Sabah Builders Association, NIOSH hold Site Safety Supervisor course
KOTA KINABALU: With the enforcement of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Act 520, Factories and Machinery Act (FMA) 1967, Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction (BOWEC Regulations 25 & 26) and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 Section 15 (Majikan) & Section 24 (Pekerja), construction players in Sabah have to upgrade themselves to another level.
In line with the government’s effort to nurture a preventive occupational safety and health culture, changes in behaviour and attitude must be made.
The Sabah Builders Association (SBA) organized a Site Safety Supervisor (Triple S) course jointly with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)held from April 9 to 19 at its office.
Sabah regional manager Wan Sarman bin Sakan brought in experienced trainers from Kuala Lumpur for the 10-day course.
The trainers were Abdul Razak bin Bachok who has more than 25 years working experience and more than 20 years as an occupational, health and safety trainer and Samuri bin Mohd Mussin who has more than 30 years of working experience.
Other SBA members present at the course were Deputy President Henry Tsen, Vice President cum organizing chairman Johnny Wong, adviser Datuk Gerald Goh, secretary (Chinese), Kung Pin Kung and committee members Ir ChawZie Der, Chin Liang and Chui Swee Kong.
Under the Acts and Regulations, for projects valued RM20 million and below, there must be a fulltime site safety supervisor at the construction site. The 10-day training course would equip the trainees with the appropriate occupational health and safety knowledge.
Hence, the knowledge gained from this training course would enable the participants to help their employers and fellow construction workers to mitigate the fines and construction accidents. Contractors who failed to comply would face a fine by the relevant authorities.
Prior to passing the assessment examination to be qualified site safety supervisors, the course participants paid a visit to Triconic Tower @ Bundusan’s construction site for observation analysis and to share knowledge on safety and health.
Currently, the foundation has been completed and the progress achieved on site is about 12% completion up to the entrance deck level. They were welcomed at the sales gallery which opens from 9am to 5pm. Information was presented regarding the overall project. NIOSH and SBA officials were also present at the site visit.
During the discussion between SBA and NIOSH Executive Director Ayop Salleh, it was identified that promoting awareness to the construction players is an important factor to reduce construction accidents.
It was mutually agreed to build on the success of this Triple S course for SBA and NIOSH to collaborate on the other forthcoming occupational health and safety seminars and training courses with the ultimate target of enhancing the knowledge of the construction workers.
Numerous accidents at the construction site could be avoided if the workers have the knowledge to take the appropriate precaution.