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JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 7 (Bernama) — Employers in the state have been urged to prioritise safety and health at the workplace.
The call by Johor Unity and Human Resource Committee chairman R.Vidyananthan, followed the increase in the number of deaths from accidents and emergencies at the workplace.
According to him, 667 accident cases were recorded between January and July this year, involving 38 deaths.
“Accident fatalities showed a rise from 28 last year and 26 in 2012.
“Although the figure looks normal, we are worried that it will continue to rise if no appropriate measures are taken, and it can affect productivity and competitiveness of an organisation,” he told reporters after launching a workplace safety and health seminar for South Zone small-medium enterpreneurs in Johor Baharu, Thursday.
The seminar organised by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was attended by 150 participants.
Vidyananthan said of the 38 fatalities, the construction sector recorded the highest with 19 cases, followed by the manufacturing sector (eight), plantation sector (six) and transportation sector (five).
He advised employers not to be too obsessed with making profits, to the extent that they disregard the safety and health of their workers. — BERNAMA
Source: Bernama
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