THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) applauds Human Resources Minister Da-tuk Dr S. Subramaniam for highlighting that workers are losing out on Socso claims because doctors do not link diseases and health problems to workers’ jobs.

The problem of under-reporting of occupational diseases had also been highlighted by former human resources minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn.

Sadly, it is not only doctors who let down workers. Socso is equally guilty. We have cases where Socso’s medical board approved the worker’s benefit only to have it rejected by Socso’s medical appellate board. Does Socso not trust its own medical board?

There are also workers whose claims were rejected because they were filed more than one year after the accident. These are illiterate workers who were unaware of the benefits. By the time they find out, it is more than 12 months.

Though Socso’s regulations allow it to extend the time limit for filing claims, it does not exercise it often enough.

One worker could not file a claim within the required time as he was in prison. When he was released, his claim was rejected by three Socso branches before he succeeded.

In another case, the worker was in a vegetative state and the wife filed for disability benefits on his behalf. The claim was rejected because it was filed after the 12-month time limit. The wife did not do so earlier because she was ignorant about the benefits her husband was entitled to.

Socso should not “rob” workers of their benefits.

The number of work-related diseases, including cancer, skin ailments and respiratory illnesses, has increased.

Thousands of workers will miss out on medical treatment, compensation and disability benefits because of the failure to diagnose illnesses linked to occupations as such.

British standards state that there is one case of occupational disease for every industrial accident.

This would mean that Malaysia should have about 60,000 workers registering occupational illnesses per year. Malaysia is only recording 200 to 300 occupational diseases annually.

At the end of 2005, Fong had expressed disappointment at the poor performance of doctors on the Socso panel and wanted them to accord workers their rightful benefits. He highlighted the insufficient number of doctors qualified in occupational health and safety in the country.

It is obvious that no progress has been made.

CAP urges the authorities to correct the situation.

Employers must be mandated to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

This includes the use, handling, storing and transporting of chemicals or machinery; and the education, training and supervision of workers on health and safety measures.

Stiff penalties should be imposed on employers who default.

Among the work-related conditions that can afflict employees are asthma, back trouble, heavy metal poisoning, skin diseases, asbestosis and mesothelioma (for workers handling asbestos), silicosis (for workers exposed to silica), cancers of the lung, bladder and nose, bronchitis, birth defects (affecting the unborn child) and carpal tunnel syndrome (workers using computers).

Reproductive hazards are one area that has not been given much attention. These hazards can be defined as “substances or agents that affect the reproductive health of women or men or the ability of couples to have healthy children”.

Exposure to radiation, cigarette smoke, alcohol or alcohol-based products, and certain chemicals and drugs are examples of reproductive hazards.

The system of handling workers with occupational illnesses needs to be reviewed.

A Socso study found that many employers were reluctant to notify Socso of occupational diseases for fear of visits by authorities, closure of operations, stop-work orders and sealing of equipment.

Employees themselves do not report such illnesses for fear of dismissal of discrimination by employers.

Panel doctors are expected to detect and report work-related diseases, but this system has its drawbacks.

Firstly, there are insufficient doctors trained in the field of occupational diseases.

Secondly, the system requires a panel doctor to secure a contract with the management or the employer.

To be able to do so, he needs to maintain a good relationship with the management.

Diagnosing a high number of occupation-related diseases from a company won’t boost good relations with the management and can jeopardise a panel doctor’s position.

To be placed on a company’s panel, doctors may compete among themselves to reduce the cost of treatment, which may compromise the quality of treatment.

As an alternative to a panel made up of private clinics, Socso could fund occupational health units in government hospitals.

Workers can visit these units if they suffer from an occupation-related disease and need treatment. Socso claims can be evaluated and processed using a standard system.

Training for more doctors in the field of occupational diseases also needs to be expedited. Industrial health nurses can be stationed in bigger organisations or in any organisation that carries out hazardous operations. This should be mandatory.

Some international companies keep records of their workers’ health history and the risks that they have been exposed to during the course of their work. Keeping such records should be made a legal requirement in Malaysia.

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS for Consumers Association of Penang

Source: NST – March 2, 2009