Rokiah Mahmud
A total of 193 cases of injuries at workplace were recorded in 2021. Of this, 57 per cent were from the construction industry. The lack of health, safety and environment (HSE) competencies in the workforce has been identified as the key factor resulting in high HSE incidents in recent years.
As a result, a Joint Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) HSE Taskforce consisting MISC Working Group (MISC-WG) Energy and MISC-WG Construction, was formed in March 2021.
This was shared by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd In-Country Value Manager and MISC Energy Lead and Co-Chair of the Joint MISC HSE Taskforce Hajah Rosita binti Haji Hassan during the launch of HSE Competency Apprenticeship Programme (Pilot) at the Musyawarah Hall of the International Convention Centre yesterday.
The taskforce’s objective is to develop local capabilities in HSE in line with the Workplace Safety Regulations, she said.
“The programme aims to equip locals with HSE competencies to be professionally certified in the construction and energy sectors as workplace safety health (WSH) officers and coordinators.
“This will provide opportunities for locals to build up their career as HSE professionals and at the same time contribute towards establishing safer workplaces,” she added.
The HSE Competency Apprenticeship Programme (Pilot) launching event was held in conjunction with Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (Brunei MYCE 2022), jointly organised by the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office and the Joint MISC HSE Taskforce.
Deputy Minister of the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw officiated as the guest of honour.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Chin Wei Keh in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of MISC who leads and co-leads the working groups, was also present.
The programme comprises competency development and professional training, where each trainee has to undergo a minimum of two years of HSE experience and be assessed by Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) to be a certified WSH officer or coordinator.
Under competency development, the trainees will be developing competency skills required by the regulators through in-role development at their workplaces.
They are also required to complete professional training in IOSH managing safely and NEBOSH International General Certificate of Occupational Health and Safety training provided by a registered training organisation (RTO).
Government assistance, through SkillsPlus under the Human Resources Development Fund, is also available to support companies in training their employees under the programme.
Another training alternative pathway is the HCG03 HSE Module, an IOSH-equivalent programme run by the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), co-developed by the Joint MISC HSE Taskforce and IBTE.
The programme will also utilise Skillup app, as a monitoring tool to determine the competence level of the trainees.
The event also saw award letters presented to 20 participating companies in construction and energy sectors, and letter of programme recognition by Executive Secretary of Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (BDNAC) Secretariat Rosimah Sumaimah binti Haji Matassim to Chief Executive Officer of IBTE Dr Haji Mohd Zamri bin Haji Sabli, for IBTE’s HCG03 HSE Module Accreditation.