Thursday, 26 Jul 2018 -  JOHOR BARU: Media practitioners are urged to take safety seriously and to have appropriate safety training to ensure they stay safe when covering high risks events.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said NIOSH was looking forward to work with media organisations to hold training programmes for local media practitioners.

“NIOSH is also seeking feedback from various media organisations and journalists’ unions to draw up suitable induction training modules known as ‘Safety Passports’ for media practitioners,” he said during the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programme for the media at the NIOSH southern region headquarters in Senai.

The OSH for Media programme is an initiative by NIOSH to raise awareness among the media on safety and health issues while doing their job.

“The International Code of Practice for the Safe Conduct of Journalism states that media personnel must be informed about the political, physical, and social terrain where they are working.

“They should also be properly equipped for all assignments, including the provision of first aid materials, communication tools, adequate transport facilities and where necessary, personal protective equipment,” he said.

He said according to a report by the International Federation of Journalists, at least 81 journalists were killed last year while on assignment.

He added that NIOSH had also received reports, which showed that employers did not observe the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514) and that the level of awareness among journalists was at a minimal level.

“The tragic incident where Bernama TV cameraman, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, was killed while covering a humanitarian aid mission in Somalia in 2011 shows the importance of OSH among the media,” he said.

Lee said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health under the Ministry of Human Resources had introduced the Guidelines for Media Professionals following the incident.

“The guidelines act as a safe work procedure for the media while doing their coverage in dangerous zones.

“The job of the journalist is to tell the story, not become the story.

“A journalist who puts him or herself needlessly at risk is behaving in an unprofessional manner and could ultimately prevent the story from being told or the picture being seen,” he said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/07/26/safety-training-for-media-a-must-says-lee/#eh5WOypcjtCldJiO.99

Sunday, 10 Jun 2018 - 

THE Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) celebrated an Occupational, Safety and Health event throughout Malaysia.

They organised the largest safety briefing toolbox talks.

The aim of this event was to advise the workers about safety precautions that need to be applied at every company such as factories, shops, schools, hospitals, clinics and many more.

About 52, 490 participants took part in 800 different locations around the country.

The event was held from 8am until 11am throughout the country. The command centre was at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam.

SMK (P) Bukit Kuda Klang took the opportunity to take part. It was organised by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) including its president Saad Ismail, committee member Dr Mimita Magendra and school principal Rubiah Hayat.

The teachers, clerks, laboratory assistants and guards also took part as they are the people most at risk of injury while in school. The students were not involved as they are well taken care off.

The World OSH Day celebration was initially celebrated in April 2003 for the first time by the International Labour Organisation.

Each participant was given a tagging number by MOSH. The number was to be held by them and a photo was required to be taken as a group.

The school would be listed in the Malaysia Book of Records and receive a certificate.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2018/06/10/safety-for-all/#BKljgQcVVlGcYEJG.99

When we talk about industrial disasters, what comes to mind are the 1984 Bhopal gas leak tragedy from a pesticide plant in Madhya Pradesh, India, and the 1954 Minamata mercury poisoning disaster in Japan.

We may have to add the recent poisoning in Pasir Gudang to the list.

In the Bhopal tragedy, toxic gas from a pesticide plant leaked from storage tanks in the middle of the night. By the next morning, more than 2,000 people in the vicinity were found dead and thousands more in the following days.

According to reports, faulty plant design and pipes, safety devices, poor maintenance of tanks, lax storage safety procedures and negligent staff were among the causes. Those who survived suffer from respiratory, neurological, gynecological, psychological, genetic and ocular issues. The Atlantic magazine states that it is the world’s worst industrial disaster, and after three decades, survivors are still fighting to have the site cleaned up.

In the Minamata disaster, mercury poisoning affected thousands of people who consumed seafood contaminated by methyl mercury in wastewater. Methyl mercury was released from a chemical factory in Minamata. The high level of mercury in marine products caused neurological disorders, and sensory and auditory disturbances in people who lived near the contaminated area. The industrial pollution also resulted in environmental degradation, marine pollution and affected fisheries. The effects impaired low socio-economic groups and fishermen.

And, now, in the 21st century, we have this grim case of industrial pollution in Pasir Gudang, Johor. Initial reports stated that 2,775 people were affected by toxic fumes released from the illegal dumping of chemicals into Sungai Kim Kim. More than 100 schools remain closed at the time of writing. About 1,250 tonnes of soil, water and sludge samples had been collected from the river. Earlier, it was reported that 15 types of chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide, were found in air samples taken from the surrounding areas.

Efforts are underway to prevent another wave of toxic pollution. But the question remains — how did the dumping of chemicals escape enforcement?

Illegal discharge of factory waste is not new and has been going on for years. Many other rivers and numerous sites throughout the country have been polluted by industrial waste. Surely, we do not want another episode of chemical pollution to go wrong before we realise that it is too late for recovery efforts.

The effects of past industrial disasters should serve as powerful reminders that people usually end up paying the price for the irresponsible and unscrupulous acts of the callous few. Effects of industrial disaster is widespread. The need to enforce environmental safety procedures and implement preventive strategies cannot be understated. Because for as long as enforcement is not stressed upon and procedures are not followed, pollution will continue and the lives of the public will be under threat.

It is urgent to act now.

Dr S. Mathana Amaris Fiona

Puchong, Selangor

Read more at: https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2019/03/473520/have-safety-and-preventive-measures-place

Tuesday, 31 Jul 2018 - MIRI: Many schools in Sarawak that cater to rural students and boarders have been found to be lacking in fire-safety aspects.

Local politicians are calling for urgent checks, especially on wiring, to be carried out in all primary and secondary schools throughout Sarawak.

Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin said the state government and the Education Ministry must work together on the matter.

“The tragic death of 25-year-old teacher Catherine Janet Tiwi in the teachers quarters at SK Batu Bungan in Mulu last Thursday showed that many of the wooden buildings are fire-risks.

“Get the Fire and Rescue Department and Department of Safety and Health (Niosh) to conduct on-the-spot inspections,” he said.

Julau MP Larry Sng said checks of all important safety aspects of the buildings must be carried out, adding that he had raised such concerns before.

Teo (in white blouse) visited SK Batu Bungan in Mulu last Saturday.

“Safety facilities such are fire escapes, safety switches, fire-proof wiring, hydrants and extinguishers must be put in place.

Sng said the most common found in rural schools is unsafe wiring and blocked fire-escape routes and stariways.

He said many of the schools also do not have fire alarms.

The lack of safety features endangers the lives of people in the event of fires, he stressed, adding that Sarawak has at least 500 primary and secondary schools that are in needed of urgent repairs.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching visited SK Batu Bungan on Saturday and said she will forward a proposal to the ministry to channel funds immediately to SK Batu Bungan Parents-Teachers Association to carry out repairs of the building destroyed in the fire.

She said her ministry is looking into the safety issues of all schools in Sarawak.

“Our ministry is concerned about these issues in schools.

“The tragic fire that caused the death of Catherine must not occur again in our schools,” she said.

Teo said the ministry needs to work out the budget required to repair all schools in the state and country.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/07/31/upgrade-fire-safety-in-schools-officials-say-rural-institutions-need-urgent-improvements/#zW5jsXMOrvS62S2R.99