Perak DOSH Receives Over 500 Accident Reports

IPOH, July 22 (Bernama) -- The Perak Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) received a total of 536 reports of workplace accidents during the first six months of this year.

Its deputy director, Basharuddin Abd Rahman said the reports involved 10 fatal cases, four cases of permanent disability, 510 cases of non-permanent disability, and 12 dangerous incidents reported during the period.

He said initial investigations pointed to employers' failure to conduct risk assessments and implement effective control measures as the main contributing factors to accidents happening at the workplace.

"For statistics on occupational diseases and poisoning, 376 cases were reported to the Perak DOSH during the same period.

"Among the highest cases reported was hearing loss due to exposure to excessive and prolonged noise," he said during the Accident Prevention Seminar with the Perak Foundry & Engineering Industries Association (PFEIA) at the state level event in Meru Raya here today.

Basharuddin said 32 cases had been prosecuted in court involving a total fine of RM449,300 for the first six months of this year.

He said DOSH is always open to holding engagement sessions and dialogue with the state government, employers, workers, industry associations, and non-governmental organisations regarding occupational safety and health.

He added that this is to strengthen the management of safety and health in the workplace and reduce the rate of accidents.

Meanwhile, Perak DOSH Investigation and Prosecution Section head Ir Suhaidy Latip said unsafe behaviour leading to accidents in the foundry industry stem from not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), using equipment incorrectly, violating procedures, fooling around at work, and operating machinery without authorisation.

Suhaidy said the main causes of safety management system failure leading to accidents include the lack of a comprehensive risk assessment, not adhering to safe work procedures, insufficient training and low safety awareness.

"There are several procedures for carrying out a job safely based on risk assessment such as preventing accidents and injuries by using the correct steps to control hazards and avoiding risky actions that can harm workers.

"In addition, clear guidance for workers is provided by giving instructions for each task to ensure that all workers know the correct way to work, along with step-by-step instructions for each task assigned," he said during a lecture entitled 'Actual Accident Cases: Causes, Lessons and Prevention'.

-- BERNAMA