PLUS initiates safety course for staff to reduce highway accidents

PETALING JAYA: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) will make it compulsory for all its contractors and employees to undergo a safety induction course by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia (NIOSH).
PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said the course is an initiative to further improve and enhance the occupational safety and health practices in the highway industry.
"From 2015 until June this year, there have been 249 accidents involving employees carrying out highway duties, where 13 of them resulted in fatalities.
"This figure is worrying and as such, we require a comprehensive and holistic solution to solve the issue and altogether reduce the figure," Azman said prior to signing a memorandum of agreement with NIOSH executive director Zahrim Osman for the safety induction course earlier today.
He added that upon completion of the safety induction course, Niosh would issue each participant with a Expressway Operational Safety Passport (EOSP).
He stressed that over time, the knowledge gained from the safety course would help improve safety levels of those involved in highway duties and also highway users.
"Reducing accident risks by individuals and those involved in the maintenance, constructions and operation works on the highway is in line with PLUS' aim in making sure highway travels are always safe, smooth and comfortable," he said.
The MoA signing was witnessed by Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and Malaysian Highway Authority operation monitoring chief assistant director Harryati Rofik.