​PETALING JAYA: Employers were encouraged to embrace workplace safety and health culture as the way forward for doing business in the ‘new normal’ environment.

MEF President Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman J.P. said both the employers and employees have the collective duty to ensure that the workplace was free from hazards and diseases that must include preventive measures against the spread of Covid-19 infections.

“The need to adopt workplace safety and health as a culture in the organisation has become more important with the pandemic situation that is still upon us,” he said 

“Employees are the employers’ greatest assets and the safety and health of employees at the workplace must be prioritised. 

“Both the employers and employers must follow all safety and health requirements and established SOPs.

“As many employees are currently working from home, we also urge employers to educate their employees on safe and healthy work environment at home.

In view of the Covid-19 situation, he said MEF also advised employers to set up a Safety Department at the workplace and appoint a qualified safety officer at the work site.

Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain, who attended the launching of the report of the Department of Statistics (DOS) entitled ‘Big Data Analytics: National Occupational Accident Statistics 2020’ on Jul 22, said MEF supported the efforts of the various agencies under the Ministry of Human Resources, particularly the  National Council on Occupational Safety and Health (MNKKP) that is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Human Resources YB Datuk Hj. Awang Hashim.

“We thank the Ministry of Human Resources for focussing on the safety and health of workers through the MNKKP, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).

“MEF has over the years worked very closely with the government agencies and we are also represented in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“Through the Federation’s training arm, the MEF Academy, we aim to continue to educate and update OSH trained personnel to further promote occupational safety and health. 

“Employers and employees must work together to ensure that accidents and spread of diseases at the workplace are avoided and the only way to improve productivity is to have a safe and healthy workplace environment,” he added.

Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain indicated that based on the statistical report of the DOS, it revealed that between June 16 to Jul 29, the DOSH had inspected 2,454 workplaces whereby 252 summonses were issued that amounted to a total of RM2.37 million.

“While the number of workplace accidents in 2020 had sharply dropped due to the lockdown situation, we are concerned that there are still some employers who do not fully comply with SOPs,” he said.

“MEF hopes all the stakeholders will work together to improve the compliance with the MCO SOPs outlined to ensure that we all manage to curb and break the chain of pandemic Covid-19, for the sake of the economic and social welfare of employees, employers and the country.”

For further information, contact the MEF Secretariat at 03-7955-7778 or fax 03-7955-9008 or email mef-hq@mef.org.my. 

24 JULY 2021