The current demand for company priorities and jobs requirements has shifted substantially. In today’s challenging economic conditions, new graduates must possess both academic knowledge and essential soft skills to succeed in the labor market. There are increasing requirements. and most businesses value fresh graduates who have great interpersonal abilities as well as other soft skills. Besides, when it comes to career opportunities in Malaysia, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 98.5% of all businesses operate in a variety of industries. This includes commerce, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, and many more. The present legislation, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, do not require a person in charge of safety and health officer (SHO) for organizations with more than 500 employees, or 100 people in certain high-risk industries. However, workplace Accidents and incidents are increasing in small and medium-sized enterprises.
As a result, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia implemented a proactive approach by introducing the Occupational Safety Health-Coordinator (OSH-C) competency to support SMEs’ capability development in the areas of occupational safety and health. This can be apparent from the OSHA (Amendment) 2022, stipulated in Section 29A (1), which mandates any employer with five or more employees to appoint an OSH-C to coordinate occupational safety and health issues at work. Indeed, to become a SHO, it is not necessary to have OSH-C certification, but it is advantageous to have the certification because it conveys basic knowledge. The fundamental knowledge of OSH-C will be easier for those who are interested in becoming SHOs. Roles for the OSH-C is to assist employers in coordinating OSH legislation and OSH programs in the place of work. According to this demand, the OSH-C must satisfy each SME.
Recognizing the significance of this, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) took the initiative to organize a training program based on competency abilities for OSH-C. Through the KPT-CAP 2.0 grant, the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, has sponsored this program and implemented it through the OSH-C training course. From March 2nd to the 8th of 2024, organized at the Dewan Anjung Pepatih, UiTM Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, Kampus Kuala Pilah has successfully hosted this seven-day course. Utechtium Sdn. Bhd. provided the training with certified trainers. A total of 30 public university alumni from diverse backgrounds attended the training. The training resulted in 30 participants obtaining a Certificate of Occupational Safety and Health Department Recognition from DOSH. The seven-day program includes ten occupational health and safety modules as well as three holistic success modules (HSM), encompassing the UiTM Intellectual Properties (IP) module.
The two modules provided the participants with a balanced exposure to both holistic and occupational safety and health skills. This aligns with the development of human capital as an OSH-C who fits the standards of today’s company. The OSH module employed during training meets the DOSH Malaysia criteria. Furthermore, prior studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the HSM. The certification obtained by participants is strongly believed to help the graduates’ employability. The coupling of these two modules aims to enhance the participants’ soft skills and interpersonal abilities. This program aligns with the Quality Education Strategic Thrusts in UiTM’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and contributes toward achieving the Globally Renowned, Locally Rooted by 2025 goals. The participants have the potential to become OSH-C in the future, capable of implementing routine and best practices in safety and health within their workplace.