Materia Medica Malaysiana

Chemical exposure main danger at work

KUALA LUMPUR: About 70 per cent of occupational ailments are caused by chemical exposure, resulting in skin diseases, poisoning and respiratory disorders.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said studies had shown the diseases and sickness were partly caused by the use of highly toxic chemicals, unapproved personal protective equipment and improper personal protective equipment.
“Social Security Organisation (Socso) statistics reveal that out of a total of 80,810 reported industrial accidents and diseases in 2002, a total of 7,903 involved the agricultural sector alone, with 44 fatalities,” he said.
According to Lee, the National Poison Centre had carried out the studies on poisoning and fatalities by chemical agents from 1999 to 2001.
The research showed that pesticides were the highest contributors, with 54 per cent of the poisoning and fatality cases due to herbicides and fungicides.
“Our concern is that these diseases are chronic and have a long-term latent period.
“Cases of occupational disease, fatal or otherwise, signify a loss to the human resource which is the country’s most valuable asset,” Lee told The Malay Mail.
The agricultural sector is one of the most hazardous workplaces in the country. It has the second highest accident rate of all industry sectors.
The use and spraying of pesticides exposes the workers to high risks in terms of exposure to chemicals, especially when safer alternatives are not used to substitute highly-toxic pesticides.
The safety and health of workers is a key issue in the agricultural sector as they can be exposed to many kinds of occupational safety and health hazards.
“As the agricultural sector contributes eight per cent to the annual gross domestic product (GDP), we need to ensure the worker’s right to a safe work environment is protected,” added Lee.
NIOSH urged employers in the agricultural sector to take heed of safety and health at the workplace and invest in safety.
Employers must realise that agriculture safety in its entirety, is an investment.
Occupational safety and health management at the workplace will bring about an increase in productivity in the long-term.