New Straits Times, 19 December 2012

KOTA KINABALU: Occupational safety and health in the hospitality industry needs to be given more attention as it is a rapidly growing industry.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said yesterday it was no longer a "safe and clean" sector and it merited more attention from employers.

Lee said this after attending a two-day seminar on occupational safety and health for the hospitality industry in Sandakan organised by Niosh.

He urged employers to empower workers through safety and health committees to reduce accidents, injuries and deaths in workplaces.

"While life-threatening and acute injuries are uncommon in the hospitality industry, work-related hazards do exist," he said.

"Although accidents can and do happen, there are measures we can adopt to limit their occurrence.

"Accidents can be reduced if we make prudent and cautious work practices part of our culture."

In the last 10 years, the industrial accident rate in Malaysia had been halved from 10.3 cases for every 1,000 workers in 2002 to 5.7 cases last year.

This reflected the strong commitment by the government, employers and the workers to reduce accidents.

Lee said Malaysians needed to set a higher benchmark at three to four cases every 1,000 workers, on a par with those in developed countries.

"Human behaviour and lackadaisical attitudes towards safety must change for the better.

"Anyone can be involved in an accident, unless safety is not taken for granted and safe work practices are implemented."

New Straits Times, 16 December 2012

EXCEPT for occupational safety and health practitioners, ergonomics is still not widely known in Malaysia.

At a recent talk I delivered on the importance of ergonomics, a member of the audience asked me whether I had mispronounced the word "economics".

Ergonomics is about integrating knowledge derived from the human sciences to match jobs, systems, products and environments to the physical and mental abilities and limitations.

Ergonomics is an important facet of occupational safety and health (OSH) that needs to be optimised for the wellbeing of people at work.

Ergonomics is a relatively new field in Malaysia in comparison with Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, the philosophy, essence, principle and concepts of ergonomics are important and to disregard them would be a handicap in efforts to promote OSH in the workplace.

When ergonomic principles are not applied to the workplace, chronic musculoskeletal disorders -- such as back injuries, arm and hand problems, accidents and eye-strain -- may be common.

According to accident statistics reported by the Social Security Organisation, the number of accidents related to musculo-skeletal diseases increased from 14 cases in 2006 to 194 cases this year.

Industries suffer from tangible and intangible losses because of increased medication costs, decreased productivity, work quality and decreased worker morale.

It is well documented in other parts of the world that industries that implement ergonomics programmes report significant decreases in accidents, injuries, illnesses and healthcare costs over time, along with increase in productivity, work efficiency, product quality and worker morale.

The discipline of ergonomics is nothing peculiar to safety and health practitioners in this country but for the public, it is still difficult to sell.

This might be the reason why ergonomics is still considered an unknown science in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

But due to the widespread use of computers at work and at home, there is a need to educate the public on the importance of ergonomics.

In some developed countries, ergonomics is even taught in schools. For example, in the UK, the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors has introduced ergonomics to secondary school students and teachers online.

The knowledge gap on this subject needs to be addressed by all the government, educational institutions, professional societies and the work industry.

It is timely for the media to show more interest in publishing safety and health information, including ergonomics issues, with input from like the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia.

Berita Harian, 16 November 2012

Kuala Lumpur: Kes kemalangan ketika perjalanan ke tempat kerja meningkat 40 peratus dalam tempoh enam tahun kebelakangan ini daripada 17,704 pada 2006 kepada 28,809 tahun lalu.

Pengerusi Institut Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan Negara (NIOSH), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, berkata punca utama peningkatan kes adalah kurang kesedaran terhadap pemanduan yang selamat di kalangan mangsa.

Peningkatan ini juga dikesan akibat kurang elemen keselamatan dalam sistem pengurusan keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan di tempat kerja, katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini, semalam.

Lam Thye berkata, kajian Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO) dan beberapa universiti tempatan mendapati 88 peratus kes kemalangan berlaku semasa perjalanan pergi ke tempat kerja atau selepas bekerja.

Katanya, daripada jumlah itu 52 peratus kemalangan semasa pergi ke tempat kerja, manakala 36 peratus lagi semasa balik ke rumah selepas tamat waktu bekerja.

Beliau berkata, hasil kajian juga mendapati 68.8 peratus kemalangan membabitkan pekerja waktu pagi, manakala 55 peratus pula berlaku dalam lingkungan kurang lima kilometer dari tempat kerja.

Katanya, kes kemalangan maut di jalan raya di negara ini juga pada tahap membimbangkan dengan lebih 6,000 kes setiap tahun atau 18 hingga 20 orang sehari dalam tempoh beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
Katanya, daripada jumlah itu 60 peratus membabitkan penunggang dan pembonceng motosikal yang kebanyakannya generasi muda.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, PERKESO memperkenalkan Pelan Pencegahan Kemalangan Semasa Perjalanan, tahun lalu untuk mengatasi kemalangan semasa perjalanan membabitkan empat program pencegahan.

Antara pendekatan itu adalah program outreach kemalangan semasa perjalanan untuk majikan dan pekerja, program menunggang motosikal dengan selamat dan program pemanduan berhemah.

Menubuhkan sistem pengurusan keselamatan perjalanan atau elemen keselamatan jalan raya dalam sistem pengurusan keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan, katanya.

Harian Metro, 6 November 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Insiden berlaku perlu dijadikan pengajaran sekali gus menambah baik aspek tertentu demi keselamatan kakitangan berkhidmat di bidang berisiko tinggi, kata Pengerusi Institut Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (Niosh), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Beliau berkata demikian mengulas kejadian 10 anggota bomba dan penyelamat termasuk lima yang parah akibat terbakar berikutan tangki minyak pelincir terpakai yang meletup di Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan kelmarin.

Menurut Lee, beliau percaya Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat mempunyai skim latihan dan prosedur keselamatan yang cukup untuk melindungi anggotanya ketika berkhidmat, namun kejadian berlaku di luar jangkaan sekali gus meminta mereka lebih berhati-hati.

Berita Harian, 5 November 2012

Kuala Lumpur: Institut Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (NIOSH) mencadangkan penangguhan sementara pelaksanaan Sistem Penguatkuasaan Automatik (AES), sehingga isu yang dibangkitkan pelbagai pihak ditangani dengan berkesan.

Pengerusinya, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, berkata kerajaan perlu meneliti AES secara menyeluruh sebelum sistem itu dilaksanakan, termasuk mendapatkan maklum balas masyarakat khususnya pengguna.

Tak perlu terburu-buru

Walaupun AES dianggap sistem yang baik untuk mengurangkan jumlah kematian akibat kemalangan jalan raya raya seperti di beberapa negara Eropah, beliau berkata ia tidak wajar dilaksanakan terburu-buru tanpa mendapat maklum balas dan kajian menyeluruh.

Katanya, pemasangan AES di sebanyak 14 lokasi mengundang rasa tidak puas hati pengguna kerana didakwa dipasang di lokasi tidak sesuai serta bukan lokasi berisiko.

Di samping itu, sudah tiba masanya kerajaan mengkaji semula had laju dengan mendapat pandangan pelbagai pihak, termasuk pengeluar kenderaan, pengguna, pakar dan badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) berkaitan.

“Saya kecewa kerana walaupun AES adalah sistem yang baik tetapi disebabkan banyak kontroversi, ia seolah-olah bertujuan menyusahkan dan bukan membantu orang ramai.
Perbetul persepsi

“Pihak berkuasa perlu memperbetulkan persepsi masyarakat terlebih dulu dengan memberikan pendidikan menerusi kempen kesedaran.

“Semua lapisan masyarakat perlu dibabitkan untuk memberi maklum balas, di samping kesedaran dan keyakinan bahawa AES boleh dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama orang ramai supaya kemalangan dapat dikurangkan,” katanya.

Lam Thye berkata, NIOSH menganggap kes kemalangan jalan raya di negara ini sebagai serius kerana saban tahun angka kematian membabitkan golongan pekerja meningkat.

Katanya, mengikut perangkaan, kemalangan membabitkan pekerja yang berulang alik ke tempat kerja meningkat daripada 17,170 pada 2001 kepada 24,809 kes pada 2011.

INFO
- Diperkenalkan pada 23 September lalu
- 14 lokasi maut di Perak, Selangor, Putrajaya dan Kuala Lumpur
- 63,558 pesalah trafik dikenal pasti memandu melebihi had laju atau melanggar lampu merah dalam fasa pertama.
- Akan diperluaskan di sebanyak 831 lokasi di seluruh negara

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.

The Star , 18 October 2012

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) wishes to compliment the Star Publications for having initiated and launched a two-day Safety and Health Campaign to promote a safe and healthy working environment for the company.

The fact that both the employer and employees had organised theMenara Star Safety Campaignspoke volumes of their commitment to safety at work.

Such a campaign should be held annually to remind all employees that they must never take their safety for granted.

Awareness of employees concerning safety and fire drills is important and participation in such drills will help to give a sense of urgency to the people involved over a matter of life or death.

Organising safety and fire drills for all buildings especially the high-rise ones should be done annually or once in two years to prepare for an emergency.

I seldom see such safety drills in our high-rise buildings.

Drilling safety into Malaysians must be a way of life and be made a core value and a culture.

Malaysians who have a lackadaisical attitude towards safety must not only have an attitudinal change but must inculcate an appreciation towards safety.

Establishing a safe and healthy work environment requires fundamental changes in the ways work is designed and personnel are deployed, and how the very culture of the organisation understands and acts on safety.

These changes require leadership capable of transforming not just a physical environment, but also the beliefs and practices of those who create the risk and those who work with the risk.

Although Malaysia’s industrial accident rate has been halved over the past 10 years it remains a challenge.

Managing occupational safety and health towards business competitiveness is of utmost importance and employers must see training as an investment and not an expense.

Management or employers must recognise OSH of employees as an integral part of business management.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Chairman, NIOSH