Adopt OSH Practices In Schools, Education Ministry Told

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health today suggested to the Education Ministry to consider adopting and practise the occupational safety and health (OSH) management in all schools as a solution to all OSH-related problems.
Its Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said there have been accidents in schools in the past that threatened the safety of all the people in school, be they teachers, staff, students and parents.
The OSH in school programme aims to ensure safety, health and welfare for those at school as a workplace in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, he said in a statement Sunday.
Lee said accidents in schools could happen to anyone and not only students as safety and health are of paramount importance.
"Safety issues cover activities of people at work and to establish a safe and healthy working environment at school buildings, structures, toilets, canteens, classrooms, laboratories and school fields," he said.
Lee said in a recent case where parents took legal action to sue the schoolbus driver, school headmaster and the government for negligence over the death of their child at SRJK (C) Sam Yuk in Rawang is an example of how serious the problem is if the government and school authorities did not give serious attention to safety aspects in schools.
"It is hoped the "OSH in School Programme" will benefit the students who are going to make up the nation's future workforce and will eventually contribute towards making safety at work as a culture and way of life," he said.
Lee said OSH awareness should not be limited to teachers and school staff but must be extended to students as instilling awareness at an early stage was important in creating a safe and healthy workplace in future.
He said training and information dissemination are the main elements in ensuring that employees knew the risk they are facing in the workplace and how to work safely to deal with the risk.