New Straits Times, 2 November 2012

PETALING JAYA: Bayer CropScience has teamed up with Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama), Nestle Malaysia and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) for a food-chain partnership project.

The long-term partnership project is aimed at improving the yield and quality of fruits, vegetables and rice in Malaysia.

Bayer Co (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Herbert Dittmar said the collaboration can build relationships that will benefit everyone.

He said the goal is to work with its partners along the entire value chain from seed to shelf to support sustainable production of high-quality fruits, vegetables and rice in the country.

"We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with Fama, Nestle and Niosh on the first-ever food-chain partnership in Malaysia," he said after a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between Bayer and the three parties here yesterday.

The initiative is a proactive approach to create demand for sustainable crop solutions, facilitating mutually beneficial business relationships and a proven concept with more than 240 projects in more than 30 countries.

With Fama, Bayer will work closely with its contract farmers and durian exporting growers, while for Nestle, Bayer will promote a sustainable integrated crop solution for its chilli growers and, in near future, for rice.

For Niosh, Bayer will continue its efforts to train growers and Niosh staff on the safe use of pesticides.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here yesterday, Dittmar said Bayer Malaysia will invest RM200,000 a year in the food-chain partnership.

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Chia Tee Yong said such partnership is important to ensure safe and sustainable food production for consumers.

Bayer CropScience is a global player with core compentencies in healthcare, agriculture and high-tech materials.

New Straits Times, 4 September 2012

PETALING JAYA: Action will be taken against those responsible if negligence contributed to a shipping disaster in Labuan in July that resulted in five deaths, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday.

"Once we know what happened, action will be taken," he said at the Conference for Occupational Safety and Health in a shopping mall here

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had attributed the explosion and fire on board a methanol tanker to lightning.

DOSH deputy director-general (operations) Mohtar Musri, who was at the conference, said during the unloading of methanol from MISC ship Bunga Alpina to the Petronas methanol terminal on July 26, it was raining and there was lightning.

"When there is loading and unloading, there is bound to be vapour from the chemicals, and the vapour was what was struck by lightning, causing the explosion. The earthing mechanism was also not working that day."

On another matter, Dr Subramaniam urged employers to invest in occupational safety and health, saying it was an essential investment that would help increase their productivity and profitability. Bernama

Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye launching the Conference for Occupational Safety and Health in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Metro Harian, 31 October 2013 |

NIOSH perkenal OSH pasti keselamatan di institusi pendidikan.

New Straits Times, 29 January 2013

KOTA KINABALU: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) certification has become the key determinant for the future of industries.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said yesterday since 2004, the institute had issued Occupational Safety and Health Management System (MS 1722 and OHSAS 18001) certificates to 22 companies nationwide.

This includes certifying two Sabah oil palm companies -- Lahad Datu Edible Oils Sdn Bhd and TSH Wilmar Sdn Bhd, Kunak -- since Niosh Certification Sdn Bhd (NCSB) was established nine years ago.

"With this certification, we help companies to create branding and it is one way to make sure that industries in Malaysia becomes competent and productive."

He was speaking at the Media Appreciation Lunch 2013 at Pan Pacific Sutera, yesterday. Present were NCSB general manager Shamsul Zahrin Zainudin and Sabah and Labuan Niosh manager Mohd Hussin Abd Salam.

Lee said Sabah was moving towards industrialisation and it was important to comply with the safety standards regulations.

"If a company is certified, customers will be satisfied and they are confident this is a company which complies with safety standards."

This year, Niosh will be organising the Third Borneo Conference and Exhibition on Occupational Safety and Health 2013 in June, here.

Themed "A Global Strategy: Optimising Productivity Through Accident Prevention", the conference would allow participants (employers and employees) to gain knowledge and share information.

Harian Metro, 03/12/2013

Kuala Lumpur: Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Sri Richard Riot Anak Jaem melancarkan portal Gaji Minimun bertujuan memudahkan pekerja, majikan dan orang ramai memahami aspirasi dasar gaji minimum negara dan pelaksanaan sepenuhnya bermula 1 Januari 2014.

Menurutnya, portal ini memberikan maklumat menerusi tiga segmen iaitu ruangan untuk majikan, pekerja dan berita terkini termasuk penerbitan berkenaan gaji minimum.

"Maklumat kadar pengiraan gaji minimum mengikut bulan, harian dan jam; rasional di sebalik dasar gaji minimum, kumpulan sasar, fungsi Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara (MPGN), jenis bayaran yang boleh atau tidak serta penguatkuasaan dan penalti dipaparkan," katanya pada Majlis Pelancaran Portal Gaji Minimum di sini.

Katanya, orang ramai boleh muat turun undang-undang perburuhan berkaitan termasuk perintah penundaan di bawah Akta MPGN 2011.

Portal berkenaan boleh dilayari menerusi laman sesawang Kementerian Sumber Manusia iaitu www.mohr.gov.my atau http://minimumwages.mohr.gov.my

The Star,  31 October 2013

BATU PAHAT: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) has pressed the alarm button over the rising number of commuting accidents in the country.

According to Socso statistics, the number has increased each year – from 17,682 cases in 2007 to 26,262 last year. From January to July this year, there were 16,440 cases.

Commuting accidents, mainly road accidents, involve workers on the way to or from the workplace.

Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the Government was worried about the rise in the number of such accidents.

“We are concerned because commuting accident cases have gone up about 24% over the last two years.

“Niosh is working closely with the De­­partment of Occupational Safety and Health, Socso and the Road Safety Department to provide education, defensive riding and driving training and others.

“We want to educate workers so that they will be more careful on the road,” he said at the launch of an Occupational Safety and Health in School programme at the Kluang Vocational College here yesterday.

The college is the first vocational institution which participated in the programme since its introduction in 2004 to inculcate work safety awareness in school.

Talks and exhibitions are conducted at schools for teachers and students. So far, more than 20 primary and secondary schools have joined the programme.

According to Lee, 333 incidents were reported in the education sector in 2011 and 310 cases in 2010, but many more were not reported.

“Many feel that schools are safe, but accidents can happen anywhere and we have come across cases like collapsed roofs and accidents on the football field and in the laboratory.

“We want to teach teachers and students about OSH knowledge so they can treat the school like a workplace,” he said.