KANGAR, Jan 18 (Bernama) — The number of industry accident cases is still at a worrying stage although it has dropped in recent years, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.

He said Social Security Organisation (Socso) statistics showed a drop from 63,423 cases in 2002 to 38,657 in 2007. Figures for 2008 and 2009 were not available.

“There is still room for improvement. Socso paid compensation amounting over RM1.06 billion in 2007,” he said when presenting the OHSAS 18001:2007 and MS1722:2005 certification to Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) here Monday.

Lee said the Occupational Safety and Health System (OHSAS) was capable of reducing accidents at the workplace and urged professionals to play their role in raising awareness.

He also urged them to campaign for the inclusion of occupational safety and health in the curriculum for schools, colleges and universities.

– BERNAMA