DOSH: Hearing problems the most common occupational issue in Perak

IPOH: Hearing problems caused by noise exposure is the most common occupational disease and poisoning in Perak.

Perak Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) director Dr Rabaayah Daud said last year, 96 per cent of the 722 occupational disease and poisoning cases reported to the department involved hearing loss.

She said most of the cases involved factory workers in the manufacturing sector.

"Up to April this year, Perak DOSH has received 346 reports of occupational disease and poisoning, with 250 involving hearing loss.

"This issue has never seen a decrease because a lot of factories are still using old machines that cause excessive noise," she said at a press conference after Perak DOSH's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Bangunan Seri Kinta here today.

She said to reduce the number of cases, DOSH was planning awareness programmes for the industry.

"The programmes will encourage employers to take care of the welfare of employees so that they are not exposed to too much noise."

She said 883 occupational injury cases were reported last year, with 20 leading to death, 33 to permanent disability and 830 to non-permanent disability.

"In the same period, DOSH issued 2,431 letters of instruction and 864 notices. A total of 77 offences were recorded under the Factories and Machinery Act 1967, involving compounds totalling RM264,500, 29 court cases and fines totalling RM338,000.

"In the first four months of this year, 288 injury cases were recorded, with four leading to death, five to permanent disability and 279 to non-permanent disability.

"A total of 32 compounds have been issued and seven cases have been prosecuted, involving fines totalling RM111,400."