DUNGUN, University students are encouraged to continually enhance their awareness regarding occupational safety and health issues. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said that this is important because once they enter the workforce, they should be able to immediately apply their knowledge to reduce the risk of industrial accidents. "According to statistics from the Social Security Organisation (Socso), 41,278 work-related accidents were recorded up until June 2024. Of these, 52.1 per cent, or 21,503 cases, were industrial accidents, while 19,770 cases were related to commuting accidents. 'Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness among our students about these two types of accidents. Once they are in the workforce, these two aspects must be taken seriously to help prevent accidents,' he said when launching the Occupational Safety and Health Awareness Day for Polytechnics and Community Colleges in the Eastern Zone at Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin here today. Mustapha explai ned that the programme is an initiative by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Ministry of Human Resources through their respective agencies to raise early awareness among polytechnic and community college students. Source: BERNAMA News Agency