16^th & 23^rd January 2024 – In carrying out efforts to improve safety and health compliance in the workplace in particular on the obligations enforced by the Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA), SHENA hosted two half-day workshops on the Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committee), 2014 Regulations, held at the iCentre Auditorium, Kg Anggerek Desa and attended by a total of 48 representatives from the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs and their respective departments.

The workshop objectives were to raise awareness of the requirements under the Workplace Safety and Health Order, 2009 and its regulations thereunder, specifically the Workplace Safety and Health (Workplace Safety and Health Committees) Regulations, 2014 (in short WSH Committees Regulations). During the workshop, information and experience on the establishment of a Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Committee within SHENA are shared with the ministries and departments. This includes sharing on the execution of the WSH Committee functions namely in conducting general inspections of the workplace, carrying out investigations following an accident, safety promotion and issuance of workplace safety and health guidelines.

In general, the WSH Committee Workshop hopes to encourage the participants’ proactive involvement in the planning and execution of activities related to workplace safety and health. This in turn will encourage the establishment of a WSH Committee in the respective participating ministries or departments and hence promote a continuous improvement in their workplace safety and health culture and ensure compliance with the Workplace Safety and Health Order, 2009 and its regulations.

The first session of the workshop opening remarks were delivered by Yang Mulia Hj Ya’akub bin Haji Yusof, Director of the Process Safety Division of SHENA as the Chairperson of SHENA’s WSH Committee, i.e. the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Committee, while the second workshop opening session saw remarks by the Acting Interim Chief Executive Officer of SHENA, Yang Mulia Haji Mohd Yusof bin Haji Mohd Taufik, both of which emphasised the importance of a whole nation approach in raising the standards of workplace safety and health in the country and in together making a difference in ensuring Brunei is a safe place to work and live.

The interactive workshop featured a presentation on the legal requirements of the WSH Committees Regulations. Followed by a presentation from the WSH Committee under SHENA, known as the SHE Committee, in sharing their journey and experience in the establishment of the WSH Committee and the execution of its functions within SHENA. The workshop ended with a breakout session which included participants practical experience in the establishment of a mock WSH Committee, selection of Chairman, members and secretariat, activities related to workplace inspection, identification of workplace hazards and mitigation procedures through the committee, follow-up action plans and so on.

Principals, Occupiers, Employers and Persons at Work can find further guidance and information related to workplace safety and health including references to support compliance with the Workplace Safety and Health Order, 2009 and its regulations thereunder via the SHENA website: www.shena.gov.bn.