Audit safety and health of schools that are older than 20 years - NIOSH

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) urged the government to carry out checks annually on the safety of schools that are older than 20 years throughout the country.

NIOSH chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said an audit should involve the structure of the building and other infrastructure like laboratory, canteen, field and other facilities to avoid any mishaps in the school compound.

"The authorities that conduct the audit check must identify the safety level of the school, including the specification.

"The audit check would be able to identify if the safety of the school was comprised, and immediate action can be taken to rectify the situation," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programme at Sekolah Menengah St Patrick, here Monday.

Lee said though the OSH programme was introduced by the Education Ministry, the number of schools following the programme was still low.

"Only 15 of the 10,180 primary and secondary schools are following the programme," he said adding that schools were the best place to educate the young generation about the need for safety and health.

"The perception that the school is solely for education need to change. Being a working place for teachers, safety and health are equally important and need to be given proper attention." --Bernama