SPAN, NIOSH Launch WiSP To Boost Water Service Workers’ Safety Preparedness

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Workers in the water services sector in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan will be required to undergo Water Industries Safety Passport (WiSP) training from 2028 to enhance their preparedness for workplace risks.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said WiSP was the first initiative by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in collaboration with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN), aimed at strengthening and recognising the importance of safety in the water services industry.

“This is a catalyst for other industries to also recognise the importance of having Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) elements in every aspect, and to improve and develop them together with NIOSH and industry players,” he told the media after launching WiSP in conjunction with the launch of the 26th Conference and Exhibition on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH 2026) here today.

Meanwhile, SPAN, in a statement, said that WiSP was developed in line with Section 15(2)(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), which relates to employers’ responsibility to provide adequate training to ensure workers carry out their duties safely.

It added that the development of WiSP involved safety officers from all water supply and sewerage operators under SPAN’s supervision, as well as SPAN officers, led by NIOSH and coordinated by SPAN.

“The Water Safety Passport Air Selangor and IWK Safety Passport modules served as the basis and reference for the development of the WiSP module, with three workshop sessions conducted to refine the module, develop a question bank and prepare WiSP trainers,” it said.

The module also covers five main topics, namely an introduction to WiSP, safety, health and environmental laws, workplace hazards and risk control, safe work method, and emergency response.

The one-day, or eight-hour, WiSP training conducted by NIOSH, including an assessment of participants’ understanding, focuses on contractors, contractors’ workers and subcontractors and is a prerequisite for entering work sites such as treatment plants, storage tanks and major pipeline zones.

SPAN said that as of Sept 1, a total of 54 trainers from NIOSH, operators and SPAN had been recognised by NIOSH to conduct WiSP nationwide.

-- BERNAMA