Kuala lumpur: Employers must shift their occupational safety and health (OSH) approach to prioritise employees' mental and psychological well-being instead of focusing solely on physical protection. Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) deputy director-general (Occupational Health), Ahmad Jailani Mansor, emphasized that workers' mental well-being cannot be seen as a secondary issue and must be elevated to a core pillar of a holistic OSH framework.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Jailani highlighted a significant paradigm shift occurring from purely physical protection, such as safety helmets and boots, to comprehensive protection that includes employees' mental and psychological well-being. He described mental health as an invisible hazard, noting that while physical dangers like broken machines or accidents are easy to detect, a distressed soul or an overburdened mind is not.

Ahmad Jailani delivered these remarks during his keynote address at the opening of the MEF OSH Conference 2026, themed 'Breaking the Silence: Mental Health Matters at Work,' organized by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman was also in attendance.

To address these concerns, DOSH developed the Psychosocial Risk Assessment and Management at the Workplace (PRiSMA) 2024 guidelines. These guidelines serve as a national benchmark and systematic approach to help employers identify, assess, and manage psychosocial risks more effectively. Effective implementation of PRiSMA requires Psychosocial Trained Personnel (PTP) to conduct risk assessments and recommend interventions.

The primary focus of PRiSMA is prevention, which involves improving the work environment by managing workloads, ensuring role clarity, and addressing burnout before employees are affected. Ahmad Jailani noted that occupational health is a central pillar under the National Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2026-2030 (OSHMP 2030), aiming to foster a culture of prevention in OSH aspects at the workplace.

He further explained that the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 now includes psychological health, making psychosocial risk assessment a statutory responsibility and a legal requirement for employers under Section 18B of the Act. Addressing mental health issues is not just a moral responsibility but also a smart business investment, as employees' mental well-being helps reduce presenteeism, where employees are present but unproductive, and lowers absenteeism rates.