Asbestos: Debu Pembunuh Senyap

Dalam beberapa minggu yang lalu, kebimbangan berhubung keracunan asbestos telah ditimbulkan di dalam media cetak tempatan dan sememangnya ia benar!

Bahan serat yang berlaku secara semula jadi ini dengan ketahanan terhadap haba panas dan api telah dikenal pasti sebagai ancaman serius kepada nyawa manusia di Negara Barat dan seberapa boleh yang mungkin hendaklah dielakkan sama sekali.

Mereka yang bekerja dengan asbestos berisiko mengalami kanser paru-paru, asbestosis, mesothelioma dan kematian akibat penyakit pernafasan. Pertubuhan Buruh Antarabangsa (ILO) menganggarkan bahawa 100,000 pekerja mati setiap tahun akibat penyakit berkaitan asbestos. Manakala beribu lagi terkorban daripada pendedahan dalam alam sekitar.

Serat asbestos kuat dan biasanya ditemui dalam siling, jubin lantai, paip air dan brek kenderaan. Asbestos satu ketika dulu dianggap sebagai bahan bangunan yang utama tetapi kini dikenali sebagai salah satu pembunuh di tempat kerja yang terbesar.

Asbestos juga termasuklah chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, asbestos tremolite, asbestos anthophyllite, asbestos actinolite, dan sebarang daripada bahan ini yang telah dirawat dan atau diubah suai secara kimia.

Asbestos menjadi bahan berbahaya apabila ia diganggu, menyebabkan seratnya berterbangan di udara. Ini biasanya dirujuk sebagai asbestos repui, manakala asbestos yang masih dalam keadaan baik dirujuk sebagai asbestos tidak repui.

Asbestos repui bawaan udara disedut ke dalam paru-paru mereka yang terdedah kepadanya. Sehingga hari ini, penyelidik masih belum menetapkan paras selamat pendedahan kepada asbestos tetapi satu perkara yang pasti lebih lama terdedah kepadanya, lebih besar risiko mendapat penyakit berkaitan asbestos.

Sebab itulah keracunan asbestos sering dipanggil penyakit bahaya pekerjaan, kerana mereka yang biasanya bekerja dengan bahan ini kebanyakannya berisiko mendapat penyakit berkaitan asbestos.

Pegawai kesihatan telah memberi amaran bahawa pendedahan kepada asbestos secara meluas akan mengakibatkan wabak mesathelioma, kanser paru-paru dan asbestosis.

Di samping penyakit yang membunuh ini, panel 27 pakar yang bersidang bersama Agensi Penyelidikan Kanser Antarabangsa (IARC) Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) melaporkan bukti baru bahawa asbestos menyebabkan kanser larinks dan ovari.

Lebih membimbangkan ialah ramalan oleh Dr James Leigh, Pengarah Pusat Kesihatan Pekerjaan dan Alam Sekitar, Sekolah Kesihatan Awam Sydney, Australia yang telah bersara, bahawa akan terdapat 5 hingga 10 juta kematian akibat kanser berkaitan asbestos menjelang 2030.

Ia juga membimbangkan bahawa agensi kesihatan antarabangsa seperti WHO, ILO dan IARC bersetuju bahawa tidak terdapat paras selamat terhadap pendedahan kepada asbestos. Walaupun begitu, bumbung bahan asbestos, paip simen asbestos dan produk mengandungi asbestos lain masih digunakan dengan meluas di seluruh dunia termasuk Malaysia.

Apa yang membimbangkan kepada pengguna ialah tidak terdapat sebarang keprihatinan terhadap kesihatan mereka kerana dibekalkan dengan air melalui paip simen asbestos.

Malaysia tidak mempunyai sebarang program khusus untuk menggantikan paip simen asbestos. Malah jika terdapat sedikit bukti karsinogenisiti asbestos yang dihadamkan, langkah berhati-hati mestilah diambil dengan menggantikan paip simen asbestos lama dengan bahan gentian yang lebih selamat.

Memandangkan bahaya asbestos, 54 negara di seluruh dunia telah mengenakan pengharaman, menghadkan atau mengecualikan untuk penggunaan kecil asbestos. Di Malaysia, hanya crocidolite (asbestos biru) dilarang tetapi penggunaan chrysotile (asbestos putih), amosite (asbestos perang), tremolite, anthophyllite dan actinolite dibenarkan.

Memandangkan kepentingan untuk memelihara keselamatan awam dan pekerja yang mengendalikan asbebstos, CAP menggesa supaya diharamkan sepenuhnya bahan ini. Kami memahami bahawa kerajaan Malaysia sedang mengkaji untuk melaksanakan pengharaman tetapi apa yang membimbangkan kami ialah proses ini akan mengambil masa yang panjang.

Di samping mengenakan pengharaman ke atas asbestos, kerajaan Malaysia mestilah mewujudkan pendaftaran kebangsaan untuk asbestosis dan mesothelioma, diagnosis awal terhadap penyakit berkaitan asbestos dan melaksanakan skim pampasan pekerja.

Kerajaan juga mestilah mengadakan program pendidikan dan kesedaran asbestos untuk menyampaikan mesej kepada orang ramai, kontraktor, mekanik, pemasang paip dan pekerja umum mengenai bahaya asbestos dan untuk menggalakkan pematuhan terhadap peraturan dan amalan pengurusan asbestos yang selamat.

Kita juga memerlukan buruh mahir dan berpengetahuan untuk menghapuskan dan memindahkan produk yang mengandungi asbestos dengan selamat.

CAP sekali lagi menggesa kerajaan supaya mempercepatkan pengharaman asbestos dan memastikan langkah yang sewajarnya diambil untuk melindungi kesihatan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.

Oleh SM Mohamed Idris, Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang

Dipetik dari laman Malaysiakini

A brief discourse on Occupational safety

A brief discourse on Occupational safety

From Dr Hsu's blog

( I may stop political bloggings but i shall talk more on socio economic issues, since to some die hard fanatics that I do not qualify to speak on the shortcomings of the present govenrment. Today, I shall talk about an area which I have some expertise and which I may be as good as anyone in the country at least where theory is concerned.)

There is a branch of medicine that is called occupational medicine, which treats occupational diseases, a big term for workplace illnesses and accidents. It has evolved to include prevention of accidents and occupational diseases, and adoption of safety measures and procedures to reduce the risk of workplace diseases and accidents. It has thus evolved to covered what is now known as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

A simple example is ‘low backache’ due to a sitting in a badly designed chair. So for clerical staff and typists and receptionists, they need to be provided with ergonomically designed chairs to prevent low backache. In fact, low backache among office workers are very common , and in most cases, are due to badly designed chairs which encourage bad postures and slouching.

Central to occupational safety is what we called “hazards”.Hazards are things with potential of causing sickness and accidents. For example, a pot hole in the ground is a hazard, for anyone walking or riding a bike over the pot hole may end up in a nasty fall and sustain injuries.

So to safety specialists , the main theme is to remove hazards wherever it is possible.

In the example of a pot hole, the hazard can be removed by repairing the pothole. But at times, the hazard may not be easily removed. For example, the pothole cannot be repaired in time for certain reasons, the hazard can be replaced by a lesser hazard, for example putting a tong in front of the pothole so that people would not walk directly into it. By itself, a tong in the walkway or a drive is also hazardous, but since it is more visible, it can be used temporarily to reduce the risk of a more serious hazard, that is the pothole.

Some times a hazard cannot be removed. Night driving is a form of hazard since night is the time when our body needs sleep and rest, apart from decreased visibility. Since this is the type of hazrd that cannot be removed, we need to formulate procedures to reduce the potential of accidents during night driving. Procedures such as ensuring the vehicles have sufficient lights to illuminate the roads, procedures on checking the braking systems, procedures ensuring that all seats belts are being fastened before the vehicle can be given the nod to move.

There must be procedures to ensure that the driver is healthy at that time of driving ( not just at that time of medical checkup which is required by law once a year only). If the driver reports that he is not well, there must be replacement for him. There must also be procedures that the driver has sufficient sleep. If the driver has not enough sleep, he should be replaced.

Then there must be procedures that after certain minutes of driving, the driver needs to stop over to rest. Some times just to stop to break the monotonousness of driving. Lets face it. All jobs, in the eyes of occupational speicialists, are repetitive and all repetitive jobs will become monotonous.

Once a job becomes monotonous, the risk of accidents increased ten folds, since monotony leads to boredom and boredom leads to sleepiness or decrease in alertness and reaction time.

The same safety procedures are adopted by airlines for their pilots. For those of you who have followed National Geographic channel’s ‘air crash investigation’, there were a few instances where investigators found that pilot errors were the cause of air crashes, and in most of these instances, pilot fatigue leading to judgement errors were the causes.

Looking at the Malaysian scenerio, most companies do not have any occupational safety measures or procedures. The onus is on the company management to provide such measures or procedures.

In the case of bus drivers or drivers of other public service vehicles such as taxis, they do go for the once a year medical examination. But passing the medical examination does not guarantee the health of the driver involved. He may be healthy and alert at the time of medical examination, but he may suffer from lack of sleep a week later which leads to decrease in alertness and hence increases the risk of accidents.

So it is not enough just to send drivers for a yearly medical check up. The company must adopt a policy of ensuring the safety of their passengers and workers, and once the safety policy is spelt out, there must be program to implement the policy; program such as safety procedures which everyone must adhere to.

So there must be procedures to ensure that the drivers have enough rest between trips. There must a procedure to educate the driver to report any lack of sleep and sleepiness.. Driver fatigue is the main cause of bus acccidents. The drivers must also report any unusual sounds coming from the vehicles .

But companies would not take the initiatives to put in safety program and safety procedures. The onus is for the government to legislate laws and rules to enforce them to adopt such safety procedures. And laws must be enforced for them to be effective. There must be adequate surveillance to ensure that all laws and safety procedures are adhered to.

Besides that, litigation from the victims of accidents (or victims’ families) will serve as a motivation for the companies to adopt safety procedures. If each accident victim sues the bus company and driver for negligence after an accident caused by lack of such safety procedures, the companies will learn the hard way to adopt and implement such procedures.

SO victims in workplaces, get a lawyer to sue and you will help to prevent the occurrence of accidents in future.

( The writer is writing on occupation safety , a subject which he has some expertise and hopefully more employers will realise the importance of adopting safety measures for their staff…It is actually more cost effective to have a safe workplace,including vehicles, since with accident payouts and increase insurance premium, it would be cheaper to provide staff with safety measures, as in Australia and other western countries where every business with more than 15 staff must have occupational safety policy and program to implement safety procedures. On top of cost, the most important thing is of course human lives, once lost cannot be replaced).

next i shall talk about the US flight 253 where safety procedures were breached at Amterdam airport, one of the airports with the best security procedures..

Alat Pengesan Laju Akan Dipasang Pada Semua Kenderaan JKJR

Alat Pengesan Laju Akan Dipasang Pada Semua Kenderaan JKJR

NILAI, 20 Feb (Bernama) -- Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya (JKJR) akan memasang alat pengesan kelajuan pada semua kenderaan jabatan itu di seluruh negara bagi membolehkan kelajuan sesebuah kenderaan dikesan dari dalam kenderaan JKJR.

Ketua Pengarah JKJR Datuk Suret Singh berkata alat yang dikenali sebagai sistem pemantauan kelajuan itu turut dilengkapi 'penembak laser' dan akan diguna untuk operasi rambang mensasarkan bas ekspres.

"Ini sebagai usaha advokasi kempen keselamatan jalan raya," katanya kepada pemberita selepas memantau penggunaan sistem pemantauan kelajuan bas di Hentian Rehat dan Rawat Nilai (arah Selatan), Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan dekat sini pada Sabtu.

Beliau berkata kenderaan JKJR yang dipasang alat pengesan kelajuan itu akan mengekori bas serta merekod kelajuannya dan jika ia melebihi had laju, pegawai akan menahan bas terbabit seterusnya memberi ceramah kepada pemandu sebelum rekod itu dihantar kepada syarikat bas berkenaan dan Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan (LPKP) untuk tindakan lanjut.

Sementara itu, katanya Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) telah mengarahkan semua syarikat konsesi menyediakan kenderaan tunda bagi mengalihkan kenderaan rosak termasuk bas dan lori dari tepi jalan dalam tempoh 15 hingga 20 minit bagi mengelakkan kemalangan.

Beliau berkata keputusan itu dibuat hasil perbincangan bersama LLM yang turut disertai syarikat konsesi minggu lepas.

"Sejak kebelakangan ini, kita dapati banyak kemalangan berlaku disebabkan kenderaan (rosak) yang diletak atau ditinggalkan di tepi jalan, jadi untuk mengelakkannya maka ia (kenderaan rosak) perlu dialihkan segera.

"Sebelum ini memang sudah ada kenderaan tunda di lebuh raya namun tiada garis panduan jelas mengenai tempoh masa yang perlu diambil untuk mengalihkannya, menyebabkan ia sering tersadai di tepi jalan untuk jangka masa agak lama," katanya.

Beliau berkata syarikat konsesi yang tidak mempunyai kenderaan tunda khas bagi kenderaan berat telah diarah melantik pihak ketiga untuk menyediakan perkhidmatan itu.

Dipetik dari laman web Bernama

Ciri Keselamatan Lori Cukup Untuk Elak Kemalangan - PMLOA

Ciri Keselamatan Lori Cukup Untuk Elak Kemalangan - PMLOA

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Feb (Bernama) -- Persatuan Pemilik Lori Semalaysia (PMLOA) menegaskan bahawa kebanyakan lori sudah dilengkapi ciri-ciri keselamatan yang mencukupi untuk digunakan sewaktu kecemasan.

Presidennya Er Sui See berkata ini kerana selain lampu standard yang terdapat pada badan lori, setiap lori juga dilengkapi dengan reflektor (pemantul cahaya) yang membolehkan pemandu lain melihat lori dengan jelas terutamanya yang berhenti di tepi jalan.

"Reflektor yang dipasang pada badan lori ini sepatutnya sudah memadai kerana ia boleh dilihat dalam keadaan terang, gelap atau hujan lebat sekalipun," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama Jumaat.

Beliau berkata pemasangan reflektor ini adalah mandatori dan setiap lori mesti memasang reflektor yang berukuran tiga meter sebagai salah satu ciri keselamatan tambahan.

"Bagaimanapun sekiranya terdapat pemandu lori yang gagal memasang reflektor ini, JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan) haruslah mengambil tindakan ke atas mereka kerana tindakan tersebut boleh mengakibatkan kemudaratan kepada pengguna jalan raya," katanya.

Er juga berkata orang ramai tidak seharusnya menyalahkan pemandu lori semata-mata apabila berlaku kemalangan sebaliknya turut melihat kepada faktor-faktor lain.

"Jika berlaku kemalangan, ada banyak faktor yang menyumbang terutamanya struktur jalan, cuaca serta keadaan pemandu itu sendiri sama ada mengantuk atau tidak.

"Seperti kemalangan di Plaza Tol Senawang baru-baru ini, keadaan persekitaran adalah terang dan treler tersebut juga diletakkan di lorong kecemasan. Bukannya di tengah jalan dan mengganggu pengguna lain," katanya.

Selain itu beliau juga berkata pihaknya akan mencadangkan kepada JPJ agar menguatkuasakan penggunaan kon bagi menggantikan segi tiga keselamatan yang digunakan sewaktu kecemasan.

"Pada pendapat kami penggunaan kon adalah lebih efisien kerana kon lebih mudah dilihat dari jarak jauh dan tidak mudah tumbang sekiranya ditiup angin," katanya.

Katanya walaupun penggunaan kon adalah lebih mahal berbanding segi tiga keselamatan, sekurang-kurangnya pemandu lain akan lebih peka akan bahaya yang menanti di hadapan mereka.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Datuk Solah Mat Hassan berkata pihaknya akan mengusahakan agar bilangan lampu pada badan lori dapat ditambah daripada jumlah yang sedia ada sekarang.

"Jika dibandingkan dengan saiz lori yang besar, kita akan lihat lampu itu kecil dan seperti tidak mencukupi untuk memberitahu pengguna jalan raya tentang kehadiran lori tersebut. Kita akan cuba perbaiki mutu dengan menambahkan lagi lampu dan meningkatkan kejelasannya," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.

Beliau berkata pemasangan reflektor sememangnya sudah termaktub dalam Kaedah-kaedah Kenderaan Motor (Pembinaan dan Penggunaan) 1959, dan kegagalan berbuat demikian boleh dikenakan kompaun RM300.

Solah berkata JPJ akan bekerjasama dengan PMLOA berhubung penggunaan kon sewaktu kecemasan dan akan memperbaiki lagi ciri-ciri kon daripada aspek saiz dan kejelasan kon.

"Kon merah putih yang digunakan sekarang akan diperbaiki dengan menjadikannya lutsinar agar dapat dilihat dengan lebih jelas terutamanya pada waktu malam," katanya.

Dipetik dari laman web Bernama

Does Your Company Have A Safety And Health Policy?

If not, check this,

“Except in such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the safety and health at work of his employees and the organization and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of his employees” (Section 16, Occupational Safety And Health Act 1994)

The relevant penalty is fine not exceeding fifty thousand Ringgit and/or jail not exceeding two years.

Ini Kisah Bas Ekspres

Mandatory course for express bus operators

ALOR SETAR: All 224 express bus operators will be required to attend a two-day Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHE) course as part of the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board’s (CVLB) new regulation.

CVLB chairman Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said the course, starting on Feb 23, is to brief bus operators on the five requirements under SHE.

“SHE was added as part of the new licensing regulation for express buses following the Sani United Sdn Bhd bus accident which killed 10 people in Ipoh late last year.

“We issued a circular asking express bus operators to comply with SHE but later realised that most of them did not know the proper procedure to obtain a SHE certificate,” she said after chairing a dialogue with Kedah/Perlis taxi operators here yesterday.

Halimah said under SHE, the operators must properly manage their drivers, know bus trip risk factors and ensure their vehicles were regularly serviced.

“They will be given two weeks to implement what is required under SHE, and those who fail to comply after the given time will have action taken against them,” she said.

On another matter, she said that by March 1, taxi operators who failed to fix stickers displaying the new rates and informing commuters that the drivers were using meters would be issued a RM300 compound fine.

“If they continue to be stubborn, we will suspend and revoke their permits by the second or third offence,” she added.

Taken from The Star website

But several questions arise,

1. Is 2 day course enough for all the express bus operators? What about the obligatory trainings as per Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and its subsidiary regulations?

2. CVLB chairman Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said, "...most of them did not know the proper procedure to obtain a SHE certificate...". Why SHE certificate? Who issues the certificate? Is the certificate in compliance with international standards? Why not asking the companies to subsribe to OHSAS18001 and/or MS1722 standards instead?

3. What about Safety and Health Policy statement? Do all the 224 express bus companies have such policy and communicate the policy to their employees? Do the companies have safety and health committee at their workplace?

What Malaysian Employers Normally Say About Occupational Stress

1. It is not our fault mah! These people bring their problems to office loh! We cannot do anything.

2. We don't have stress here

3. Stress is not something which can be put out in our business. If you cannot overcome stress, you are still not up to our standard.

There is one management technique normally practiced in Malaysia - put Ben on the hot stove. This is how the management get people to work and expect them to produce results. Against the law? These people do not respect Malaysian law at all.

Sejarah Perundangan Keselamatan Dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (OSH) di Malaysia

1. The Selangor Boiler Enactment 1892
2. The Perak Boiler Enactment 1903
3. The Pahang Boiler Enactment 1908
4. The Negeri Sembilan Boiler Enactment 1908
5. Federal Machinery Enactment 1913
6. Machinery Ordinance 1953
7. Akta Kilang dan Jentera Akta 1967 (AKJ 1967)
8. Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 (AKKP 1994)

Lagi Mangsa Letupan

Jusco blast claims second life

MALACCA: The recent gas explosion at AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang claimed a second life with the death of engineer Ooi Kok On at the Malacca Hospital.

The 33-year-old from Sri Taman, Alor Setar, passed away at the hospital’s intensive care unit at 9.40am yesterday after undergoing two surgeries over the last six days for serious head injuries.

AEON Jusco general-manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam, who was present at the hospital to console the deceased family, said the company would make arrangement for Ooi’s body to be brought back to his home for burial.

“We will bear the cost of sending Ooi’s remains back to his home in Alor Setar for the funeral.

“We will also ensure our staff are there for them if they need anything,” he told reporters yesterday, adding that Aeon had also presented RM10,000 to Ooi’s family.

The deceased father, Ooi Hua, 64, and several family members arrived at the hospital at about 10am to claim his remains but they were too distraught to speak.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who was also present to extend his condolences, said four blast victims are still warded at the hospital while 15 others have been discharged.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm last Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s opening earlier scheduled for Dec 17.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor at the Old Town White Coffee outlet, died on the spot when he was hit by flying debris while 20 others suffered injuries.

Following the blast, the complex grand opening was postponed pending a joint probe by the Energy Commission and the Fire and Rescue Department.

Initial investigations had revealed that negligence and a massive gas leak in the complex’s liquid petroleum gas system had caused the blast.

The contractors and engineers responsible for installation of the gas piping system have been suspended.

By ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 20 Disember 2009

Adakah Mereka Mempunyai Jawatankuasa Keselamatan & Kesihatan Pekerjaan?

Jusco gas contractors suspended

MALACCA: The contractors and consultants responsible for gas works at the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang here have been suspended with immediate effect as initial findings indicate negligence on their part.

Investigations found a massive leak in the centralised gas system as being the cause of the explosion on Monday that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 20 others

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the findings were based on the department’s investigations into the gas blast with the final report of the joint probe expected to be out in two weeks.

“The main cause of the explosion was due to a large gas leak at the Tea & Food outlet as indicated by a small fire following the explosion,” he told reporters after accompanying Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to the scene yesterday.

He added that negligence by those responsible for the centralised liquid petroleum gas system was also a factor.

Energy Commission Chief Operating Officer Ahmad Fauzi, who was also present, said the joint probe by the commission and the Fire and Rescue Department is expected to be completed within two weeks.

“We are still carrying out investigations and interviewing witnesses. It will take about two weeks before investigations are completed and the area cleared for repair works,” he said.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s opening scheduled for yesterday.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor at the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital.

Of the number, six are in critical condition, eight are seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, AEON Jusco general-manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam said it would defer the opening of the shopping mall until completion of the probe.

By MARTIN CARVALHO & ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 18 Disember 2009

Adakah Mereka Mempunyai Polisi Keselamatan Dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan?

Jusco gas explosion: Contractors, consultants suspended (Update)

MALACCA: The contractors and consultants responsible for gas works at the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang here have been suspended with immediate effect.

The order came as initial findings from an investigation pointed to negligence and a massive leak in the centralised gas system as being the cause of the explosion on Monday that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 20 others.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the findings were based on the department’s investigations into the gas blast, with the final report of the joint probe expected to be out within two weeks.

“The main cause of the explosion was due to a large gas leak at the Tea & Food outlet as indicated by a small fire following the explosion,” he told reporters after accompanying Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to the scene on Thursday.

He added that negligence by those responsible for the centralised liquid petroleum gas system was also a factor for the incident.

Energy Commission chief operating officer Ahmad Fauzi, who was also present, said the the joint probe by his commission and the Fire and Rescue Services Department is expected to be completed within two weeks.

“We are still carrying out investigations and interviewing witnesses. It will take about two weeks before investigations are completed and the area cleared for repair work,” he said.

He added the contractors, consultant and competency engineer responsible for work on the shopping mall’s centralised gas system would be suspended from work with immediate effect.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s grand opening on Dec 17.

The force of the blast caused a 2m-wide hole in the building wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and causing a small fire.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor from Batu Pahat of the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital of which six are critical, eight seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, AEON Juscos general manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam said they would abide by the authorities’ orders and defer the opening of shopping mall until completion of the probe.

“We will comply with the orders issued by the authorities. This will give them time to carry out a detailed investigation while ensuring the safety of the area,” he said.

Although not specifying an exact date, he said the shopping mall’s opening is likely to take place some time in January next year.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 17 Disember 2009

Belum Boleh Shopping di Jusco Melaka @ Bachang

Opening of mall on hold

MALACCA: The Dec 17 grand opening of the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang, the largest in the country, has been called off pending the approval from the authorities probing Monday’s deadly blast, said state public works and utilities committee chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo.

However, it is learnt that with Christmas just round the corner, the shopping mall operator is keen to start business on Dec 21 but would not be able to operate the food court that was damaged in the blast.

Gan advised AEON Jusco to wait for the report before opening the outlet because despite engineers saying that the main structure of the building is safe, the explosion had caused extensive damage to the interior of the food court.

The explosion occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for Thursday’s grand opening.

The force of the blast caused a 2m-wide hole in the building wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and caused a small fire.

Tiau See Peing, 25, a supervisor from Batu Pahat of the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital of which six are critical, eight seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

State Women Affairs, Family Development and Health committee chairman Datuk Norpipah Abdol said the state presented aid of between RM2,000 to RM5,000 to the blast victims and RM5,000 to Tiau’s family.

A joint probe by the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Malay-sian Energy Commission, and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will focus on the possibility of gas leakage and human error for the blast.

However, investigations can only proceed after the centralised gas piping system in the building is purged of trapped gas to prevent a second blast.

DOSH deputy operations director Mohtar Musri said the section of the food court affected by the explosion was still deemed unsafe as there was a danger that loose ceiling panels could collapse in the event of a second explosion.

A search and rescue operation was mounted early yesterday morning for three people — two locals and a foreigner — whose identification documents were found in the rubble. They were not among those rescued.

State fire and rescue department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the authorities were tracing the whereabouts of local workers Mahusin Jusoh and Rominor Chik and foreign worker Mominul Islam.

Earlier, Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob visited the injured blast victims at the Malacca Hospital and the blast scene to see the extent of damage caused by the explosion.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik dari Star Online 16 Disember 2009

Sotong Kurita Pun Pandai Pakai PPE

Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus

SYDNEY (AP): Australian scientists have discovered an octopus in Indonesia that collects coconut shells for shelter - unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.

Julian Finn and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne observed the odd activity in four of the creatures during a series of dive trips to North Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008.

Their findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology.

"I was gobsmacked," said Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."

Octopuses often use foreign objects as shelter. But the scientists found the veined octopus going a step further by preparing the shells, carrying them long distances and reassembling them as shelter elsewhere.

That's an example of tool use, which has never been recorded in invertebrates before, Finn said.

"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual."

The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way.

But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said.

The findings are significant, in that they reveal just how capable the creatures are of complex behavior, said Simon Robson, associate professor of tropical biology at James Cook University in Townsville.

"Octopuses have always stood out as appearing to be particularly intelligent invertebrates," Robson said. "They have a fairly well-developed sense of vision and they have a fairly intelligent brain. So I think it shows the behavioral capabilities that these organisms have."

There is always debate in the scientific community about how to define tool use in the animal kingdom, Robson said.

The Australian researchers defined a tool as an object carried or maintained for future use. But other scientists could define it differently, which means it's difficult to say for certain whether this is the first evidence of such behavior in invertebrates, Robson said.

Still, the findings are interesting, he said.

"It's another example where we can think about how similar humans are to the rest of the world," Robson said. "We are just a continuum of the entire planet."

Dipetik dari Star 15 Disember 2009

Mari Menyiasat Kemalangan Maut Di Jusco Melaka

Joint probe on mall explosion

MALACCA: Authorities here will conduct a joint probe to determine the cause of the deadly blast at the AEON Jusco mall in Bachang that killed a 25-year-old man while injuring 20 others on Monday.

The probe, to be carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services Department, the Malaysian Energy Commission and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will focus on the possibility of gas leakage and human error as factors resulting in the gas explosion.

However, investigations can only proceed after the centralised gas piping system in the building is purged of trapped gas to prevent a second blast.

DOSH deputy operations director Mohtar Musri said the section of the food court affected by the explosion was still deemed unsafe as there is the risk that loose ceiling panels might collapse in the event of a second explosion.

“Our priority is securing the affected area to ensure that it is safe for those investigating the scene.

“At the moment, there may still be gas trapped along the piping system,” he said when met at scene here on Tuesday.

Although unable to pinpoint the cause of the explosion, he said an initial probe suggested a leakage in the gas piping system and a lack of coordination between those responsible for the installation of gas supply to the food court.

“Gas from the bullet tank is channeled through the pipeline and is supplied to the kitchens.

“It is likely that there was a leak somewhere along the piping system to the cooking area,” he said.

He added the blast caused extensive damage to six restaurants out of the 20 located in the area at the food court where the explosion happened.

Meanwhile, a search and rescue operation was mounted by the Fire and Rescue Department early Tuesday morning when three persons, whose identity cards were found in the rubble, were unaccounted for amongst those rescued on Monday.

The discovery of the identity cards belonging to two locals and a pass belonging to a foreign worker prompted a thorough search of the blast area which turned up negative.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said authorities are trying to trace the whereabouts of local workers Mahusin Jusoh and Rominor Chik and foreign worker Mominul Islam.

“We carried out a thorough search of the area including sifting through the rubble and checking the ceilings but we did not find them.

“They may have left the scene after the blast and we hope that they will come forward to assist in our investigations,” he said.

Earlier, Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob visited the injured blast victims at the Malacca Hospital and the blast scene to see the extent of damage caused by the explosion.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik Dari Star Online 15 Disember 2009

Supervisor Terbunuh Di Tempat Kerja Dalam Letupan Di Jusco Melaka

Intensive damage: The glass and ceiling panels of this restaurant were completely shattered by the explosion.

Supervisor killed in gas explosion

MALACCA: The much-anticipated opening of the largest AEON Jusco outlet in the country in Jalan Legenda, Bachang, here is likely to be postponed following a gas explosion that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 16 others.

The explosion is believed to have occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm yesterday when workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for Thursday’s grand opening.

The force of the blast blew a 2m-wide hole in the building’s wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and causing a small fire.

Firemen from the Kubu station, who arrived six minutes after receiving a distress call, found two injured victims lying outside the building.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor from Batu Pahat at the Old Town White Coffee, was found dead with a neck wound caused by flying debris.

Other victims were pulled out alive from the rubble.

State fire department operations deputy director R. Ezhumalai said the blast is believed to have been caused by a gas leak when workers were testing gas meters from the centralised liquid petroleum gas system.

“Several survivors mentioned there was a smell of gas shortly before the blast,” he said at the scene, adding that the injuries and damage came mostly from the blast and flying debris.

“We are still investigating to determine the exact location of the blast and what may have caused it.”

At press time, seven victims were reported to have suffered serious injuries while three are in critical condition. They have been warded at the Malacca Hospital.

Six other victims received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, state Human Resources Committee chairman Datuk Yaakub Md Amin said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health had been directed to investigate the blast, adding that investigations would focus on whether the contractors had followed safety measures.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik Dari Star Online 15 Disember 2009

Kemalangan Maut Di Jusco Melaka

Malacca Fire and Rescue Department personnel leaving the Aeon Jusco mall after investigating the cause of explosion on Monday. - Starpix by A Malex Yahaya

Gas explosion at mall: 1 worker killed, 16 hurt (Update)

MALACCA: The much anticipated grand opening of the largest AEON Jusco mall in the country here in Jalan Legenda in Bachang this Dec 17 is likely to be postponed following a fatal gas explosion that killed a 25-year-old supervisor while injuring 16 others on Monday.

The explosion was said to have happened at the food court section located on ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm when workers and tenants were busy making final preparation for the opening.

The force of the blast blew a 2m hole in the building’s sidewall while showering glass and debris over a 25m radius before starting a small fire.

Firemen from the Kubu fire and rescue station, who arrived on the scene six minutes after receiving a distress call at 12.59pm, immediately put out a small fire and found two injured victims lying outside the building.

A search and rescue operation was mounted for other victims when it was learned that there were several others missing or trapped under the rubble.

Five victims were later pulled out alive from the rubble while another, Tiau See Peing, 25, a supervisor from Batu Pahat with Old Town White Coffee was found dead with a fatal neck wound cause by flying debris.

State Fire Departments operations deputy director R. Ezhumalai said the blast is believed to have been caused by a leak when workers were testing the gas meters from the centralised Liquid Petroleum Gas system.

“We believe that the explosion was due to a gas leak as victims mentioned the smell of gas shortly before the blast.

“Although there was a small fire, the injuries and damage were caused by the blast and flying debris,” he said when met at the scene here.

Initial investigations, he added, indicated the blast originated from a leak in the gas system near the food court next to the Food & Tea restaurant.

“We are still investigating to determine the exact location of the blast or what may have caused it,” he said, adding that several other victims were earlier rushed to the hospital for treatment.

At press time, seven victims were reported to have suffered serious injuries while three are said to be in critical condition at the Malacca Hospital. Six other victims received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, state human resources committee chairman Datuk Yaakub Md Amin said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health has been directed to investigate the blast.

Investigations will focus on whether the contractors had followed safety measures.

“Action will be taken against them if they had not done so, resulting in the explosion,” he said.

He added that it was fortunate that the blast happened before the opening of the shopping complex when there were fewer people around.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN


Dipetik dari Star Online 14 Disember 2009

Memupuk Budaya OSH di Sekolah

Laman web Bernama melaporkan pada 1 November 2009 bahawa Pengerusi NIOSH, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye telah menegaskan tentang kepentingan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (Occupational Safety and Health) menjadi subjek yang dipelajari di sekolah-sekolah atau sekurang-kurangnya para guru dan pelajar mendengar ceramah-ceramah berkaitan untuk memupuk kesedaran tentang Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (Occupational Safety and Health. Selain itu,

1. Setiap pelajar perlu sedar tentang kepentingan keselamatan dan mematuhi peraturan keselamatan.

2. Budaya safety perlu ditanam di kalangan pelajar untuk mengelak kejadian yang tidak diingini.

3. Pengetahuan mengenai OSH boleh memastikan pelajar-pelajar dan para guru sihat dan selamat.

4. Buku panduan mengenai OSH di sekolah telah diterbitkan semenjak tahun 2007.

5. Masanya telah tiba untuk kita dan Kementerian Pelajaran membangunkan program keselamatan dan kesihatan yang komprehensif di sekolah-sekolah.

6. Mengadakan subjek OSH di sekolah memerlukan perancangan teliti. Namun, buat permulaan ia boleh diajar melalui ceramah atau seminar.

7. Sebanyak 13 buah sekolah telah dipilih untuk menyertai program OSH yang ditaja oleh badan korporat.