Malaysia’s National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) has announced an agreement with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) to provide “international recognition” for its Contractor Safety Passport System – All Risks (CSPS).
NIOSH is integrating ECITB Global’s International Health and Safety Passport (IHSP) Foundation Course within its existing induction programme, which is delivered across its network of training centres throughout Malaysia.
Malaysia’s Minister for Human Resources, The Honourable Steven Sim Chee Keong, presented the signed agreement between NIOSH and ECITB Global to ECITB’s Head of Commercial Tristan Kemp (pictured) at the opening ceremony of COSH 2024.
In his opening address at the event, which is NIOSH’s annual health and safety conference in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, the minister stated “there’s no turning back” in announcing a series of international partners, including ECITB Global.
“ECITB Global is delighted to be providing international recognition for NIOSH’s Safety Passport,” said Tristan.
“Thousands of CSPS cards are issued every year and this agreement means the safety cards will now be dual branded and include an ECITB logo.
“This Safety Passport Scheme will be a mandatory requirement for all government construction contractors in Malaysia and is a truly fantastic NIOSH initiative that displays its unswerving commitment to and duty of care for its construction workforce.”
ECITB Global collaboration
ECITB Global International Business Development Manager Jason Riley first approached NIOSH in 2019 to discuss aligning the ECITB’s accredited IHSP with NIOSH’s longstanding Contractor Safety Passport System – All Risks (CSPS) programme.
Following a hiatus due to Covid, the two organisations started working from late 2021 on fully integrating the IHSP within the CSPS programme.
A delegation from NIOSH visited London in 2022, before the ECITB Global team visited NIOSH’s head office and research facilities in Kuala Lumpur in December 2023.
The agreement was announced at NIOSH’s Annual Safety Conference, which was attended by 2,500 people over two days, ahead of the first learners completing the integrated IHSP syllabus in March as part of their existing CSPS programme.
Tristan gave a speech at the Kuala Lumpur Conference Centre event in which he outlined more details about the collaboration with NIOSH and the ECITB’s vast experience delivering health and safety training and qualifications.
Pictured: ECITB Global’s Tristan Kemp gave a speech at COSH 2024 in Kuala Lumpur