Work towards a preventive safety culture

THE International Social Security Association (ISSA) Switzerland has reiterated that safety and health at work is the responsibility of society as a whole and that building and maintaining a national accident prevention culture must be high on the national agenda of every country.

The Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work 2008 emphasises that a safe and healthy work environment should be recognised as a fundamental human right and the important role of security organisations in promoting prevention and in providing treatment, support and rehabilitation services.

The above message was delivered by Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, secretary-general of ISSA at the 26th Asia Pacific Occupational Safety and Health (Apposho 26) in Perth last week.

The Seoul declaration arose from the first Safety and Health Summit, held in conjunction with the 2008 World Congress on Safety and Health in Korea.

Malaysia participated in the summit and endorsed the declaration.

The declaration aims to promote a preventive safety and health culture, places occupational safety and health high on national agendas and considers prevention as an integral part of any work-related activity.

Since its adoption in June 2008, a growing number of governments, multinational enterprises, social security institutions, employers and workers have committed themselves to its cause.

Much has been said about promoting a global culture of workplace accident prevention and while meaningful progress has been made in reducing workplace accidents and injuries, significant challenges remain.

According to the International Labour Organisation, 2.3 million people die each year in work-related accidents and diseases, and 317 million suffer non-fatal workplace accidents.

Each year 160 million new cases of occupational illnesses are reported.

The financial burden of compensation, healthcare, rehabilitation and invalidity payments indicate an amount equivalent to 4% of the world’s GDP annually for work injuries alone. In some developing countries, the cost can be as high as 10% of GDP.

In Malaysia, we take on the challenge of working towards an accident-free environment and we must recognise and accept that safety and health at work is a basic human right.

Employees must be entitled to the right to work safely and healthily. They must be given the right to benefit from measures to ensure their safety and health at the workplace.

Companies and corporations, including those in the public sector, must recognise safety and health at work as a strategic asset.

Occupational safety and health is key to human capital formation, fosters competitiveness and innovation.

As this is a societal responsibility, both the private and public sectors, must increase their investments in safety and health at work.

This is a common responsibility that must be shared by all levels of society in addition to governments, employers and employees.

In the final analysis it has to be realised that the increasing complex safety and health risks at the workplace call for partnerships, and innovation as stated in the Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,
Chairman, NIOSH,
Kuala Lumpur.