Lee wearing a safety attire and equipment during a demonstration on recue operation at the Work Safety and Health With the Johor Media Programme at Johor Technology Park in Johor yesterday. — Bernama photo
JOHOR BAHRU: Employers of media practitioners have been urged to be more pro-active in ensuring the work safety practices of their staff and ensure that they have adequate information and skills related to their risks at work, in line with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514).
Chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said according to a report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least 81 journalists were killed last year while on assignment, highlighting the risks that media practitioners take.
Lee added that NIOSH also received reports which showed that employers did not observe Act 514 and that the level of awareness among the journalists themselves was at a minimal level.
“What is even more saddening is when the employers see Act 514 as petty and are not serious in making it a practice in their media organisation,” he told reporters at the Work Safety and Health With the Johor Media Programme held here yesterday.
Lee said employers of media practitioners must remember that they are also subject to Act 514 which states that it is the responsibility of the employer to provide work safety training for their staff.
He added that employers must not only pay serious attention to safety and welfare of their staff but must be committed to implementing safety measures at the workplace.
“Employers must provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety jackets, face masks, safety belts and others, depending on the type of work,” he said.
He added that the act also provides that media practitioners also had the right to reject an assignment given to them if the location was risky and could be detrimental to them. — Bernama