THE call by Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran for zero accidents in the workplace and occupational safety and health (OSH) measures to be strictly practised in all sectors of industry should be lauded. After all, zero accidents in the workplace would ensure higher productivity of workers and hence improve company profits.

The Building and Wood Workers’ International-Malaysia Liaison Council (BWI-MLC) fully supports the Vision Zero Malaysia campaign, which emulates the global initiative introduced in 2017 by the International Social Security Association to prevent accidents, harm and diseases at work. The campaign aims to engage companies worldwide to systematically cut down on occupational accidents and diseases by investing in a healthy and motivated workforce.

BWI-MLC is very concerned about the statistics revealed by the minister that an average of three people die in Malaysian workplaces every day. As even a single death is unacceptable, employers must ensure that quality OSH measures are firmly entrenched in their workplaces.

I have seen many times that safety equipment are of such substandard or very poor quality that workers are unable to use them properly. Take the safety helmet as an example. Workers who use safety helmets at work can sometimes be seen wearing the protective headgear with the buckle undone. Doing this can be quite uncomfortable as the helmet would be wobbling on the head, preventing the workers from doing their tasks smoothly. But why are they wearing it that way? It could be because the buckle is not working properly and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Of the 5,139 cases of occupational disease and poisoning reported to the health division of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in 2018, 4,506 cases or 90.12% were related to hearing disorders. However, it would be illogical to say that workers intentionally do not use protective hearing equipment while working.

DOSH investigated 5,031 occupational accidents last year, of which 260 cases were deaths and the highest number of fatal accidents was recorded in Sarawak and Selangor.

The most dangerous sector is the manufacturing sector where DOSH recorded 62 deaths, 192 permanent disability cases and 2,969 non-permanent disability cases last year alone.

It is important for the Vision Zero Malaysia campaign to address behavioural change in the workplace, especially the lackadaisical attitude of employers towards the welfare of their workers, many of whom are in hardship and therefore willing to work in any circumstances.

It must not only get the message of safety across but also ensure that appropriate and durable safety equipment are in place.

It is unfortunate that the DOSH statistics do not reflect clearly if migrant workers are included in the numbers, as they are the most vulnerable workers and are exposed to the most dangerous environments in any sector.

The Vision Zero Malaysia campaign should ensure that even the “3-D” jobs that are considered dirty, dangerous and demeaning are safe for workers of any nationality to do. These workers are not unionised and have no one to look out for their well-being.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/07/26/role-of-employers-in-vision-zero-campaign/#YpsOZajkKAPspDYt.99