SEPANG: Every day last year, three people left home for work and did not return alive, according to a work fatalities survey.
The statistics by the Social Security Organisation (Socso) also showed that out of the three daily deaths, two occurred while commuting to and from work.
“Although the number of work-related accidents in the country has dropped over the past 10 years, the number during work commutes is on the rise.
“It has increased by 62% over the past 10 years to 28,037 in 2014. In the same year, 646 people were killed while they were travelling to and from work,” said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem yesterday.
“These are frightening figures and the public must take it seriously,” he said when launching Socso’s national “Safe Journey” campaign at the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad headquarters here.
Riot attributed the rising number of work commute accidents to “driver attitude”, which he believes can be addressed.
“The Government can have many safety campaigns, but it can only do so much. In the end, it is still down to the drivers themselves to improve their attitude on the roads.
“Many accidents today are caused by drivers using their mobile phones while driving, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol,” he said. Further statistics show that 76.9% of work commute accidents involve motorcyclists, while 68.8% of the accidents occur during morning work shifts.
Under the campaign, Socso will organise advocacy events and safe riding campaigns and hold seminars and workshops at selected companies nationwide.
