Two MTUs for Sabah to boost working in confined spaces
Published on: Saturday, July 30, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Sabah Niosh) is all set to boost the competency of those working in confined spaces at their workplace, with the acquisition of two specially-designed mobile training units (MTUs) for the purpose. The two MTUs, which are due to arrive here in August, are said to be the first-of-its-kind equipped with features to test the competency of those working in vertical and horizontal type confined spaces. Niosh Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye on Friday said Sabah will be the first in the region to have this facility, saying one of the vehicles will be stationed in Kota Kinabalu and the other, in Sandakan.
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"This will allow Niosh to be able to bring our services to the workers right at their workplace, with the one in the city to cater to workers in the West Coast, while the one in Sandakan for those in the East Coast. "They could be workers in far-flung plantation areas where workers need to get into tanks to do work, as well as those in the oil and gas industry, with pipelines or manholes," he said after hosting a Sabah Niosh Hari Raya Open House here. The cost of the MTUs is said to be around RM400,000 each, where Niosh had to customise two lorries and fabricate the simulator to look like actual confined spaces. According to Lee, there was a need to have the mobile units in Sabah so Niosh can reach out to workers located a distance from townships with simulators, where much of the training had to be done at present.
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"Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, those working inside confined spaces need to undergo a competency programme and Niosh has all the guidelines and facilities for the workers or companies," he said. On another development, Lee urged employers and companies trying to weather the prevailing economic challenges not to reduce spending on the safety and health of workers to save money.
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"Never cut costs at the expense of the health and safety of your employees so the workers can continue to achieve better productivity. "Employers can look for other ways to cut down the cost of operation, but not at the expense of workers," he said. Lee also said the Education Department Director-General plans to meet with Niosh on how the agency can assist to reduce accidents in schools nationwide. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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