| Izah Azahari |
THE Public Works Department (JKR) under the Ministry of Development recently hosted a construction industry forum in conjunction with World Day for Safety and Health at Work celebrated on April 28.
Themed ‘Creating a Culture of Better Health in the Construction Industry’, the forum featured key players from the construction industry along with several exhibitors from the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Development (MoD) and Malaysia’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Guest of honour Director-General of JKR Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria said the forum was the first organised in Brunei in collaboration with the MoH.
Legislative Council (LegCo) member YB Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman and Director-General of Medical and Health Services at the MoH Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail were also present.
“We know the construction industry is one of the most risky in terms of safety, but we also have to realise that construction is also high-risk in terms of occupational health,” said Haji Amer Hishamuddin.
He cited statistics indicating that construction workers are 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their profession.
“Creating awareness and enhancing knowledge plays a vital role in improving occupational health in the construction sector,” he added.
Seven health and safety practitioners presented papers and the findings of several case studies.
Keynote speaker, Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Khalifah spoke about the current state of occupational health in Brunei, while three health experts and industrial hygienists from Malaysia were invited to present the risk and control strategies of overcoming occupational health hazards at construction sites.
An Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) expert from the Health Safety and Environment Section (HSE) at JKR, Alshahrulnizam bin Lazim, presented his paper on the Health Programme conducted at the JKR, while Dr Balalla from B&T Consultant Sdn Bhd gave an overview of occupational diseases and their prevention.
A mini-expo was also set up at the lobby area of the JKR headquarters, showcasing exhibits from the MoD and the MoH along with those of Megamas Trading Company Sdn Bhd, Aewon (Apparel) Sdn Bhd and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suppliers.
The post Call to create awareness on occupational health in construction sector appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.