KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) is prepared to offer training services, expertise, and safety audit teams to support the government in enhancing safety in public transport including reducing the risk of electric shocks.
In a statement, Niosh said as an agency under the Human Resources Ministry, it is responsible to provide various training, consultation, research and development, and information dissemination services related to occupational safety and health (OSH).
"Niosh has the expertise, experience and resources to address this issue and to assist the special investigation team established by the Transport Ministry.
"Niosh's involvement aligns with the Human Resources Ministry's efforts to reduce workplace accidents and diseases affecting both workers and others, as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2021-2025 (OSHMP25).
"Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Amendment) 2022, public transportation like buses, which function as business entities, are classified as workplaces. Therefore, company management and drivers, as employees, must implement OSH measures to ensure the safety of both workers and passengers.
"This responsibility includes conducting OSH risk assessments of activities, facilities and equipment to ensure everyone's safety," it said.
Niosh also expressed its sympathy to the family Mohamad Nur Asymawi Jasmadi who died while charging his phone on an express bus at the Penang Sentral bus terminal on Friday.
Following the incident, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said a special task force consisting of the Road Transport Department, Land Public Transport Agency and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research will be activated to investigate the cause of the incident to ensure such incidents do not recur and that passenger safety is always guaranteed.
The express bus operator was also suspended.
Niosh said all parties should understand the importance of electrical safety in the workplace, including on public transport. It said it would collaborate with other agencies to promote best OSH practices in related sectors.
As an experienced agency in workplace safety, Niosh said it is ready to provide electrical safety audits using checklists based on current legal and safety standards.
It said such audits have been conducted across various sectors, including administrative buildings and educational institutions.
"Niosh also has several research facilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Hazard Evaluation and Control Technology Centre (OSHECT), including the Forensic Engineering Lab, to determine the root causes of incidents and provide recommendations for improvement.
"Additionally, employers can engage Niosh experts to implement electrical safety awareness and training programmes, either at Niosh or client sites, to improve workers' and the public's understanding of risks and preventive measures for electrical accidents.
"Furthermore, through its subsidiary NIOSH Certification Sdn. Bhd. (NIOSHCert), NIOSH offers ISO certification for occupational safety and health management systems (OSHMS), assisting industries in meeting international standards for safer and more efficient operations," it said.