MONDAY, 28 APRIL – All parties need to cultivate awareness and enhance safety in their organisations.

According to the Minister of Resource Development and  Information Technology Sabah, Datuk Siringan Gubat; every worker should play their role in reducing accidents involving consumers and employees.

“Every worker must provide a Standard Procedure in Safety and Health in their own premises as well as enhancing security, training employees to always be on the alert and to provide adequate training and courses,” he said when launching the State Level World Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Day at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

He added that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) also played an important role in advising, consulting and conducting research in the field of OSH since 2007 in addition to organising various seminars and conferences.

“Among those which had been organised were conferences relating to public awareness such as the introduction to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA 1994), the understanding on the rules and regulations in OSH, practices and safe work procedures in the field of oil and gas, tourism, logging, agriculture and many more,” said Datuk Siringan.

Earlier, UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah in his speech said the occurrence of accidents in the workplace left an adverse effect on the country in general and in particular the organisation involved.

The accidents may result to many losses, including damage to properties or equipment, loss of lives or loss of limbs as well as payments of damages, medical bills, compensations to families of victims and so on.

“Thus, the theme ‘Safety and Health in the Use of Chemicals at Work’ this time is appropriate in line with the risks of using chemicals that are often used in UMS research laboratories.

“I am convinced that the implementation of the theme this year will give a positive impact, such as increased awareness of safety and health in the use of chemicals in the workplace, particularly among UMS staff itself,” Datuk Harun added.

OSH Day is celebrated on 28 April every year around the world and UMS created history when it became the first public institution of higher learning to host the celebration at state level. – SS (fl)

 

Media and Citra Division
Chancellery Department