Making schools safe for work, study and play

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, concerned about the dangers of dilapidated infrastructures in schools, has introduced a programme to create awareness of safety and health among staff and children ELEVEN-year-old Nur Shahreen Natasya Mohd Amin, of SK Taman Indahpura 1, was among those who won prizes in a recent poster drawing competition held in conjunction with the recent launch of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Schools programme.

Nur Shahreen, who won a hamper, said she did not expect to win as it was the first time she was taking part in a drawing competition.

“I think safety is important in everything that we do and in all places, particularly at home and school,” Nur Shahreen said.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), concerned about the potential threat that dilapidated infrastructures posed to teachers, administrative staff, students and visitors to school compounds, introduced the pilot project involving 10 schools in Johor.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said at a press conference after launching the programme at the NIOSH complex in Taman Teknologi Park that NIOSH was working with the Education Ministry, as part of its corporate social responsibility drive, to create awareness of safety and health in schools.
It aims to do this through education, awareness, training, exhibitions and drawing competitions.
“Safety issues can include school buildings, toilets, canteens, laboratories and school fields,” Lee said.

“Training and information dissemination are the main elements in ensuring that employees know the risks they are facing in the workplace and how to work safely to deal with the risks,” he said.
Lee said the government was aware of the problem as Budget 2012 had an allocation of RM1 billion for a special fund to be used for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools, especially to cater for those with urgent needs.

On a separate matter, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that part of a RM500 million allocation for the Education Ministry will be channelled to improve national schools next year.
The funds will be used for infrastructure repairs in 600 national schools in the country.

Lee said the government had previously introduced programmes such as the School Health Programme in 1967 and Safe School Project in 2002.

However, these programmes focused primarily on improving health and making schools safe from social ills and negative external influences, such as drug addiction, gangsterism and crime.

The OSH in school programme covers another aspect — it views schools as a workplace, in accordance with the OSH Act 1994.

Last year, Mohd Khairi Iskandar Onzek, eight, died two days after he was pinned down by a goal post which had toppled on him at a school field in Kepala Batas, Penang.

Two months ago, Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman, 11, of SK Kampung Jawa 2, Klang, also died after being hit by a falling goal post when playing football at the school field.

Lee said there were previous reports of termite-infested schools and collapsed ceilings in schools throughout the country. Lee urged private companies to come in as sponsors for the OSH in school programme.

Read more: New Straits Times