The Vision Zero Promotion Program with Kedah Industry 2024 successfully occurred on 7 August 2024 at The Jerai Hotel, Sungai Petani, Kedah. Organized by the Social Security Management Centre of Excellence (SOSCoE) in collaboration with the Social Security Organization (PERKESO) and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). 

Vision Zero Promotion Program with Kedah Industry 2024: Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Awareness
Sungai Petani, 7 August 2024

The half-day program aimed to enhance awareness, understanding, and knowledge of occupational safety and health (OSH) among employers and employees in the Kedah industrial sector.

The program set out to achieve three primary goals:

1. Increase Awareness: To raise the level of awareness about occupational safety and health among employers and employees, fostering a proactive safety culture in the workplace.
2. Promote Early Prevention: To enhance understanding of early prevention strategies and programs, emphasizing the importance of mitigating risks before they escalate into workplace accidents or injuries.
3. Expand Knowledge: To improve knowledge of OSH practices, legal compliance, and standards to help create safer working environments.

The Vision Zero campaign promotes the belief that all workplace accidents, injuries, and diseases are preventable with the right mindset, tools, and practices. The Kedah edition of this program brought together industry stakeholders, practitioners, and OSH experts to share insights and discuss the implementation of effective safety measures within the industrial landscape of the state.

With a total of 56 participants from various industries across Kedah, the program provided a platform for knowledge-sharing and networking, reinforcing the critical role of OSH in improving workforce productivity and well-being.

The program featured three enlightening lecture sessions, delivered by a lineup of respected experts from SOCSO, DOSH Kedah, and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM):

1. Mr. Harun bin Bakar - Head of the Prevention Branch, PERKESO Ampang, shared valuable insights on the PERKESO Vision Zero initiative, focusing on creating a culture of prevention and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders to achieve zero workplace accidents.
2. Pn. Maziah binti Ahmad - Assistant Factory and Machinery Inspector, DOSH Kedah, provided an overview of legal requirements and best practices in industrial OSH management, emphasizing the importance of compliance in achieving workplace safety excellence.
3. Associate Professor Dr. Zuraida binti Hassan - Lecturer from UUM, delivered a compelling session on integrating workplace safety with organizational performance, offering practical strategies for embedding safety as a core business value.

The half-day program was structured to maximize the engagement and knowledge transfer among participants. Key highlights of the sessions included:

• Session 1: Vision Zero Principles and Strategies
  Mr. Harun presented the seven golden rules of Vision Zero, which include taking leadership, identifying hazards, defining targets, and ensuring health and safety competency at all levels. He emphasized that creating a safe working environment is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility.

• Session 2: Legal Compliance and Risk Mitigation
  Pn. Maziah provided an in-depth look at the Malaysian OSH Act 1994, focusing on compliance requirements for factories and machinery. She highlighted common safety violations and practical steps to mitigate risks in industrial workplaces, fostering a safe and compliant culture.

• Session 3: Linking Safety to Productivity
  Dr. Zuraida explained how an effective OSH framework directly correlates to improved employee productivity, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. Using real-world case studies, she demonstrated how companies that prioritize safety see a reduction in operational disruptions and long-term costs.

The program brought together participants from diverse industries, ranging from manufacturing and construction to services. Employers, safety officers, HR managers, and frontline workers participated actively, engaging in discussions and sharing their workplace safety experiences.

Participants expressed their gratitude for the program, emphasizing how the sessions had broadened their understanding of OSH and equipped them with practical tools to implement Vision Zero principles in their respective workplaces.

One participant, Mr. Ismail, a safety officer in a manufacturing firm, commented, “This program has been very insightful. The sessions provided practical knowledge on how to prevent accidents and create a safer workplace environment. I look forward to implementing what I’ve learned.”

The Vision Zero Promotion Program with Kedah Industry 2024 concluded with a call to action for all attendees. Organizers urged participants to return to their workplaces and become champions of occupational safety and health, inspiring their colleagues and management to adopt the Vision Zero approach.

The program successfully reinforced the importance of collaboration among employers, employees, and regulatory bodies to achieve a shared vision of workplace safety. It also highlighted the significance of ongoing education, awareness, and compliance in cultivating an OSH-conscious workforce.

SOSCoE, PERKESO, and DOSH pledged to continue their commitment to organizing similar programs in the future, ensuring that Vision Zero principles are instilled across all industries nationwide.

As the program wrapped up, participants left with a renewed sense of responsibility and determination to prioritize safety and health in their workplaces, marking another step toward a safer and healthier Kedah.

The Vision Zero Promotion Program with Kedah Industry 2024 exemplified the power of collaboration and education in transforming workplace safety practices. By instilling the Vision Zero mindset and equipping participants with knowledge and tools, the program set the foundation for creating a safer, more resilient workforce that can thrive in an ever-evolving industrial landscape.

With the resounding success of this program, SOSCoE and its collaborators reaffirm their commitment to fostering a culture of prevention and safety, ensuring that every worker returns home safely at the end of each day.