Occupational accident rate up in Labuan — DOSH

LABUAN: The rate of occupation related accidents in the duty-free-island of Labuan has increased from 0.08 per 1,000 employees in 2015 to 0.22 per 1,000 employees last year, a significant increase of 175 per cent.

Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Labuan director Jinurah Sintian said a total of three work-related fatalities was also recorded last year.

“We will continue to collaborate with employers, employees, government agencies and associations so as they are in compliance with the safety and health legislation to reduce workplace accidents,” she told Bernama yesterday.

Jinurah added that accident cases at workplaces in the country had shown an increase of 2.49 per cent compared to the figure of 2015.

“There is still room for improvement and a need to work hard to reduce the rate of workplace accident cases to be comparable to other developed countries,” she said.

She said DOSH often stressed to employers to avoid accidents especially in the construction sector.

This worrying scenario prompted the DOSH to conduct the Occupational Health and Safety Seminar to create awareness on the safety requirements at workplace involving 50 participants from the various small and medium sized enterprises, last week.

Jinurah also reminded employers to focus on hazards and hearing loss preventive measures at their work places.

“We wish to remind employers and employees to report accidents in their workplace to DOSH in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 for future improvement,” she said. - Bernama