Niosh urges corporations to enocurage vendors and contractors adhere OSH law

KAPIT: Big corporations should encourage and assist their vendors and contractors to adhere to the occupational safety and health (OSH) law and follow the rules and regulations set by the authorities.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said, industrial accidents could be reduced if vendors and contractors adopt a good OSH practice at their workplaces.
"We don't want the recent incident where two workers died in a manhole in Ipoh to recur. Such an accident could be avoided if all parties adhere to the law and follow the rules and regulations set by the authorities," he said.
Lee said this after a safety talk for Baleh Hydroelectric Project at Dewan Suarah Kapit, opened by Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing today.
Also present were Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) executive vice-president for corporate services Aisah Eden and Kapit Division Resident Joseph Belayong.

Lee said the Baleh hydroelectric project was significant as it would involve 300 contractors and 5,000 workers.
He also reminded employers that they could be charged under Section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 that provides a fine of up to RM50,000 or jailed a maximum of two years or both if they failed to provide safe and healthy workplace for their workers.
On NIOSH's role in Sarawak, Lee said the Serian branch would be opened this year to fulfil the increasing demand.
Three branches – Bintulu (Sarawak Regional office/SWRO), Kuching and Miri were respectively opened in 2002, 2003 and 2011 and various programmes including scheduled courses, competency certification, safety passport, train the trainer and information dissemination programmes had been held over the years.
Throughout last year, he said 16,694 individuals had been trained under 777 programmes in Sarawak and among the courses was Safety Passport programme for SEB which was introduced last year and involved more that 400 participants to date.
"With a total of 31 courses offered by SWRO at present, I'm confident that it could help create awareness and make employers and workers understand the importance of good OSH practice," he said. — Bernama