Ugak delivers his opening remarks for the welcoming dinner in Kapit. Sitting at the VIP table before him are (from right) Hanif, Galong and Steward.
KAPIT: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) is undertaking a flexibility study on setting up an office here.
According to Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, who is also Niosh chairman, the office would serve to facilitate the provision of the necessary occupational safety and health (OSH) training to workers who are or planning to be involved in various mega projects here, and also those eyeing to work in industries overseas that require proper OSH credentials, such as oil and gas, and also high-technology logging.
For the record, currently there are three Niosh offices in Sarawak – each in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri.
Adding on, Ugak believes that the proposed Niosh Kapit office would greatly help the firms or contractors assigned to the mega projects here.
“We have a number of mega projects in Kapit including the ongoing Baleh Dam construction and coal-mining in Nanga Merit, as well as road projects stretching from Nanga Mujong to Baleh Dam, and from Nanga Ga’at to Ulu (Upriver) Sungai Ga’at.
“For the Baleh Dam project alone, 5,000 workers are employed for various stages of construction, and all of them require the OSH certification to be permitted to work.
“By setting up a Niosh office in Kapit, we can help those who seek employment by registering and providing them with professional OSH training, so that they would have the right credential for the job.
“At the moment, they have to attend training in Miri, which is a costly undertaking,” he said in his opening remarks for a welcoming dinner here last Sunday, held for three key officials from Niosh headquarters in Putrajaya.
The three visitors are Niosh executive secretary Major (Rtd) Hanif Maiden, manager (business and marketing division) Mohd Hussin Abdul Salam, and senior officer Amir Ghazali.
Deputy Kapit Resident Galong Luang, Bukit Mabong District Officer Douglas Pungga, and local community leader Pemanca Steward Sawing also attended the welcoming dinner.
Recently, Ugak conducted courtesy visits to Niosh offices in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau to learn more about the organisation’s roles and functions.
It was among his first official duties after being appointed as Niosh chairman in mid-April this year.