THE Social Security Organisation (Socso) has paid a total of RM1.4 billion in 2021 in compensation involving industrial accidents across all industries, which include local and foreign workers.

Head of prevention, medical and rehabilitation division, Dr Azlan Darus, said that in 2021, Socso’s interim data recorded a total of 61,447 accident cases, whereby 36,794 cases involved industrial accidents, with almost 700 deaths and a further 24,683 cases were accidents during workers’ commute to the workplace.

“The construction industry had among the highest number of fatal accidents. Therefore, as we emerged from the pandemic lockdowns and into the economic recovery phases, it is high time to reset its practices and emphasise more on health and safety to prevent losses,” he told reporters after the launch of the 20th Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) Annual Safety and Health Conference 2022 themed “Construction Safety – Beyond Compliance In The New Dawn”.

Azlan also read the opening speech of Socso chief executive officer Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed during the launch today.

In his speech, Azman said every job disaster is a cost to the community and nation with incidents such as loss of lives, physical and mental ability, property damage, decline in productivity and others. 

“Negligence and shortcomings to ensure that aspects of occupational safety and health in the workplace are complied with are among the main factors that contributed to accident cases,” he said. 

Azlan emphasised that social security should go beyond providing compensations as when accidents take place, compensations alone are not enough as the livelihood of families would also be impacted.

“Compensation is post-event. We need to talk about before preventive measures,” he said. – Bernama, March 29, 2022.