NEWS OF TODAY~ Look into OSH at hospitality and tourism industry, Lee tells Sabah

DAILY EXPRESS
Published on March 9, 2012

SEMPORNA: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for the hospitality and tourism industry in Sabah should be  looked at with equal gravity as OSH for the other industries.

Chairman of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye stated in a statement on Thursday that this is because accidents which can result in injuries or death can occur in the hospitality and tourism industry if steps are not taken to prevent them.

Recent tragedies that occurred in Sabah involving foreign tourists are a case in point, he said while speaking at the opening of a two-day seminar here, n OSH for the hospitality and tourism industry.

"The hospitality and tourism industry is rapidly growing in Sabah. The industry has created employment opportunities.
"Although many would perceive the hospitality industry as onw tih the least occupational hazards, the fact remains that the rist their workers face are similar to others in other industries."

Among those identified, Lee said, are overexertion, burns, slips, sprains, cuts, bio-hazards, falls and many other safety and health hazards that can be listed.

For too long, occupational safety and health in the hospitality and tourism industry has not been given sufficient attention than it deserves, he pointed out.

"Fortunately, this perception is changing. Vaious studies have shown that service sector workers face various workplace hazards that merit serious attention by employers.

"While life-threatening and acute injuries are uncommon in the hospitality industry, work-related hazards do exists, " he said.

In 2010 the number of accidents related to accommodation and food services activities reported to Socso stood at 1,856 cases, while 270 cases were reported for activities related to amusement and recreatioal services, Lee revealed.

"However, the numbers only reflect those that are registered with Socso. It could be higher.

"This is because, this industry deals with large number of young employees and various activities involved such as food preparation, house-keeping, cleaning, food and beverage service, and operation of office equipment, "he said.

"Good OSH practice does not only provide a safe and healthy workplace environment for the workers but could also reduce the risks of accidents from hapenning.

"Hazards such as manual handling, slips, trips, and falls, machinery and equipment mishandled, hazardous substances and dangerous goods, and burns and cuts are threats to a worker's safety and well being, " Lee said.