Question

Differentiate the functions of DOSH, NIOSH & SOCSO and If an accident happens at the construction site, which parties will be involved in the accident investigation and compensations to the workers?
please in detail

Answer 1

DOSH: Department of occupational safety and health ensures the safety, welfare and health of workers or persons at work. It also ensures protection to other people from the hazards of the construction and the problems arising due to construction activities. It formulates policies regarding safety regulations, training rules and techniques, safety standards at site and DOSH assigns responsibility to the concerned parties in case of accidents to make sure accidents donot repeat. It is a legal enforcement agency.

NIOSH: National Institute Of Occupational Safety And Health is a federal agency with a role to conduct research and to make recommendations against any work related accidents, injuries and illness. As it is a research and education institution, The training and teaching along with consultancy work has been assigned to NIOSH.

SOSCO: social security organization works under Ministry of Human Resources of the government of Malaysia to provide social security protections to all workers and employees in Malaysia. It provides financial and medical help or assistance to all employees or workers who got injury or got illness at work due to diseases or accidents. SOSCO also provides pensions to the dependents of the deceased employees.

When an accident takes place at a construction site there are many parties involved. Department of Occupational safety and health will be in action. Local bodies officials, police, health officials also are also involved. The owner of the property also takes help of independent investigators. Contractors, subcontractors etc also either do investigations on their level or get involved with any other party to do joint investigation. The employers or the construction company also do internal investigation. These all people are involved in investigations to protect their interests.

At the same time the dependents of the died workers and employees and the injured have to be compensated and taken care of. These compensations are like workers' compensation, negligence claims, disability claims etc. The affected peippe can reach SOSCO, DOSH to knowvabd exercise their rights. Employers, construction companies, contractors, insurance companies are responsible for their compensation and claims. Failing to meet the regulations set by DOSH AND SOSCO may result inn cancelling their licences and further actions against them.