LETTERS: THE Alliance for A Safe Community (Ikatan) welcomes the announcement by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim that the Occupational Safety and Health Amendment Act 2022 will be enforced with effect from June 1. The amended act marks a significant step towards boosting worker safety and brings about a wider protection to employees.
It goes far beyond the OSH coordinator training requirement. It involves a repeal of the Factories and Machinery Act 1967.
It has paved the way for the introduction of 27 new sections outlining new employer duties, revisions to 35 sections and a stricter enforcement regime. The amended act introduces new responsibilities for employers, including:
CONDUCTING and implementing risk assessments to identify safety and health hazards in the workplace;
ENSURING the safety of contractors and subcontractors working under their direction;
EMPOWERING employees to remove themselves from situations posing a danger to their safety and health, with protection from consequences or discrimination for exercising this right:
REQUIRING OSH training for certain categories of employees delivered by registered providers before allowing them to perform tasks:
PROVIDING health services to safeguard employees' wellbeing while they perform their duties;
A NEW provision allows for the appointment of licensed persons to carry out plant inspections and issue certificates of fitness, addressing the backlog of machinery inspections and expediting the process; and,
STRENGTHENING the deterrent effect by raising penalties for violations.
For instance, the general penalty increases from RM10,000 to RM100,000, while penalties for employer and principal duties are increased from RM50,000 to RM500,000.
We believe collaboration between the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh), business associations and safety non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Ikatan is crucial.
We acknowledge that some industries, particularly general service providers, may have concerns about the impact of these changes on operational costs.
We believe we can navigate these challenges through:
COLLABORATION between Dosh, business associations and safety NGOs like ours.
Joint efforts can educate employers on the long-term benefits of these self-regulation measures;
A PHASED enforcement approach prioritising high-risk industries like manufacturing and construction could be beneficial.
This would allow for a smoother transition and minimise disruption for general service industries;
RECOGNISING the importance of language accessibility for OSH training. While English and Bahasa Malaysia are the primary languages, the need for Mandarin and Tamil training options must be assessed.
Additionally, ensuring a sufficient pool of trainers in all languages is
crucial;
FOR enforcement, the authorities need adequate resources. We urge Dosh to equip enforcement bodies with manpower and expertise; and,
A CLEAR and practical roadmap for implementation is essential to help businesses prepare for the changes and ensure a smooth transition.
The enforcement of the amended act is a significant step to create a culture of self-regulation at the workplace.
We are committed to working with stakeholders to ensure a successful implementation.
We urge industry leaders to view these changes as an opportunity to create a safer and healthier working environment for their employees, ultimately leading to a more productive workforce.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Chairman, Alliance For A Safe Community
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times