Tourism industry operators urged to embrace safety culture
SIBU: Tourism and hospitality industry operators are urged to embrace the safety culture and implement the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) concept.
Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye noted that this holiday period, many domestic and foreign visitors would f lock to holiday resorts and spend time with family members and friends.
He pointed out that accidents which occur from time to time involving tourists and tour operators should be a wake- up call to all those involved in the tourism and hospitality industry to take a very serious view of safety issues.
“It is time for all those involved in the hospitality industry such as tour and hotel operators, food and entertainment establishments and so on, to take a serious view of the frequent occurrence of accidents and fatalities involving not only their employees but also the tourists and the public.
“It is essential for those involved in the hospitality industry to take all necessary measures to make the holiday outings accident-free,” Lee said in a press statement recently.
He added: “Accidents can be reduced if we make prudent and cautious work practices part of our culture. Meticulousness about safety must be a core value for both employers and employees. Safety and health must be transformed into a culture and not be accepted as just a priority.”
According to Lee, OSH plays an important part in the hospitality
It is time for all those involved in the hospitality industry such as tour and hotel operators, food and entertainment establishments and so on, to take a serious view of the frequent occurrence of accidents and fatalities involving not only their employees but also the tourists and the public. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Niosh chairman
and tourism industry to prevent accidents and injuries and fatalities.
If OSH is not practised, it can lead to accidents resulting in injuries or even deaths.
Instead, he stressed that commitment to health and safety makes good business sense for tour operators and those involved in the hospitality industry to prevent accidents involving their guests and employees.
Implementing OSH for the hospitality industry involves the practice of HIRARC ( Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control). All places of work have hazards and risks which need to be addressed.
He asserted that it is incumbent upon those who are at the workplace to identify the hazards and risks and take safety measures to address them so that it will not give rise to accidents or deaths.
Adding on, he noted that many resorts, hotels and chalet are providing their guests with outdoor activities like mountain climbing, hiking, scuba diving, snorkelling, water rafting, wall climbing, bungee jumping and many more. These activities involve technical and high risks. The procedure and Emergency Response Team as well as First Aider are needed for any emergency.
Ac cord ing t o L e e, t our guides also can be exposed to many occupational health and safety risks including physical, biological or psychosocial hazards that can cause serious risk to their health.
“Considering all these factors, I therefore suggest that it is time for all hospitality industry players to push for “OSH for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry” and strive to make their business accidentfree.”