Dosh introduces new concept to prevent loss of hearing
Monday, 27 Nov 2017 - JOHOR BARU: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) has introduced a new practice that could prevent potential loss of hearing due to noise at the workplace.
Its deputy director Kormain Mohd Noor said that checks showed that over 7,100 workers’ hearing have been affected at the workplace last year and the numbers have been on the rise over the past few years.
He said the Prevention through Design (PtD) concept prevented accidents in safety and health management at the workplace.
“We are working with experts from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to conduct research in the application of the PtD concept for industries here.
Kormain added that PtD was not an entirely new concept as developed countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States had implemented it a decade ago.
The concept focuses on design, thus companies can reduce noise from early stages when designing designated areas for machineries.
This will also ensure that employers abide by noise regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, he said.
He noted that employers could be fined up to RM50,000 or sentenced to two years imprisonment or both if they fail to adhere to the regulations.
A total of 19 employers have been charged in court over the issue, with fines amounting to RM94,000 in addition to 1,700 notices and orders issued last year, he added.
