Safety module for creative and media industries in the works

KUALA LUMPUR: A Safety Passport module for the creative and media industries is in the works.

The module aims to outline occupational safety and health aspects needed for those working in the creative and media industries, said Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.

The initiative will be undertaken by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) in collaboration with the Tun Abdul Razak Institute of Broadcasting and Information (IPPTAR).

“Currently, there are no specific safety modules for these industries; as such, this will help those in the industries to be more aware while on duty,” he said after the Niosh Safety Passport Strategic Partners Appreciation ceremony here yesterday.

The Safety Passport programme was introduced in 2000 to support the government’s efforts in increasing safety and health aspects among employees in the workplace.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (AKKP) 1994, employers are responsible to provide training and information related to employees’ occupational safety and health.

As such, the programme’s module must comply with the provisions of the law including the AKKP.

Sivakumar said that based on Niosh statistics, over a million workers have participated in the induction training under the Niosh Safety Passport programme.

“The highest participation is among the oil and gas sector with a total of 427,394 workers joining since 2013, followed by the energy sector (236,405 workers) and telecommunications (116,369).

“The ministry through Niosh has also offered the programme to 5,000 graduates from higher education and skill training institutes under the unity government Cabinet members 100-day key performance index initiative.

“Although the programme is not compulsory, we would like to urge all employers and industry players who have yet to implement the safety passport to do so as it can help reduce accidents and illness rates at the workplace,” he added.

Earlier, Sivakumar presented certificates and trophies to 15 strategic partners as a token of appreciation for their efforts to strengthen safety and occupational health at the industrial level.

These include PETRONAS, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Telekom Malaysia, Shell Malaysia, Petron Malaysia, Nestle Malaysia, Air Selangor, Malaysian Highway Authority, Cenviro Sdn Bhd, Astro, Sarawak Energy, Air Kelantan, E-Idaman, Sabah Port and PETRONAS Trade.

It was reported that the Occupational Safety and Health Department (JKKP) recorded a total of 388 deaths and 21,767 injured workers in 2022.

The achievement of occupational injury rate last year was 1.44 per 1,000 workers compared to the target of not exceeding 2.42 per 1,000 workers.