over the last 10 years, commuting mishaps have increased.

“According to statistics by Socso, the number of commuting accidents have increased from 22,036 cases to 23,831 last year.

“Employers need to work with us as well as other related bodies to look into this matter to prevent losses due to accidents,” he added.

With the global economy facing uncertainties, Lee said it was expected that most establishments and businesses would find ways to cut costs.

“But, I hope they will not cut down on the safety and health of employees, as when an incident happens, the losses incurred would surely cost more than what they are trying to save,” he said after launching the new Kota Kinabalu NIOSH office here yesterday.

Lee also said NIOSH will pay more attention on improving the safety and health standards in the construction, heavy machinery and plantation industries as these industries have contributed to a high number of workplace accidents.

He said there was still room for improvement in terms of the level of compliance on occupational safety and health in the country.

In his welcoming speech, Sabah NIOSH director Zahari Hitam said the authorities are monitoring the working conditions at the Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) for allegedly neglecting safety features and causing deaths of workers at its site.

“We have brought three cases to court and we are waiting for decisions on them,” he added.

Zahari said safety and health personnel are also being sent to the SFI worksite in Sipitang, some 140km from here, on a scheduled basis to ensure a safe working environment for its staff.

SFI was fined RM100,000 last year for discharging effluent into the water system at its premises in Sipitang.

It was also accused of failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of its workers, which had resulted in a worker’s death.