SULAM 2025: EMPOWERING FUTURE WORKERS THROUGH OSH AWARENESS AT KUANTAN VOCATIONAL COLLEGE.

Kuantan, 19 May 2025 – In an inspiring effort to promote safety awareness among future technical professionals, the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology (FIST), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) successfully conducted a SULAM (Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society) initiative titled “OSH Awareness for Technical Students: Preparing for Industry.”

The program was held at Kuantan Vocational College, Pahang, from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm, under the course DRO2533 OSH in Construction, involving Year 2 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) students from UMPSA. The student team, led by Nurul Nadirah Binti Sulaiman, actively facilitated sessions aimed at bridging theoretical OSH knowledge with practical applications tailored for TVET students.

The event began with an opening ceremony officiated by Dr. Nurud Suria Binti Suhaimi, Head of the Diploma OSH Program at UMPSA. This was followed by a welcoming speech from Tuan Haji Norman Bin Mohd Nor, Director of Kuantan Vocational College. He emphasized the critical importance of nurturing a safety-first mindset among young technical learners to align with industry needs.

The program engaged more than 79 students from the Construction Technology programs of Kuantan Vocational College, along with 11 lecturers, and 63 UMPSA students, reinforcing the value of academic-community collaboration in promoting practical OSH knowledge.

The program featured three impactful and interactive sessions:

Session 1: Overview of OSHA 1994, OSH (Amendment) Act 2022 and Construction Work (Design and Management) Regulations 2024

UMPSA students delivered a focused briefing on Malaysia’s updated occupational safety legislation, helping participants grasp the legal obligations relevant to construction and workshop safety.

Session 2: HIRARC Practical Training

In this hands-on session, vocational students were guided to develop Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control (HIRARC) documentation based on their workshop activities. UMPSA students facilitated small group discussions to foster peer-to-peer learning. To ensure accuracy and quality, UMPSA OSH lecturers reviewed and verified the HIRARC documents, providing constructive feedback to help participants better understand the risk assessment process.

Session 3: Toolbox Talk Demonstration

The final session demonstrated how to conduct an effective toolbox talk—an essential daily safety briefing in the construction sector. After a live demonstration by UMPSA students, participants from Kuantan Vocational College were invited to perform their toolbox talks, practising communication and hazard awareness.

The program concluded with a closing ceremony featuring remarks by Program Director Miss Zarifah Binti Shahri and student representative Nurul Nadirah, followed by the presentation of souvenirs and a group photo session to commemorate the collaboration.

This SULAM initiative not only enhanced students' technical, communication, and leadership skills but also fostered a deeper understanding of real-world OSH practices. It successfully connected academic learning with industry-relevant experiences and contributed to national education and workforce development goals under SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Prepared by:

Miss Zarifah binti Shahri, Program Director – SULAM 2025