KOTA KINABALU: Five hundred people are expected to take part in the 5th Borneo Occupational Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition (BOSH 2017) here next Monday.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the two-day programme will allow participants, from both private and government sectors, to share information on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and strengthen their business competitiveness and job performance.
“The goal is also in line with NIOSH's objective to nurture the culture of accident prevention by all parties, especially employers and employees.
"It is hoped that this effort will reduce the rate of accidents at workplaces, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak," he said in a statement.
Lee said the theme for this year's event - "Enhancing OSH for Business Competitiveness" - was selected because it is relevant to the current challenging but still expanding economy.
He said speakers would explore various OSH topics including on OSH management system, OSH Masterplan 2016-2020, social security protection and the importance of OSH in the industrial development in Sabah and Sarawak.
Fourteen papers will also be presented during the programme.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Raymond Tan, who is also Industrial Development Minister, is expected to be present.
Lee said OSH practitioners would get 15 points under the Continuing Education Programme (CEP) from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) while participants from the construction sector would receive 20 points under the Contractor Continuous Development (CCD) programme initiated by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
Lee added that BOSH is fast becoming a household name within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines' East Asean Growth Area (BIMP EAGA) since it was first organised here in 2009.
He said NIOSH, through its regional office in Sabah, chose Kota Kinabalu for the biennial conference this year after it was held in Kuching in 2015.
"The largest OSH conference and exhibition in Borneo will be held alternately in Sabah and Sarawak as a platform for OSH practitioners to exchange ideas and gain knowledge on OSH issues in the Borneo region," he said.
OSH service providers and the manufacturers and suppliers of related products will also showcase their latest products at the exhibition area.