BERAKAS GARRISON, Friday 6 March 2015 – As part of its safety awareness campaign, the Ministry of Defence under the Directorate of Administration and Manpower held a Safety Awareness Day with a special talk held at Pahlawan Hall in Berakas Garrison yesterday to raise awareness about Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in the workplace and prevention of workplace hazards.
The Safety Awareness Day, attended by 300 officers and staff of the Ministry of Defence, will kick-start the Safety Awareness Campaign in 2015 which is aimed at raising safety awareness to over 1,500 civilian workers currently employed in the Ministry of Defence.
The Safety Awareness Day highlighted the important aspects of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in the workplace such as identifying the risks from hazards that the workers may face, their consequences and the necessity of wearing personal protective equipment. The many kinds of dangers in the workplace for civilian workers in the Ministry of Defence are not limited to those working in the office but vary greatly from kitchen staff, painters, mechanical operators, electricians and even horse handlers.
The event was also co-organised by the Inspectorate Unit Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and invited guest speakers from the Labour Department – Dk Kiasatina Nurul Aniqah bte Pg Yahya, Hajah Mahanum bte Dato Haji Abu Zar from the Health Enforcement Centre at the Ministry of Health as well as Awang Dzarfan Bin Nikman from Megamas Training Company Sdn. Bhd.
The talk included a brief overview of the newly enforced Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009, an insight into the Tobacco order 2005 and general health and safety. Major (U) Don Giovanni bin Abdul Rahman and Senior Engineer 1 Pg Ali bin Pg Metasan from the Inspectorate Unit RBAF also delivered their talks on the introduction to the Ministry’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System and Safety in the Workplace respectively.
Static displays were also held at the event, showcasing range of personal protective equipment by the Health Enforcement Centre and the RBAF Fire and Rescue Services as well as free health screening by the RBAF Medical Services.
The Safety Awareness Campaign aims to instil knowledge into the minds of the civilian workers for them to understand the guidelines of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and maintain their own safety and well-being in the workplace.
The Ministry of Defence is the first government ministry to implement its occupational health and safety management system in 2009. It strives to continuously inculcate a health and safety culture to its personnel not just for the betterment of their daily workplace, but also help create a positive mindset at home.
