Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye
SIBU: Employers are being called on to strictly impose the eight-hour driving cap introduced by the Transport Ministry for drivers.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said this was vital to prevent driver fatigue, which could jeopardise their safety and that of passengers.
“Employers, who are concerned with the safety and well-being of their employees and the public, can help address the problem of tragic road accidents by ensuring that all bus drivers comply with the measures introduced by the Transport Ministry with regard to the rest hours to overcome drivers’ fatigue,” said Lee in a press statement faxed to The Borneo Post yesterday.
“All bus drivers must rest for 15 minutes every two and half hours and they (bus drivers) drive a maximum of eight hours a day,” he added.
He said companies that take action to promote occupational safety and prevent accidents will achieve major cost savings, improve their image and make a significant contribution to meeting road safety targets.
He was commenting on the tragic Boxing Day accidentgeneral Datuk Suret Singh was reported as saying recently that drivers who were sleepy should find a safe place to stop and rest, or let their co-driver take over.
In response, KLIA Professional and Management College chief executive officer Major (Rtd) Kamarulzaman Musa said taking a short break every two hours would ensure that drivers remain constantly alert at the wheel.
“During my military days,Kamarulzaman.
The safety consultant said he did not exceed driving continuously for three hours a day.
Among others, he said, drivers must be properly trained and have a valid driving licence to certify that they are competent.
“They must have a good standard operating procedure to manage buses.
For example, regular maintenance to ensure vehicles are in tip-top condition at all times,” stressed Kamarulzaman, who is an engineer.
Lee added that employers need to ensure and establish written procedures in respect of proper maintenance of all their vehicles.riding training.
Among other things, he called for the implementation of safe driving/riding practices, proper use of vehicle safety features and mandatory refresher courses so that they can be competent professional drivers.
Earlier, Transport Workers Union (TWU) secretary-general Datuk Zainal Rampak was reported to have urged the government to seriously check express bus drivers’ training, experience and physical fitness before allowing them to drive long distances.
Kamarulzaman, however, felt that the onus was on employers to vet the background of drivers thoroughly prior to hiring them.
Lee said: “Employers need to conduct driver’s licence background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired, particularly regarding drug offences including random urine checks on express bus drivers.”
Towards this end, Kamarulzaman stressed that employers need to inculcate a culture of safety among their employees as a long-term measure or the urgency will fizzle out over time.
In connection with this, he recommended a regular safety meeting be conducted with bus drivers to condition their minds towards the importance of safety.
“If you ask me, I will say the approach is very much recommended. It is similar to tools box talk in construction sites to alert workers on possible safety and health hazards before they start their work for the day,” he explained.