Employers urged to prioritise workplace safety in line with the law
Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow
KUCHING (April 28): Employers must establish clear and comprehensive workplace policies to ensure the safety of all employees in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, said Dr Muzaffar Syah Mallow.
The Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia's Faculty of Syariah and Law associate professor stated that employers are obligated to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of their employees both at the workplace and throughout their employment.
'Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable care of their employees' health and safety. An employer can be found liable for negligence if it breaches this duty,' he said in a statement today.
The statement was issued in conjunction with World Day for Safety and Health at Work, observed annually on April 28 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases worldwide.
Muzaffar emphasised that workplace safety and health must not be taken lightly, cautioning that failing to implement proper safety rules and procedures could have serious consequences for workers.
'Although no specific regulation in the country requires employers to ensure employees' safety while commuting to and from work, employers should take steps to ensure the safety of their employees,' he said.
He noted that in February 2023, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) revealed it receives about 60,000 reports annually related to work-related commuting accidents and occupational diseases.
'In 2022, a total of 64,168 cases were reported to Socso, of which 35,015 involved industrial or workplace mishaps, while 29,153 were commuting accidents.
'Tragically, 864 workers lost their lives, including 255 due to industrial accidents and 609 from commuting accidents, an increase from 525 workers, who died due to road accidents in 2021,' he added.
Muzaffar urged employers to collaborate with the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the relevant institutions such as the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Road Safety Department of Malaysia, Road Transport Department, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) to stay updated on the latest road safety guidelines.
He said employers must ensure that these guidelines are accessible to raise awareness and promote road safety for those commuting to and from the workplace. employers lead Muzaffar Syah Mallow safety and health
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