KUALA LUMPUR: More than 40,000 Malaysian workers were involved in work-related accidents last year, an indicator that workplace safety awareness is sorely lacking among employers in the country.
Statistics received by the Human Resource Ministry showed that out of the number, 7,820 cases were occupation-related diseases, such as lung disorders or muscle ailments.
“Employers need to be conscious of occupation-related diseases and take serious (action) on them. Only then can proper preventative methods be taken by the Department.
“With proper notifications from employers and doctors, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) can undertake strategies to reduce accidents at workplaces, and also conduct medical surveillance at these places.
“We will then also be able to monitor and detect problems in workplaces, and allow employees to perform better,” said DOSH deputy director general (occupational health), Kormain Mohd Noor.
He was speaking at a press conference after the launch of the National Occupational Safety and Health Seminar here today.
Kormain added that the rate of reporting on occupation-related diseases from employers and doctors to DOSH is relatively low.
“From reports that the Department received, 91 per cent were of occupational noise-related hearing disorders; three percent were of occupational muscular-skeletal disorders; and two percent were related to occupational lung diseases,” he said.
Earlier during the launch, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem said with safer work practices, work-related accidents and diseases can be prevented.
“The rate of accidents at workplaces last year was 2.88 per 1,000 employees. I hope this figure will decrease in future, and lead to a positive impact, making Malaysia a safe place to work.
“This will also give confidence to investors to continue investing in businesses here,” he said in his speech, which was read by the Ministry’s secretary general, Datuk Seri Adenan Ab Rahman.