Haze: MEF calls for workplace risk assessments to protect employees
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has urged employers to take proactive measures to protect employees’ safety, health and welfare as haze conditions worsen, including adjusting work arrangements in line with prevailing air quality and occupational safety requirements.
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has called on employers to conduct workplace risk assessments to safeguard employees amid worsening haze conditions in Malaysia. MEF senior adviser Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman emphasized that employers have a statutory duty under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of employees at work.
He urged employers to monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API), identify vulnerable employees, and implement preventive measures, such as adjusting work arrangements, maintaining air-conditioning and ventilation systems, and providing respiratory protection like N95 respirators when necessary. Syed Hussain stressed that protecting employees and maintaining business continuity are not competing objectives, and early intervention, sensible work adjustments, and clear communication can help manage health risks while minimizing disruption.
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