Letter to Editor,
TODAY (28th April) is World Day for Safety and Health at work.
On this day every year, government, employers and workers’ organisations worldwide are encouraged to conduct awareness-raising activities within their areas of influence in efforts to reduce accidents and ill-health at the workplace.
World’s Day for Safety and Health at work is also an annual event to increase awareness about how to make work safe and healthy as well as to raise the profile of occupational safety and health.
The theme for this year’s World Day for Safety and health at work is: “ MY LIFE, MY WORK, MY SAFE WORK-MANAGING RISK IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT”.
This theme was chosen by ILO to strongly encourage workers to examine the risks related to their own jobs.
The objective of the World Day for Safety and Health at work is to focus international attention on promoting and creating a safety and health culture that can help to reduce the number of work-related deaths each year. Safety, after all, is the responsibility of all concerned.
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is of worldwide concern to governments, employers, workers and their families. While some industries are inherently more hazardous than others, groups such as migrant or other marginalized workers are often more at risk of experiencing work-related accidents and ill health, since poverty frequently forces them into unsafe occupations.
Work-related accidents and ill-health place intolerable human and economic burdens on workers and their families as well as on enterprises and on society as a whole.
In Malaysia, SOCSO estimates that the related economic costs due to compensation, lost working time, interruption of production, training and medical expenses are considerably high. Last year, the total compensation costs paid out by SOCSO for industrial accidents and occupational diseases was over RM 900 million.
Conversely, there is clear evidence that a healthy workforce can enhance business productivity, benefit enterprises and national economies by reducing the number of accidents and diseases and lowering the number of insurance and compensation claims.
The overall responsibility for providing a safe and healthy working environment rests with the employers who should demonstrate their commitment to OSH.
This can be done by building and maintaining a preventative safety and health culture that address the principles of prevention, hazard identification, risk assessment and control, information and training.
Workers on the other hand have a duty to cooperate with the employer in implementing this OSH programme. They should respect and apply procedures and other instructions designed to protect them and others present at the workplace from exposure to occupational hazards.
It is estimated that more than 2 million people die from work-related illness or accidents each year.
The World Day for Safety and health at Work, celebrated worldwide including Malaysia, is an international campaign to promote safety and health at work.
Preserving human health is a key objective of social security, promoting and creating a safety and health culture can save lives and reduce costs to society.
Monday, April 28, 2008
"Revise Laws To Check Vandalism"
Letter to Editor,
I read with interest a letter from the Consumers Association of Penang appearing in the Star Publication on the 24th April under the caption “Revise Laws To Check Vandalism.”
Vandalism is posing a major threat to our social fabric and well being of the people.
Hardly a week passes without reports in the media about some form of vandalism being committed on public telephones, road signages, street lighting, public parks, or housing flats.
For example, in many local authority areas even manhole covers and aluminium signages are not spared.
This wanton destruction of public property is a stark reminder to the authorities that more effective action must be taken to tackle vandalism in our midst.
Local authorities have to spend tens of millions of ringgit to repair public amenities and property that had been vandalized.
Vandalism is not only confined to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Cities and towns throughout the country are facing similar problems and have to cope with them. Vandals have also set fire to telephone booths or cause severe damage to public phones which cause great inconvenience to the public when emergency calls have to be made.
Acts of vandalism abound in every nook and corner of the country. Public phones, garbage bins, lifts, parking meters, bus shelter, road signages and public toilets are targets.
In many ways, Malaysians are a carrying people but when it comes to anything that is common property, the act of good behaviour disappears – thus leaving a trail of destruction which is sheer despicable as amenities provided cannot be put to use, especially during an emergency.
Though vandalism in Malaysia is not as severe as in many countries in the West, the quantum of damage renders it a serious problem that must be tackled effectively.
According to psychiatrists, there are several categories of vandals who include teenagers who are influenced by negative peer pressure; graffiti crawlers who leave messages; frustrated groups who vandalise to vent their anger, drug addicts who vandalise to remove items for sale; and adults who have been vandals since childhood.
It is recognized that vandalism must be tackled via education, inculcation of good values, social responsibility, and civic consciousness.
However, education alone is not sufficient; it must be backed up by stringent legislation and strong enforcement.
Vandalism by-laws enforced by the various local authorities are inadequate to rid the nation of this problem.
There is a need for a new federal legislation to deal with this problem through compulsory community service to shame the culprits, as well as provision to cane habitual offenders.
The time has come for a Vandalism Act to be introduced to allow deterrent punishment and compulsory community service. This can be done now that Article 6 of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits forced labour, has been amended several years ago.
The proposed Vandalism Act should provide for:-
(i) Those who commit any act of vandalism shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to compulsory community service in accordance to the number of hours to be determined by the relevant authorities.
(ii) For habitual offenders (more than three times), those guilty of offences shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years and shall also, subject to section 231 of the Criminal Procedure Code, be punished with caning.
Although the state of vandalism in our cities and towns is not very alarming, it is nevertheless serious and warrants stringent laws to deal with the problem in addition to awareness campaigns to prevent vandalism.
As it is difficult for the authorities to nab the culprits red-handed, members of the public can make a citizen’s arrest on those found in the act of vandalizing public properties such as telephone booths, parking meters, road signages and other public amenities.
I read with interest a letter from the Consumers Association of Penang appearing in the Star Publication on the 24th April under the caption “Revise Laws To Check Vandalism.”
Vandalism is posing a major threat to our social fabric and well being of the people.
Hardly a week passes without reports in the media about some form of vandalism being committed on public telephones, road signages, street lighting, public parks, or housing flats.
For example, in many local authority areas even manhole covers and aluminium signages are not spared.
This wanton destruction of public property is a stark reminder to the authorities that more effective action must be taken to tackle vandalism in our midst.
Local authorities have to spend tens of millions of ringgit to repair public amenities and property that had been vandalized.
Vandalism is not only confined to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Cities and towns throughout the country are facing similar problems and have to cope with them. Vandals have also set fire to telephone booths or cause severe damage to public phones which cause great inconvenience to the public when emergency calls have to be made.
Acts of vandalism abound in every nook and corner of the country. Public phones, garbage bins, lifts, parking meters, bus shelter, road signages and public toilets are targets.
In many ways, Malaysians are a carrying people but when it comes to anything that is common property, the act of good behaviour disappears – thus leaving a trail of destruction which is sheer despicable as amenities provided cannot be put to use, especially during an emergency.
Though vandalism in Malaysia is not as severe as in many countries in the West, the quantum of damage renders it a serious problem that must be tackled effectively.
According to psychiatrists, there are several categories of vandals who include teenagers who are influenced by negative peer pressure; graffiti crawlers who leave messages; frustrated groups who vandalise to vent their anger, drug addicts who vandalise to remove items for sale; and adults who have been vandals since childhood.
It is recognized that vandalism must be tackled via education, inculcation of good values, social responsibility, and civic consciousness.
However, education alone is not sufficient; it must be backed up by stringent legislation and strong enforcement.
Vandalism by-laws enforced by the various local authorities are inadequate to rid the nation of this problem.
There is a need for a new federal legislation to deal with this problem through compulsory community service to shame the culprits, as well as provision to cane habitual offenders.
The time has come for a Vandalism Act to be introduced to allow deterrent punishment and compulsory community service. This can be done now that Article 6 of the Federal Constitution, which prohibits forced labour, has been amended several years ago.
The proposed Vandalism Act should provide for:-
(i) Those who commit any act of vandalism shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to compulsory community service in accordance to the number of hours to be determined by the relevant authorities.
(ii) For habitual offenders (more than three times), those guilty of offences shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years and shall also, subject to section 231 of the Criminal Procedure Code, be punished with caning.
Although the state of vandalism in our cities and towns is not very alarming, it is nevertheless serious and warrants stringent laws to deal with the problem in addition to awareness campaigns to prevent vandalism.
As it is difficult for the authorities to nab the culprits red-handed, members of the public can make a citizen’s arrest on those found in the act of vandalizing public properties such as telephone booths, parking meters, road signages and other public amenities.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Mat Rempit Menace
Letter to Editor,
The law-abiding public will undoubtedly support any effective move to bring to an end the Mat Rempit menace which has been a bane for Malaysian society all these years.
In line with this I welcome the proposal to amend the Road Transport Act (RTA) and introduce a special section to deal solely with the prosecution of illegal racers.
Presently illegal racing is dealt with under the law of reckless driving where the penalty is no deterrent to the offenders.
The Royal Malaysian police have recommended that the RTA be amended to provide for caning to speed fiends like Mat Rempits who take part in illegal racing and are caught for more than once.
Making the convicted young or juvenile offenders who took part in illegal racing to do up to 100 hours of community service as a form of punishment is a step in the right direction.
Most Mat Rempits are those who are aged between 15 and 19 years, some students and many who are dropouts and school leavers.
Mat Rempits do not only endanger themselves while doing their dare-devil stunts but also the innocent public.
Many a times the public especially pedestrians have complained how they have been victimized by Mat Rempits, not to mention the noise pollution it caused to the neighbourhoods.
There were at least five cases brought to my attention where children and elderly people were knocked down and killed by unidentified illegal racers who hit and ran.
I think the authorities concerned have to act firmly and bring to an end this Mat Rempit menace once and for all. Obviously the many operations that have been carried out until now by the authorities have proved futile in the absence of more stringent laws and deterrent punishment.
The law-abiding public will undoubtedly support any effective move to bring to an end the Mat Rempit menace which has been a bane for Malaysian society all these years.
In line with this I welcome the proposal to amend the Road Transport Act (RTA) and introduce a special section to deal solely with the prosecution of illegal racers.
Presently illegal racing is dealt with under the law of reckless driving where the penalty is no deterrent to the offenders.
The Royal Malaysian police have recommended that the RTA be amended to provide for caning to speed fiends like Mat Rempits who take part in illegal racing and are caught for more than once.
Making the convicted young or juvenile offenders who took part in illegal racing to do up to 100 hours of community service as a form of punishment is a step in the right direction.
Most Mat Rempits are those who are aged between 15 and 19 years, some students and many who are dropouts and school leavers.
Mat Rempits do not only endanger themselves while doing their dare-devil stunts but also the innocent public.
Many a times the public especially pedestrians have complained how they have been victimized by Mat Rempits, not to mention the noise pollution it caused to the neighbourhoods.
There were at least five cases brought to my attention where children and elderly people were knocked down and killed by unidentified illegal racers who hit and ran.
I think the authorities concerned have to act firmly and bring to an end this Mat Rempit menace once and for all. Obviously the many operations that have been carried out until now by the authorities have proved futile in the absence of more stringent laws and deterrent punishment.
Monday, April 14, 2008
OMBUDSMAN SYSTEM
Letter to Editor
In line with the Prime Minister’s call to reduce bureaucratic red tape and improve administrative efficiency in all government departments and agencies, all departmental and agency heads should monitor the implementation of their clients’ charters to ensure they deliver the promises made in these charters.
“The clients” charters set out the objectives and targets of a particular department and how long it will take to deliver a service.
We must not allow the charters to be just dead letters. Departmental heads must ensure that the promises made are delivered, more so, when our Chief Secretary to the Government has frequently emphasised on improving service delivery.
Introducing the clients’ charters is one thing, ensuring that they work effectively is another. It is imperative for all departments and agencies including local authorities which have adopted the charters to monitor their implementation.
I wish to suggest that clients’ charters be prominently displayed at service counters of all public authorities, informing the public of the promises made and if not delivered to whom they can complain and seek redress.
In line with administrative accountability and transparency, departments, agencies and all local authorities should act on public complaints published in the newspapers.
Public complaints which are published in the print media provide useful feedback to the authorities whose responsibility should be to act on these complaints.
All departments, agencies and local authorities must always be sensitive to complaints or suggestions about their departments and take appropriate action.
Now that the Prime Minister has decided to emphasise on fighting graft and improve service delivery in the interest of the public, the time has also come for the government to upgrade our Public Complaints Bureau and set up an ‘OMBUDSMAN SYSTEM’ to address public grievances against any public authority.
The ‘OMBUDSMAN’ is the citizen’s friend and protector entrusted to enquire personally into alleged wrongs inflicted on the man-in-the-street by a range of public authorities.
In the early seventies, Malaysia had wanted to consider such a system and had in fact studied the New Zealand ‘OMBUDSMAN’ model with a view towards its implementation. However it was shelved and in its place the public complaints bureau was set up.
It is time for us to revisit the ‘OMBUDSMAN’ as a comprehensive institution for our country which will be more effective to deal with aggrieved citizens because of wrongdoings inflicted on them.
Citizens have a role to play in the development of a quality service. By providing feedback and giving suggestions they are working with the government to improve the service delivery systems in the country.
As society progresses, the Malaysian public are more conscious of their rights and expects better performance from civil servants.
My suggestion to the civil servants is to walk the extra mile and strive towards achieving excellence in serving the nation.
The time has come for all departments, agencies and public authorities to strive for zero complaints in efforts to upgrade efficiency and promote excellence.
In line with the Prime Minister’s call to reduce bureaucratic red tape and improve administrative efficiency in all government departments and agencies, all departmental and agency heads should monitor the implementation of their clients’ charters to ensure they deliver the promises made in these charters.
“The clients” charters set out the objectives and targets of a particular department and how long it will take to deliver a service.
We must not allow the charters to be just dead letters. Departmental heads must ensure that the promises made are delivered, more so, when our Chief Secretary to the Government has frequently emphasised on improving service delivery.
Introducing the clients’ charters is one thing, ensuring that they work effectively is another. It is imperative for all departments and agencies including local authorities which have adopted the charters to monitor their implementation.
I wish to suggest that clients’ charters be prominently displayed at service counters of all public authorities, informing the public of the promises made and if not delivered to whom they can complain and seek redress.
In line with administrative accountability and transparency, departments, agencies and all local authorities should act on public complaints published in the newspapers.
Public complaints which are published in the print media provide useful feedback to the authorities whose responsibility should be to act on these complaints.
All departments, agencies and local authorities must always be sensitive to complaints or suggestions about their departments and take appropriate action.
Now that the Prime Minister has decided to emphasise on fighting graft and improve service delivery in the interest of the public, the time has also come for the government to upgrade our Public Complaints Bureau and set up an ‘OMBUDSMAN SYSTEM’ to address public grievances against any public authority.
The ‘OMBUDSMAN’ is the citizen’s friend and protector entrusted to enquire personally into alleged wrongs inflicted on the man-in-the-street by a range of public authorities.
In the early seventies, Malaysia had wanted to consider such a system and had in fact studied the New Zealand ‘OMBUDSMAN’ model with a view towards its implementation. However it was shelved and in its place the public complaints bureau was set up.
It is time for us to revisit the ‘OMBUDSMAN’ as a comprehensive institution for our country which will be more effective to deal with aggrieved citizens because of wrongdoings inflicted on them.
Citizens have a role to play in the development of a quality service. By providing feedback and giving suggestions they are working with the government to improve the service delivery systems in the country.
As society progresses, the Malaysian public are more conscious of their rights and expects better performance from civil servants.
My suggestion to the civil servants is to walk the extra mile and strive towards achieving excellence in serving the nation.
The time has come for all departments, agencies and public authorities to strive for zero complaints in efforts to upgrade efficiency and promote excellence.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Latest Bus Tragedy Near Nilai
NIOSH Chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye today called on all public transport operators to adopt a proactive approach to managing occupational road risk and help prevent more human tragedies on our roads.
The latest bus tragedy which claimed the life of a soldier and injured 29 others when it plunged into a ravine along the North-South Expressway near Nilai has brought into question as to whether our express bus drivers have ever learnt from past tragedies and fatal mishaps.
I noted that the injured bus passengers had commented that the bus was driven very fast before the tragedy occurred.
Express bus travel is an important means of transport for many Malaysians particularly for the low-income group.
This latest tragedy - I am sure its not the last - has clearly shattered public confidence as far as road safety is concerned, largely because of the irresponsible and cavalier attitude of the bus driver.
The Bus Operator concerned has to conduct its own investigation besides the probe carried out by the relevant government authorities and take a very serious view of the tragedy.
At a time when the relevant authorities are addressing with utmost seriousness the issue of road safety to reduce road accidents, injuries and fatalities, employers have a moral obligation to adopt a proactive approach to managing occupational road risk.
In helping to meet the national road safety target, to bring Malaysia’s road fatality rate down by 40% within the next five years and help reduce the current rate of 4.9 deaths per 10,000 vehicles to 3 deaths per 10,000 vehicles by 2010 and 2 deaths per 10,000 vehicles by the year 2020, employers should do all that is reasonably practicable not only to ensure the road safety of their employees but also that of the passengers and the public.
Employers must undertake to change the driving attitude and behaviour of their employees. They must ensure the use of safe vehicles, provide driver training to prevent road accidents while ensuring that drivers with bad records must be kept away from the wheels.
Employers also have a duty to protect their employees and other road users by adopting the approach of managing road risk in order to control the very significant business losses which arise from ‘at work’ road accidents, including not only direct accident costs, but lost staff time, higher insurance premiums and poor public image.
No business can afford to leave the safety performance of its vehicle fleet to chance. Money and lives can be at stake. Every journey should be a managed journey, not something to be treated casually or left to chance. Unless an organisation has a planned approach towards managing occupational road risk and is monitoring what it is doing, more accidents will occur and more innocent lives will be lost on our roads.
Resources which would otherwise be profitably utilised for the business will have to be expended on dealing with the aftermath of accidents. The message is clear and that is manage your occupational road risk and make your business more profitable. Employers should always review the road safety standards of their organisations.
Companies which take action to promote occupational safety and prevent accidents will achieve major cost savings, improve their image and make a significant contribution to meeting road safety targets. Employers who are concerned with the safety and well-being of their employees and the public can help to address the problem of tragic road accidents by means of the following :-
· Establish a written policy requiring drivers and motorcyclists to undergo safe driving practices, proper use of vehicle safety features and mandatory refresher courses;
· Conduct driver’s licence background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired, particularly regarding drug offences;
· Ensure that drivers in their employ comply with designated speed limits on roadways and other traffic regulations.
· Ensure and establish written procedures in respect of proper maintenance of all vehicles owned by the employers.
· Establish schedules that allow drivers to obey speed limits and limit their hours of service according to regulations. Do not permit workers to drive while fatigued.
· Work towards the right behavioural and attitudinal change and develop a road safety culture.
I need to emphasize the importance of adequate and proper safety training for employees. It is crucial that employers provide their staff the necessary know-how for them to execute their jobs safely and efficiently. Besides employees, employers too stand to benefit from a safe working environment as it not only reduces loss of man-hours and cost, but increases productivity and profitability as well to enhance the image of the company.
The latest bus tragedy which claimed the life of a soldier and injured 29 others when it plunged into a ravine along the North-South Expressway near Nilai has brought into question as to whether our express bus drivers have ever learnt from past tragedies and fatal mishaps.
I noted that the injured bus passengers had commented that the bus was driven very fast before the tragedy occurred.
Express bus travel is an important means of transport for many Malaysians particularly for the low-income group.
This latest tragedy - I am sure its not the last - has clearly shattered public confidence as far as road safety is concerned, largely because of the irresponsible and cavalier attitude of the bus driver.
The Bus Operator concerned has to conduct its own investigation besides the probe carried out by the relevant government authorities and take a very serious view of the tragedy.
At a time when the relevant authorities are addressing with utmost seriousness the issue of road safety to reduce road accidents, injuries and fatalities, employers have a moral obligation to adopt a proactive approach to managing occupational road risk.
In helping to meet the national road safety target, to bring Malaysia’s road fatality rate down by 40% within the next five years and help reduce the current rate of 4.9 deaths per 10,000 vehicles to 3 deaths per 10,000 vehicles by 2010 and 2 deaths per 10,000 vehicles by the year 2020, employers should do all that is reasonably practicable not only to ensure the road safety of their employees but also that of the passengers and the public.
Employers must undertake to change the driving attitude and behaviour of their employees. They must ensure the use of safe vehicles, provide driver training to prevent road accidents while ensuring that drivers with bad records must be kept away from the wheels.
Employers also have a duty to protect their employees and other road users by adopting the approach of managing road risk in order to control the very significant business losses which arise from ‘at work’ road accidents, including not only direct accident costs, but lost staff time, higher insurance premiums and poor public image.
No business can afford to leave the safety performance of its vehicle fleet to chance. Money and lives can be at stake. Every journey should be a managed journey, not something to be treated casually or left to chance. Unless an organisation has a planned approach towards managing occupational road risk and is monitoring what it is doing, more accidents will occur and more innocent lives will be lost on our roads.
Resources which would otherwise be profitably utilised for the business will have to be expended on dealing with the aftermath of accidents. The message is clear and that is manage your occupational road risk and make your business more profitable. Employers should always review the road safety standards of their organisations.
Companies which take action to promote occupational safety and prevent accidents will achieve major cost savings, improve their image and make a significant contribution to meeting road safety targets. Employers who are concerned with the safety and well-being of their employees and the public can help to address the problem of tragic road accidents by means of the following :-
· Establish a written policy requiring drivers and motorcyclists to undergo safe driving practices, proper use of vehicle safety features and mandatory refresher courses;
· Conduct driver’s licence background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired, particularly regarding drug offences;
· Ensure that drivers in their employ comply with designated speed limits on roadways and other traffic regulations.
· Ensure and establish written procedures in respect of proper maintenance of all vehicles owned by the employers.
· Establish schedules that allow drivers to obey speed limits and limit their hours of service according to regulations. Do not permit workers to drive while fatigued.
· Work towards the right behavioural and attitudinal change and develop a road safety culture.
I need to emphasize the importance of adequate and proper safety training for employees. It is crucial that employers provide their staff the necessary know-how for them to execute their jobs safely and efficiently. Besides employees, employers too stand to benefit from a safe working environment as it not only reduces loss of man-hours and cost, but increases productivity and profitability as well to enhance the image of the company.
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