The Star Online, 23 October 2012
Limbering up: Some of the 459 VCB staff doing some warming-up exercises before the walkathon held as part of VCB Safety Day.
IN an effort to raise safety awareness, manufacturer Versatile Creative Bhd held their first VCB Safety Day 2012 at its factory in Jalan Pandan Indah, Ampang
About 459 employees and their family members turned up for the half-day event which began with a walkathon followed by a colouring contest, a talk on occupational safety hazard by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) and lucky draw.
Booths were set up by the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Niosh as well as for health checks, first aid and CPR.
VCB Safety Day 2012 organising chairman Norasikin Mohd Rasim said they wanted to improve the level of safety awareness while getting employees to voluntarily learn about the importance of it.
“We have trained some staff on how to administer first aid, look our for danger signs and how to react during an emergency.
“Last September, we organised an emergency response and preparedness plan on basic chemical spill,” she said.
VCB managing director Michael Eow said although the company had not faced any serious accident cases in the last five years, he was glad that they were holding their inaugural Safety Day.
“We have been part of the Fire and Rescue Association and some of our staff have attended several safety-related programmes. We are planning to send more employees to be better equipped with knowledge on occupational safety,” he said.
The event was launched by Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who spoke about the importance of safety by employers.
He said under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, employers were required to take care of the safety, health and welfare of their employees.
“Those with a higher sense of awareness on safety and health in the workplace will be able to execute their jobs better. These employees are highly motivated and productive, which is why this is a very important aspect in an organisation.
“In 2001, the rate of accident was 10 for every 1,000 workers. This number has reduced in the last decade but the rate is still high compared with developed countries,” he said.
Lee hoped the effort put in by the company would benefit the employees.
During the event, VCB employee Ram Bahadhur Lama from Nepal won the best slogan competition with his entry ‘Safety Begins with Me’.
