James Kon
Brunei has an obligation to respect, promote and realise the fundamental right that workers have to a safe and healthy working environment as the Sultanate recognised the resolution adopted by the International Labour Organization in 2022.
This was shared by Director of the Process Safety Division as Acting Interim Chief Executive Officer of Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) Haji Ya’akub bin Haji Yusof during the SHENA Safety Month in conjunction with World Day for Safety and Health at Work (WDSHW) 2023 closing ceremony yesterday.
WDSHW, observed annually on April 28, serves as a platform to raise awareness on accident prevention and foster a culture of best practices that prioritise safety and health compliance in workplaces.
He recalled that Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II as Minister in Charge of SHENA Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof during the launch on May 15 spoke on this year’s theme for the WDSHW, ‘Safe and healthy workplaces as a fundamental principle and right at work’, which resonates strongly not only with SHENA as the national regulatory authority but also with all organisations where safety and health at work apply.
The minister highlighted the need to reflect on the nation’s performance and address challenges to reduce incidents surrounding workplace injuries and fatalities.
He stated that improving workplace safety and health in Brunei is a mandate under Goal 2 of Brunei Vision 2035 and called on policymakers, employers and workers to collaborate to establish effective safe systems at the workplace and cultivate a preventive culture.
Throughout the activities organised by SHENA over the past few weeks, he said, “We have been striving to underscore to attendees and the general public that the safety and health culture of an organisation is not merely having documentation and policies, but more importantly the application of these in demonstrating commitment, values, attitudes, behaviours and competency of the people working there. Organisations in all spheres of work, public and private sectors, must continue to reflect on the effectiveness of their organisation’s safety management system and their commitment to safety and health as a priority.”
He urged the public to apply a safety and health culture in their organisations, not merely having documentation and policies.
He also said that organisation’s should continue to reflect on the effectiveness of their safety management systems in demonstrating their commitment to safety and health as priorities.
The winners of the SHENA Short Video Contest were also announced at the event with prizes presented by Haji Ya’akub alongside SHENA’s senior management team.
