30 Jun
MEGAMAS recently participated in the exhibition for the “Health, Safety and Environment’ (HSE) Brunei Darussalam” on 27 June 2011 which took place at the Ministry of Development.
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman was speaking at the launch of the Ministry of Development’s Customer Appreciation Day/Family Day, which carries the theme “Health, Safety and Environment” (HSE). The event, which is being held at the Ministry of Development compound in Berakas, runs till Sunday 4 July 2011.
THE Workplace Safety and Health Order that was passed on October 2009 will empower the enforcing authority to shut down hazardous worksites and issue orders to remedy sub-standard safety procedures when it comes into force.
This was highlighted during a presentation on Customer Day at the Ministry of Development by Roger Ainsworth of Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd, a company that often assists the government in various Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) training programmes.
Under the order, it is stipulated that a Commissioner of Labour must be appointed who will then also take on the role of Commissioner of Workplace Safety and Health.
The appointed commissioner, the order states, has the authority to issue a remedial order to “remedy the shortfall in the safety, health and welfare of the persons at work”.
In the event of appalling conditions, the commissioner can issue a “stop-work order” which effectively ceases all work operations or processes, with a specified date on which it is to take effect.
The order was passed to “provide safety, health and welfare of persons in workplaces and for matters connected herewith,” though it was said, “it has yet to come into force. No date has been given yet”.
“It is yet to be enforced because we need to advise and educate the people about occupational health and safety,” said Dr NBP Balalla from Brunei’s Occupational Health Division on April 21 this year at the end of a three-day course to increase the knowledge, and awareness of healthcare personnel, facility managers and senior staff members.
Previously, the Sultanate had no statutory standards that required employers to comply with safety and health standards or regulations in the workplace. Neither were there any criminal liabilities imposed on those who failed to provide adequate safety at the workplace.
For fatalities or injuries sustained in an industrial accident or road accident, a claim for compensation could be made under the Fatal Accidents and Personal Injuries Act, which came into effect in February 1991.
However, Ainsworth said, “what was missing was the law punishing the wrongdoers by imposing heavy fines and imprisonment for failing to comply with safety standards”.
According to a presentation delivered by Hazmin Hatta Hj Hamzah, Assistant Commissioner of Labour, the penalties for an individual for the first time offence is a fine of up to $200,000 or a jail term of up to two years or both. A continuing offence is punishable with a fine not exceeding $2,000 every day.
For a corporate body, he explained, a first time offence warrants a maximum fine of $500,000. A continuing offence is also punishable with a fine not exceeding $2,000 every day.
The Brunei Times
Adam Radhi
Thursday, June 30, 2011