Publication: NST
Date of publication: May 16, 2012
Section heading: Main Section
Page number: 026

KUALA LUMPUR: In a bid to reduce industrial accidents and fatalities in the country, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is organising a conference and exhibition on occupational safety and health.

NIOSH chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said creating a safe work environment required fundamental changes in the way work spaces were designed and personnel were deployed.

"These changes require leadership capable of transforming the beliefs and practices of those who create the risk and those who work with the risk," Lee said.

He said safety briefings were vital and should not only be a part of events that talk about safety.

"Such briefings must be given at all functions, be it a government or private sector.

"Even a wedding dinner should start with a safety briefing. What would be the reaction in case a fire breaks out in a hall filled with people?" he asked.

Lee said the thinking that "safety should be a priority" should be turned into "safety should be a way of life".

The conference will be held at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre in Petaling Jaya from Sept 2 to 4.