CHUKAI, Nov 7 — The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) will tighten its safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and improve safety management for field staff following the death of one of its employees after being stung by bees at the Mardi Kemaman Station in Ayer Putih, near here, last month.

Mardi director-general Dr Sanimah Simoh said the measures would be implemented at all Mardi research stations nationwide to ensure that occupational safety and health remained a priority and to minimise the risk of accidents.

She said the matter had been discussed at the Mardi senior management meeting, with several follow-up measures planned to strengthen compliance with existing safety SOPs.

“Mardi management takes staff safety seriously, especially for those working in the field. We have discussed this matter at the meeting, and follow-up measures will be implemented to tighten the SOPs and ensure that all work instructions are complied with.

“Meetings on occupational safety and health will also be held regularly to ensure that safety aspects are continuously monitored and improvements can be made from time to time,” she said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Sanimah said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) was scheduled to conduct a comprehensive safety audit at the Mardi Kemaman farm in the near future.

She said she had also instructed the management of Terengganu Mardi to take precautionary measures to ensure that the area was ready before the audit was conducted.

“I urge all Mardi staff, particularly those carrying out field duties, to remain vigilant and always comply with the prescribed procedures and work instructions,” she said.

The media had previously reported that a Mardi employee died after being stung by bees while collecting honey at a farm at the Mardi Kemaman Station.

Kemaman police chief Supt Mohd Razi Rosli said the incident occurred on the morning of October 24, when the victim, Hafizul Mat Nor, 40, who worked as a general worker, was at the farm with a colleague. — Bernama