THE TREND OF FATAL OCCUPATIONAL INJURY RATES IN MALAYSIA IN THE PAST DECADE

Abstract

Background: Despite significant emphasis has been focused on occupational safety and health in the recent years, industrial accidents are still highly common. Thousands of workers suffer occupational injuries daily. A major global risk factor for workers’ health is workplace injury, which has serious physical, social, and economic repercussions for both employees and their employers. Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the trend in the rate of fatal occupational injuries among workers in Malaysia over the past decade. This paper also focuses on the number of injuries according to industrial sectors so as to strengthen the policy framework and implement appropriate preventive measures accordingly. Methodology: Secondary data from National Occupational Accident Statistics 2021 obtained from Department of Statistics, Malaysia is used in this study. A descriptive analysis is performed on the number of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries in the past decade. Results: The overall rate of fatal work-related injuries in 2021, the lowest in the past decade, with highest rate reported in 2017 (4.90). The construction sector had the highest number of fatal injuries reported in 2021 which is 73. The highest type of injury reported for the year is unspecified type. Conclusion: The study shows a significant decrease in the rate of fatal occupational injuries in the past 10 years, although could be strongly associated with the closure of many industrial sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, continuous strengthening of regulatory framework and expansion of advanced training sessions should be prioritized for an effective prevention.