TAWAU: Schools with 40 or more staff are required to set up Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) committees to discuss workplace safety aspect.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said many people were unaware that schools and education institutions were considered workplaces under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994.
“It is compulsory for them to set up a OSH committee if they have 40 workers or above at their premises,” he said after launching the OSH in School programme at Vision School Tawau, here, on Thursday.
Under OSHA 1994, an employer is required to form an OSH committee when there are 40 or more employees or when instructed to do so by the director-general of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
An employer can be fined up to RM5,000 or jailed for a maximum of six months or both if it fails to establish a committee.
An OSH Committee reviews workplace safety and health procedures, investigates complaints and holds regular discussions with the employer on issues related to safety and health at the workplace.
Lee also urged schools to implement good OSH management systems by practising hazard identification and risk assessment and control.
The fire at SK Sentosa on Feb 23 here, which destroyed two wooden blocks housing the school office, teachers’ room, mini hall and Year One to Year Three classrooms, showed that school safety must be improved.
“Although there were no injuries or fatalities, we must always bear in mind that accidents in school could lead to serious injuries or death.
“The incident where a Form Two student in Gemas died when a blade from a ride-on lawnmower struck her on the head was one clear example,” he said, adding that it could have been prevented if measures had been taken by those responsible to prioritise the safety of students.
Lee said authorities, especially the Public Works Department, should cooperate with school administration to carry out a thorough safety audit of all schools nationwide.
“It is advisable for the safety audit to be conducted every five years at new schools while the old ones must have an annual safety audit.”
He said Niosh would continue with its efforts to promote awareness under the OSH in School programme with support from teachers, staff, students and the private sector.