Health, safety not taken seriously

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: They should lead by example but more than half of the government departments and agencies have been found wanting when it comes to health and safety issues in the workplace.
The result of audits done on 83 public offices in 2004 and 2005 showed that only 41 per cent had formulated a safety and health policy and only 37 per cent had established a safety and health committee.
"This means that more than half of the public offices failed to fulfil Section 18 and Section 30 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994," Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abd Rahman Bakar said in a statement.
The audits were done to assess whether department heads had fulfilled their responsibilities in ensuring that their employees were protected from workplace hazards.
"It (the on-going audit exercise) is also aimed at suggesting the steps needed to be taken to ensure that department heads fulfil the requirements of the Act," said Abd Rahman, who is also the chairman of the National Council on Occupational Health and Safety.
Among the criteria that the audit exercise is taking into account will be the management of health and safety, the condition of the workplace and the safety of the public.
The Department of Occupational Health and Safety began the audit exercise in 2003 and, up to last year, 121 government departments and agencies have been audited.
"I would like to urge all department heads to implement the Occupational Health and Safety Management System.
"This would be in line with the 2004 directive issued by the Chief Secretary which makes it compulsory for all government agencies to fulfil the requirements of the Act," Abd Rahman said.
The council awarded the 2005 National Occupational Health and Safety Excellence Award to the Selangor branch of the Chemistry Department. The department’s Perak branch received the award in 2004.
The award was given to the two departments for the implementation of a health and safety system which was effective and consistent and to which the department heads and staff were committed.