[Intl-tobacco] Malaysia: Smoking may be made a workplace health issue

[robert weissman]

The Star (Malaysia)
November 4, 2004

Smoking may be made an OSH issue
BY SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: The Government may regard smoking in the office as an
occupational safety and health (OSH) issue as secondary smoke is also
hazardous to non-smokers.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said smoking was now
treated only as a health issue in the country.

=93Over in Europe, especially in Ireland, smoking in the office has been
made an OSH issue. They assert that this is because secondary inhalation
of smoke, especially in confined spaces like offices, is hazardous to
others.

=93We should study this with an open mind as any such measure will have
very far-reaching consequences,=94 he said after the weekly Cabinet
meeting here yesterday.

Dr Fong said this was discussed during his meeting with Irish labour
officers when he visited Ireland as well as Portugal recently.

He said the Government would also look into other regulations
implemented by Ireland, which had one of the lowest rates of OSH
accidents per year.

=93They only have four accidents per 1,000 workers each year while we have
10 for every 1,000 workers.

=93Among others, they have put into place systems such as peer evaluation
under which workers are asked to review the steps taken by their
companies to protect their safety.

=93Another issue is the high level of contribution paid by the workers
towards their social security net in Ireland, forming almost 20% of
their pay packets. In Malaysia, the contribution is only 1.75%,=94 he
said, adding that the Government would consider all of these regulations
to enhance the local working environment.