KUALA LUMPUR: Employers and organisations must prioritise workers’ mental well-being alongside physical safety as part of a comprehensive workplace safety strategy, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
In conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on Tuesday (April 28), the Alliance for a Safe Community chairman stressed that psychosocial factors are becoming increasingly significant in defining a safe workplace.
"The annual observance, led by the International Labour Organisation, aims to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.
"This year’s theme, 'Ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment to promote workers’ safety, health and performance', reflects growing concerns over mental health challenges in modern workplaces," he said when contacted Tuesday.
Lee said that workplace safety is no longer limited to physical hazards, as issues such as excessive workload, long working hours, harassment, job insecurity and poor work-life balance are taking a toll on employees.
“These psychosocial risks, if left unaddressed, can lead to stress, burnout, depression and even workplace accidents,” he said.
He emphasised that promoting a healthy psychosocial working environment must be treated as a core component of occupational safety and health (OSH), with shared responsibility among employers, employees and policymakers.
"Among the key measures highlighted were fostering open communication, preventing workplace bullying and discrimination, ensuring reasonable workloads, promoting work-life balance, and providing access to mental health support and counselling services," he added.
Lee also called for better training for managers to identify psychosocial risks, as well as stronger OSH policies that incorporate mental health protection.
“When workers feel psychologically safe, they are more engaged, productive and committed. Good mental health at work benefits both employees and businesses,” he added.
He urged organisations, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to take proactive steps in integrating psychosocial risk management into workplace safety systems.
At the same time, he said governments and enforcement agencies must strengthen guidelines, awareness efforts and compliance measures to ensure mental well-being is given equal priority with physical safety.
“As we mark this important day, we must remember that protecting workers means caring for both their physical and mental well-being.
“A safe mind is just as important as a safe workplace. Healthy minds create safer workplaces and safer workplaces build a stronger nation,” he said.
