Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) implementation efforts can be re-focused on a stronger platform with the adoption of the Vision Zero concept.

Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran said this would help the country  achieve its aim of reducing accidents and disease rate as well as enhancing workers’ well-being.

“Vision Zero is a transformational approach introduced by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) to reduce workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Vision Zero’s belief is that accidents and diseases have causes and can be prevented.

“OSH is not a new phenomenon in Malaysia, but it needs a new approach to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Being part of the Vision Zero initiative allows institutions and companies in Malaysia to join a global movement to promote workplace safety and health, thus improving OSH in their organisations.”

Kula Segaran said there were 72,682 accidents reported to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) last year as compared with 69,986 cases in 2017, while 32,294 accidents were reported in the first five months of this year.

He said Vision Zero integrated three dimensions — safety, health and well-being — that are important in ensuring a safe and conducive working environment for workers and employers.

“The global launch of Vision Zero was held at the World Congress of Safety and Health in Singapore in 2017 by ISSA and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).”

He said, the initiative has been adopted by 2,000 companies, 500 national, regional and global organisations as well as over 500 OSH trainers around the world.

“In Malaysia, nine organisations are registered as Vision Zero partners including the Socso, Department Of Occupational Safety And Health, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Universiti Malaya and Malaysian Society For Occupational Safety and Health,” he said, adding that 23 companies had also registered as Vision Zero companies.

Kula Segaran said ISSA has developed resources to support the Vision Zero Campaign and has introduced the “Seven Golden Rules” of Vision Zero.

They are: leadership through commitment; hazard identification for better risk management; define targets in developing programmes; being well-organised to ensure a safe and healthy system, ensure safety health when using machines and equipment at workplace and improve qualifications and competency of people and motivate them to participate.

Socso organised a two-day Vision Zero Conference Malaysia 2019 that ended yesterday  to encourage the adoption of the Vision Zero Initiative.

“It is a platform that gathers not only OSH practitioners but also Vision Zero partners in Malaysia which are committed to implementing the initiative,” he said.

He said the conference was an opportunity for OSH stakeholders to exchange ideas and share their knowledge and experience on the implementation of Vision Zero.

Socso, with the cooperation of Vision Zero partners in Malaysia officially launched Vision Zero at the conference.

“It served as a symbolic inception of Vision Zero in Malaysia and demonstrated Socso’s commitment to reducing occupational accidents and diseases.”

The theme of the conference was “Safety.Health.Wellbeing @ Work” based on the three dimensions of Vision Zero.

There were 27 local and foreign speakers.

At the conclusion of the conference, a resolution prepared by Malaysia’s Vision Zero partners was presented and adopted as a basis for the implementation of Vision Zero here.

“Malaysia will join other countries from Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia, including Singapore and Thailand, which have launched Vision Zero.

“With the launch, it is hoped that more Malaysian entities will participate to ensure workplace safety, health and wellbeing are practised,” he said.