SMEs Must View OSH As An Investment, Not A Burden - MSOSH

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should not see implementing occupational safety and health (OSH) as a burden, but rather they should view it as an investment to strengthen a safe working culture in the country.

Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health (MSOSH) President Datuk Ahmad Fakhrul Anuar Ismail said as such the association's main challenge now is raising awareness among SMEs about OSH requirements.

He said large companies generally have higher awareness after advocacy efforts, training, and compliance measures, but the focus must now shift to SMEs to implement OSH.

"The major challenge now is the employer stigma that sees OSH as a burden, especially when employees must be released for training or when companies must provide safety equipment.

"This must be seen as an investment because safe and healthy employees increase productivity, reduce medical leave, and prevent larger losses for the company," he said after appearing as a guest on Bernama Radio here today.

Ahmad Fakhrul said the perception of OSH as a burden must change because employee safety is part of business sustainability, especially for SMEs with limited manpower.

He said if an accident occurs or employees often take medical leave, employers bear losses in operational costs, productivity, and business disruptions.

He added that efforts to strengthen OSH among SMEs should be driven by the requirement to appoint an OSH coordinator in workplaces with more than five employees.

"We want this occupational safety culture to permeate among them through the role of the OSH coordinator," he said.

-- BERNAMA