BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE assistant labour commissioner has called on employers to take safety measures to protect their employees from workplace accidents.

Hazmin Hatta Hj Hamzah said employers are required by law to ensure the safety and health of employees, under the Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009.

Citing Section 12 of the Order, he said employers must provide a safe work environment and adequate facilities.

“This includes providing safe office furniture such as desks, chairs, and computers…,” Hazmin said on the sidelines of the launch of the Public Works Department’s (PWD) Health and Safety Week yesterday.

He said a woman was injured after her chair broke at a company in Belait last year.

Employees have the right to refuse using uncomfortable chairs that are old and about to be broken, the assistant commissioner said.

“If you are scared for your safety, don’t use the chair. You have the right to refuse. When your employer decide to take action against you, you can file a complaint to the Labour Department,” said Hazmin.

He said Labour Department officers will inspect the workplace to determine whether the claim made by the employee is true.

During a question-and-answer session, Hazmin said there are six inspecting officers from the Labour Department, seven from PWD, two from the Energy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Executive Engineer from PWD’s Health Safety and Environment Section Pg Azman Pg Badarudin said when the employee is injured and admitted to the hospital due to a broken chair, it can cost the employees.

Asked on the number of complaints being filed, Pg Azman said, “So far, we rely on Labour Department to call us for joint enforcement. What we focus on is the construction industry. We have never received any invitation for joint inspections on workplaces in the non-construction industry”.

It was recently reported that 95 construction accidents were recorded last year, a 30 per cent rise from the previous year.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the Ministry of Development Hj Muhd Lutfi Abdullah urged staff at the Ministry of Development to continuously monitor the health and safety of workplaces to ensure employees’ welfare.

The Brunei Times