MSOSH pushes KESUMA to reinstate periodic workplace inspections after a worker dies in a Klang boiler fire, warning self-regulation is failing.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health (MSOSH) has urged the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) to review the need for periodic workplace inspections following the death of a foreign worker in a boiler fire at an iron processing plant in Klang last Friday.
MSOSH president Datuk Wira Ahmad Fakhrul Anuar Ismail said regular inspections are a vital check-and-balance mechanism that enables employers to identify and rectify safety shortcomings before workplace accidents occur.
“Profits can be regained. Reputations can be restored. But the lives of workers lost cannot be brought back. Safety is not a cost, but an investment that determines the sustainability of a business,” he said in a statement today.
Ahmad Fakhrul also extended his condolences to the victim’s family, describing the tragedy as a stark reminder that neglecting occupational safety can cost lives and threaten a company’s operations and long-term viability.
MSOSH also voiced concern over the abolition of mandatory workplace inspections under the Factories and Machinery Act 1967, noting that many industries remain unprepared to rely solely on self-regulation, despite it being recognised as an international best practice.
“Recent industrial accident trends show that many organisations continue to fail in complying with their own safety procedures. Procedures exist but are not followed, audits are conducted without effective follow-up, and risks are identified but left unmanaged until tragedy strikes,” he said.
Ahmad Fakhrul noted that more than 90% of businesses in Malaysia are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and in a challenging economic environment, many employers tend to prioritise business continuity over workplace safety.
“In reality, workplace accidents are among the costliest business setbacks. They can disrupt operations, damage machinery, delay deliveries, increase insurance premiums, trigger enforcement action, and undermine both a company’s reputation and customer confidence,” he said.
He stressed that the financial losses arising from workplace accidents far outweigh the costs of investing in employee training, regular equipment maintenance and compliance with occupational safety procedures.
