Niosh calls for enhanced water transport safety ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026
In a statement today, it said tourism boat operators and handlers must comply with laws and safety standards.
This includes technical requirements under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and tourism safety guidelines issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
"Various incidents involving water transport, including the capsizing tragedy in Pulau Perhentian that claimed lives and injured several victims on June 28, should serve as a reminder to all parties of the importance of adhering to safety procedures for the wellbeing of passengers, workers and tourism operators," the statement said.
To this end, the agency expressed its readiness to assist relevant parties in complying with related laws and regulations through safety training, compliance audits and the strengthening of risk management systems.
It said the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Act 2022, enforced since June 1 last year, requires employers with five or more workers to appoint an occupational safety and health (OSH) coordinator.
These coordinators are responsible for assisting employers in complying with OSH legislation and implementing OSH programmes in the workplace.
"In this regard, Niosh also offers the OSH Coordinator course and various other programmes to help operators meet legal requirements, such as basic OSH and first aid training, which also includes water rescue skills.
"In addition, Niosh offers an internationally recognised management system known as the 'Adventure Tourism Safety Management Systems' or MS ISO 21101:2022.
"This system is designed to help operators identify risks, plan safety controls, and provide requirements for participants in activities they organise," the statement said.
The agency said that through the implementation of this safety management system, safety audits and evaluations should be conducted regularly to ensure that the operations of the parties involved comply with standards and regulations and have valid licences.
Niosh also recommended safety orientation sessions for tourists before activities are conducted, including proper use of life jackets and emergency procedures, to ensure water-based activities operate at the highest level of safety.
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