Hong Leong Bank Branch Bags National Osha Award

Hong Leong Bank (HLB) is pleased to announce that its Prai Branch (in Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang) won an excellence award in the National OccupationalSafety and Health Act (OSHA) Award Competition recently.

Administered by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (Majlis Negara Bagi Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan) under the Government'sHuman Resource Ministry, the competition was open to organizations from various industries. HLB's Prai Branch clinched an excellence award under theFinancial Institution, Insurance and Real Estate category.

In compliance with the Occupational, Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA), the Bank has lined out the following policies to ensure that every possible andreasonable measure in promoting and upgrading the safety and health of its employees is maintained:

· Instil and promote safety consciousness among its employees in order to prevent all occupational illness, accident and injury by providing information,instruction, training and supervision

· Provide the best possible care in design and maintenance of equipment and facilities for employees

· Encourage exchange of knowledge and ideas between the management and employees so as to promote cooperation in achieving the safety and health objectives

Throughout 2005 and 2006, several comprehensive audits were conducted by both the Penang and Putrajaya teams from the National Council. Among other things,the assessment criteria included availability of occupational safety and health policy and emergency action plans, having an effective occupational safetyand health committee, having an excellent occupational safety and health management system, and maintaining proper occupational safety and healthstatistical records.

Following detailed checks, the audit teams were satisfied with the branch's safety and health management. They complimented the branch and gave high scoresfor the frequency and conduct of their internal occupational safety and health committee meetings, security and housekeeping efforts, the good filingsystem, good business resumption and continuity plan, and overall control.

HLB Prai Branch passed the final audit in October 2006, and today its staff is delighted and proud that the branch is one of the national winners.

The award giving ceremony was held yesterday, 6 February 2007, at Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre, where our Prime Minister, Y.A.B.Datuk Seri Haji Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi was present to hand out the awards to all the winners.

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Press Release - 7/02/2007