GEORGE TOWN – Companies should have their own Covid-19 task force to address infections that originate from the workplace, said Lam Wah Ee Hospital director Datuk Dr Neoh Soon Bin.
In the past week, it was found that 85% of all Covid-19 infections in Malaysia originated from the workplace.
“Even if you close every restaurant, supermarket, hair salon and other industries, workplace clusters will still remain.”
He said companies should look into setting up comprehensive Covid-19 mitigation plans and task forces, along with contact-tracing and risk assessment programmes.
“I know some companies have appointed safety officers or their human resource departments to be part of the task force, but that is a wrong move.
“To have them carry the sole responsibility of mitigating Covid-19 is not enough. The senior management and heads of departments should also be part of the task force.”
He said the task force should liaise with the Health Ministry, government agencies and local councils to look into Covid-19 research and data to make decisions and set protocols.
Contact tracing is crucial as he believes no one can effectively stop every virus-positive individual from entering the workplace as 80% of them are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.
It is best to assume every staff member could spread Covid-19, he told an online talk titled “Covid-19 Mitigation at the Workplace” organised by Wawasan Open University and moderated by former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon.
“People must know that, even with the vaccine, young workers are still not going to be vaccinated until later this year or next year. And, within that period, if you don’t set up stringent protocols, you might see your factory close another three times.
“With contact tracing, we have a good chance of isolating the correct people, but if you don’t know and can’t trace, then it is a disaster.”
He said that the cleaning of premises and screening workers are only temporary measures, and it will not prevent the spread of the disease.
Neoh, who is a biomedical research scientist, also expressed regret that, while some can work from home, it is not a luxury afforded to others.
“It is not just a Covid-19 issue, it is also a supply chain issue.
“We now have managers who drive their car to work and live in comfortable homes while those who are more likely to get Covid-19 – foreign workers that take the bus and sleep in dormitories – are being forced to go to work.
“From a workers perspective, it is very demoralising,” he said.
Neoh also suggested Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai form an effective task force with the federal government, chambers of commerce, and International Trade and Industry Ministry and Health Ministry.
“If you don’t address that the workplace is the cause of the virus spreading, you are ignoring the elephant in the room.” – The Vibes, March 2, 2021
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