Lee (centre) gets ready to hit the balloon with a blowpipe to officially launch the society.
MIRI: Occupational safety and health should be a culture and practice among the people.
It is also vital to increase the awareness of the importance of adhering to every rule, regulation and procedure to reduce and avoid workplace accidents.
Assistant Minister for Air and Land Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who gave this reminder, said it is not sufficient to tell workers that they would be penalised if they do not follow rules and regulations on safety and health in their workplaces.
Lee was speaking at the launching of Miri Occupational Safety and Health Practitioners’ Society (MOSHPS) in a leading hotel here yesterday.
“Don’t put yourself, your life and others at risk by taking occupational safety and health at the workplace lightly. It should be the culture and practice and not just to avoid being penalised by the authority,” he said.
Applauding the formation of the society to promote and create awareness not only among the workforce but also the general public, Lee said safety is not confined to the workplace only but should also be a culture and practice at home and in public places. Lee said accidents may cause death, disability and injury which will affect productivity and the injured person may lose their job, thus their income.
“Therefore it is important for each and every one of us to make safety our culture and practice as accidents could happen anytime especially when it is least expected,” he advised.
At the launching ceremony, Lee announced a grant of RM5,000 for Miri Occupational safety and Health Practitioners’ Society.
President of the society Dr Julian Jolly called on practitioners and personnel involved in safety to sign up as members.
He said various activities such as talks, seminars and outreach or educational programmes would be carried out to enhance awareness of safety.