A safer manufacturing sector

KUALA LUMPUR: THE manufacturing sector has seen a significant drop in the number of accidents at the workplace due to a higher level of awareness on health, safety and environment (HSE) among employers and workers.

Nevertheless, the number of accidents, involving non-permanent or permanent disabilities and death, is still the highest compared with other sectors such as hotels and restaurants; utilities; agriculture, forestry, logging and fishing; construction; and mining and quarrying.

Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) statistics show there were 1,775 accidents in the manufacturing sector in 2008. This dipped to 1,318 cases in 2009 before climbing up to 1,714 cases and then dramatically dropping to 913.

The figures also show that while the manufacturing sector has recorded fewer deaths as compared with the construction sector from 2008 to 2010, for last year it had slightly more deaths.

James Issachar Daniel, a HSE consultant with Naja Safety, said the manufacturing sector was able to reduce the number of workplace-related accidents, especially in factories owned by multinationals, as they were able to invest in machinery with advanced safety features.

He observed that the employers and workers of these factories had high regard for safety practices compared with those working in smaller factories.

In a recent case Daniel investigated, a small Japanese manufacturing company had an incident where a Nepalese worker's hand was dismembered by a machine.

The worker had switched off the machine to do some cleaning. His colleague, who did not notice him working on the machine, turned it on, resulting in the mishap.

"In this case, the accident happened because there was no proper 'lockout system' in place."

Daniel said there seemed to be more cases in manufacturing as many accidents in the construction sector might go unreported if they are considered "minor" or if they involved foreign workers.

"Also, for many manufacturing companies, reporting accidents to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) allows them to cut costs as workers can make Socso claims if they take four days' of sick leave. This way, the companies don't have to pay their workers. Foreign workers are not eligible for Socso."

DOSH deputy director-general (operations) Mohtar Musri said most accidents in manufacturing happened during maintenance and shutdown activities.

"There are more workers in manufacturing, about 12 million workers. So the number of those getting involved in accidents is higher."

Source : www.NST.com.my