Introduction
Fatal accident statistics reported to Malaysia’s
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
show that many accidents in the agriculture sector
have occurred in oil palm plantations and were related
to transportation. In 2005, there were 12 fatalities in
oil palm plantations, 11 in 2006 and 16 in 2007. The
accidents were a result of the following conditions:
i) Workers were transported in the plantations
using improper means.
ii) The access roads in the plantations were poorly
maintained and are in poor condition.
iii) There was a lack of proper chemical handling
procedures, thus exposing workers to chemical
risks.
An initiative to encourage oil palm plantations to
redesign and modify the tractors and trailers used to
transport workers and chemicals around the premises
was undertaken to improve their safety.
Results
Innovative transport solutions were created, as shown in
figures 4–6.
Many of the solutions to the transport safety issues in
the oil palm plantations were low-cost improvements
that were easy to implement. Such efforts to improve the
well-being of workers have motivated them to be more
mindful of risks and dangers. Through this process,
accidents and health issues have been minimized. The