‘Compliance level of schools in setting up OSH committee still low’

BANGI: The compliance level of school administration with more than 40 employees in forming the Occupational Safety and Health Committee is still low, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot.

He said the setting of the committee in schools had been stipulated in the guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issued since 2002.

Beginning this year, the ministry, through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health would ensure close monitoring of its implementation for the good of all quarters, he added.

Speaking to reporters after opening a seminar on occupational safety and health in schools here yesterday, he said schools should abide by the policy on safe schools as they were also subjected to the provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.

He said the law was aimed at ensuring the safety, health, welfare and to protect employees at their workplace, as well as ensure a conducive working environment for them, he added.

He said through the committee, representatives of the workers and the school management could discuss matters pertaining to health and safety at workplace, as well as instill awareness on the matter among other staff and students.

“It is important to ensure matters pertaining to safety and health and workplace are always at their best in view of several accidents which occurred in schools, some of them involved fatalities involving students,” he added.

Education Ministry’s director of School Management Division, Aminuddin Adam said the division had introduced a rating standard to measure the level of safety of school in April and August every year.

He said the rating last year was at 97 per cent. — Bernama