KUALA LUMPUR, There is a pressing need to conduct comprehensive safety reform in all industries and to take immediate stern action to strengthen safety at workplaces, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen said.

He added that the safety and wellbeing of workers should be the highest priority in every industry.

‘The bad incident in Bintulu that injured 10 workers last week should be a stern reminder that safety standards cannot be compromised.

‘Now is not the time for everyone to be satisfied with their own safety levels and NIOSH will support companies involved in the incident and other businesses to ensure such incidents do not recur,’ he said, urging all companies to follow suit as worker protection should not be considered an unimportant thing, but a basic principle in every operation.

A total of 10 workers were injured, with four sustaining burns, in a fire involving a bottom reactor at a company owned by foreign investors in Taman Perindustrian Samala
ju, Jalan Pesisir Bintulu-Miri, Bintulu on Aug 14.

Video recordings of the incident went viral, depicting explosions and large fireballs and thick smoke coming from the factory.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency