Kuala lumpur: Workers in the water services sector in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan will be required to undergo Water Industries Safety Passport (WiSP) training from 2028 to enhance their preparedness for workplace risks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan stated that WiSP represents the first initiative by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in collaboration with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN). This initiative is aimed at strengthening and recognizing the importance of safety in the water services industry.

SPAN, in a statement, mentioned that WiSP was developed in accordance with Section 15(2)(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), which mandates employers to provide adequate training to ensure workers safely perform their duties. The development of WiSP involved safety officers from all water supply and sewerage operators under SPAN's supervision, coordinated by SPAN and led by NIOSH.

The Water Safety Passport Air Selangor and IWK Safety Passport modules served as the foundation for the WiSP module's development. Three workshop sessions were conducted to refine the module, develop a question bank, and prepare WiSP trainers. The module encompasses five main topics, including an introduction to WiSP, safety, health and environmental laws, workplace hazards and risk control, safe work method, and emergency response.

The one-day, eight-hour WiSP training, conducted by NIOSH, includes an assessment of participants' understanding and focuses on contractors, contractors' workers, and subcontractors. It is a prerequisite for entering work sites such as treatment plants, storage tanks, and major pipeline zones. As of September 1, a total of 54 trainers from NIOSH, operators, and SPAN had been recognized by NIOSH to conduct WiSP nationwide.