Allocate more for occupational safety and health in Budget 2023 - Lam Thye
ByNew Straits Times- August 21, 2022 @ 10:10am
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has expressed a hope that the upcoming Budget 2023 will include a proposal to help industries to promote occupational safety and health at the workplace.- NSTP/NIK HARIFF HASSAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has expressed a hope that the upcoming Budget 2023 will include a proposal to help industries to promote occupational safety and health at the workplace.
Lee, an occupational safety and health advocate said this could be undertaken by granting tax rebates for imported Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), thus making it more affordable for employers and more accessible to employees.
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
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"PPEs are designed to protect workers from workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.
"PPEs include a variety of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, respirators, safety shoes and others.
"Using PPEs is often essential and is the last line of defence after engineering and administrative controls have failed to reduce exposures of the employees.
"Any tax rebate for good quality PPEs which are not available locally will be an
incentive which the government can provide to encourage the greater use of PPEs to promote safety and health at the workplace," he said in a statement today.
At present, imported PPEs like full body harnesses, earmuffs, earplugs, N95 masks and eyewear among others are subject to a range of between 5 to 20 per cent import duty, based on the Customs Department HS (Harmonised System) Code. This is besides the 10 per cent sales tax.
Lee a former National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia chairman said the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 requires the use of PPE to reduce employees' exposure to hazards at the workplace.
"However, employers are complaining about the high price of imported PPEs, which are unaffordable to users.
"Hence, many resort to other alternatives such as buying cheaper products with lower quality which are not advisable for use as they can expose employees to occupational injuries and diseases.
"There are certain criteria and standards that PPE manufacturers or supplies have to adhere to before marketing their products to consumers.
"They have to follow the guidelines from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, or at least meet the SIRIM standards required to ensure the quality of such products.
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
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"Apart from this, it is also important to train the employees on the proper use of PPEs."
In the statement, Lee also called on the government to provide incentives to local manufacturers to produce good quality PPEs.
Disclaimer: Perpustakaan Tun Abdul Razak,UiTM
This material may be protected under Malaysia Copyright Act which governs the making of photocopies, reproductions or copyrighted materials. You may use the digitized materials for study or research.
