KUALA LUMPUR: Cases of occupational injuries and work-related deaths across the country have steeply declined by 24% and 56% respectively over the past decade, says Steven Sim (pic).
The Human Resources Minister said a total of 38,950 workplace accidents with 324 cases of fatalities were reported nationwide last year.
Sim said the workplace-related accident rate in 2023 was 2.46 per 1,000 workers, which was slightly higher than the 2.32 set in the Malaysian Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2025 (OSHMP25).
He said the occupational fatality rate stood at 2.05 per 100,000 workers which was below the OSHMP25 target of 3.23.
In 2013, the workplace accident rate was at 3.28 per 1,000 workers.
"Through the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), the ministry has made efforts to increase awareness among employers, workers and medical practitioners to report cases of diseases and poisoning at their workplace," Sim said after officiating the National Occupational Safety and Health Award 2023 ceremony at the Courtyard Kuala Lumpur South Hotel here on Tuesday (Nov 12) evening.
He said the efforts resulted in DOSH receiving 11,747 such reports last year which is a rise of 29% compared to 2020.
Sim said the rise in reports was also attributed to an increase in occupational health doctors from 656 in 2012 to 1,410 last year.
Moreover, he said following investigations, it was confirmed that the cause of 8,155 cases reported were occupational.
"Safety and health of workers are important elements. This is in line with the ministry's strategic mission of ensuring safety, skill and success to optimise the potential of the future workforce.
"Apart from workers going to work in an honourable way and earning a decent income for a dignified quality of life, we want every one of them to be able to return home safely to their families. This is our aspiration," Sim said.
