KANGAR, MALAYSIA, Jan 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The number of industrial accident cases in Malaysia is still at a worrying level although it has dropped in recent years, says National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Lee Lam Thye said.

Social Security Organization (Socso) statistics showed there was a drop of such cases from 63,423 in 2002 to 38,657 in 2007, he said Monday in this capital of northern Perlis state. Figures for 2008 and 2009 were not yet available, he added.

“There is still room for improvement. Socso paid compensation (to accident victims) amounting to over 1.06 billion Ringgit (one USD = about 3.35 Ringgit) in 2007,” he said when presenting OHSAS 18001:2007 and MS1722:2005 certification to the University of Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).

Lee said the Occupational Safety and Health System (OHSAS) was capable of reducing accidents at the workplace and urged professionals to play their role in raising awareness.

He also urged them to campaign for the inclusion of occupational safety and health in the curriculum for schools, colleges and universities. — NNN-BERNAMA

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