James Kon
It is anticipated that climate change and extreme weather events will have profound effects on occupational health and safety, said Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof yesterday.
The minister cited heat stress as a potential impact to workers due to climate change or extreme weather events.
He added that “it does not come as a surprise when mental health appears as a forefront of global concerns, with the impact of unsafe or unhealthy working conditions on psychological well-being”.
The minister, who is also Minister in Charge of the Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) was speaking at the launch of Safety Month.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said, “It is eminent to put in place effective occupational safety and health policies, management systems and action plans to address these diverse risks to ensure acceptable working conditions. This is an area that requires a whole of nation approach.”
Meanwhile, the minister noted that there was a downward trend in work-related fatalities recorded over recent years. Some 70 work-related fatalities were recorded over the past decade, with 61 per cent of cases in the construction industry. “Falling from height represents one of the main causes.”
The minister however, cautioned against complacency and stressed that with potential under-reporting of cases and increase in construction activity, the need to ensure compliance with regulations is critical.
