TNB's Vendor Safety Initiatives: NTSP and NTSLP
In 2007, the NIOSH Tenaga Safety Passport (NTSP) was introduced to increase safety awareness among contractors. Since its inception, over 321,982 contractors have been trained, with a goal of reaching 380,000 by December 2024. The programme ensures contractors follow key occupational safety standards and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994.
The NTSP aims to reduce the accident rate among Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) contractors by providing them with clear guidelines on safe work procedures and rules. It has standardised health and safety training across all contractors, ensuring uniformity in safety practices at our worksites. The programme also supports the enforcement of safety regulations, helping contractor workers meet occupational health and safety requirements consistently across all projects.
To further build on these efforts, the NIOSH Tenaga Safety Leader Passport (NTSLP) was launched in 2022. Managed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the programme is specifically tailored for contractor personnel such as Supervisors, Project Engineers, Project Managers, Project Directors, and Project Coordinators who oversee work at our projects, installations, power stations, and premises owned or rented by us. It is designed to improve supervision and leadership in safety management. It aims to improve aspects of supervision and ensure that team leaders and supervisors clearly understand their roles in providing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. So far in 2024, 9,574 contractor supervisors have undergone training, with a goal of surpassing 15,000 by year-end. With the ultimate goal of achieving zero accidents among TNB contractors, NTSLP equips supervisors with the skills to prevent accidents and manage safety more effectively.
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Symposium for Contractors
Collaboration with contractors on safety and environmental standards is essential to ensuring that our operations run smoothly and safely. The Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Symposium serves as a collaboration platform between us, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), the Department of the Environment (DOE), and the Malaysian Energy Commission (ST). DOSH, DOE, and ST presented their respective working papers, sharing knowledge and experience to enhance contractor understanding of HSE requirements. In 2023, the symposium was held across four zones – East, South, Central, and North – and attracted 660 participants.
These symposiums covered high-risk activities such as live installation diagnostics, working at heights, and confined space operations. Participants gained valuable insights into the latest safety regulations and environmental standards. Feedback showed that 88% of attendees were satisfied with the content, the presentations by speakers, and the overall success of the programme. This initiative ensures that our contractors stay informed and compliant with health, safety, and environmental standards.
The primary objectives of the symposium include improving the understanding of HSE requirements among TNB contractors' management, enhancing compliance with the latest regulations, reducing accidents involving contractors, and minimising legal actions against us. The symposium also aims to establish strong cooperation between TNB, DOSH, DOE, and ST to support HSE programmes at the national level.
The programme targets our contractors involved in high-risk work, such as live installation diagnostics, working at heights, high-voltage maintenance, and confined space operations. The outcome of this initiative is an increase in contractors’ awareness of HSE legal compliance, directly improving safety practices and reducing accidents at our worksites.
Symposium Participation Overview:
| Date | Location | Number of Participants |
|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2023 | Leo Moggie Convention Centre, TNB Platinum Bangsar, KL | 220 |
| 27 July 2023 | Dewan Cenderawasih, 15th Floor, Wisma TNB, Johor Bahru | 150 |
| 08 August 2023 | Dewan Tok Kenali, Level 10, Wisma TNB, Kota Bharu, Kelantan | 100 |
| 06 Sept 2023 | Dewan Mutiara, Level 4, TNB Ulu Kinta, Perak | 100 |
| 26 Sept 2023 | Dewan Level 2, TNB Jalan Anson, Pulau Pinang | 90 |
Figure 1: Each symposium was held at key TNB locations, with strong participation across all four zones, ensuring that contractors in the North, South, Central, and East regions had access to critical health, safety, and environmental insights.
Public Safety Campaign: Padi Harvester Safety
Electrical installations near rural work environments, such as rice paddies, pose a unique risk to the public. The Padi Harvester (Jentuai) Safety Campaign, introduced in 2017, addresses the risks faced by operators of padi harvester machinery. Some rice paddy areas in Peninsular Malaysia are located near TNB's 11kV or 33kV voltage lines, which increases the danger of electrical accidents. As stipulated in Act 514 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Part IV, Section 17), TNB is responsible for ensuring the safety of all individuals working in or near its equipment or installations.
In 2024, the campaign engaged a total of 70 rice machinery operators and entrepreneurs, with a focus on raising awareness about the installations near rice fields. The goal is to prevent accidents and electrocutions during rice field activities, covering a total area of 96,558 hectares annually. The programme provides operators with the knowledge needed to understand electrical hazards and take necessary precautions. These sessions offer an opportunity for operators to increase their awareness of the risks posed by electrical infrastructure near their work environment, reducing the likelihood of accidents.
Employee Safety: Stop Work Policy and Life-Saving Rules
Ensuring that every employee and contractor can take immediate action when safety is compromised is fundamental to our operations. Through the Stop Work Policy and Intervention Stop Work (ISW) Programme, both employees and contractors are authorised to stop work in unsafe conditions, fostering a culture where safety is always prioritised. This programme builds confidence, allowing teams to perform their duties without fear, knowing they have the authority to halt work if conditions become unsafe. The ISW programme reflects our core value of Mindfulness, where taking proactive steps under ISW demonstrates a shared responsibility for the safety of colleagues and the protection of the environment.
The ISW initiative has been delivered through multiple platforms, including webinars and more than nine roll-down sessions conducted across divisions, departments, and subsidiaries. The key objectives of the ISW programme are:
- Ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
- Providing guidance to all Divisions, Departments, and Subsidiaries on implementing ISW at TNB.
- Enhancing the management of HSE leading indicators at all organisational levels.
- Raising awareness that all personnel have the right and responsibility to act against unsafe behaviours or conditions.
- Cultivating a self-compliant, generative safety culture across the organisation.
To further assess and improve safety practices, we adopted the UK Energy Institute’s five-stage safety cultural ladder, conducting safety culture assessments every two years. These assessments led to a score of 4.02 in 2021, which improved to 4.16 in 2023, demonstrating ongoing progress toward a more mature safety culture.
The Life-Saving Rules (LSR), introduced on 21 August 2017, aim to safeguard lives by preventing serious injuries and fatalities among workers and contractors. Initially featuring nine rules, the LSR was revised in 2023 to focus on six critical safety practices. These rules apply to all divisions, departments, subsidiaries, and contractors, particularly those operating in high-risk areas such as installations, power stations, and construction sites.
The goals of the LSR include:
- Maintaining legal compliance.
- Saving lives and preventing severe injuries.
- Achieving zero accidents.
- Promoting a fully generative safety culture.
- Improving overall occupational health and safety performance.
Non-compliance with the LSR may lead to termination, but the aim is always to protect lives rather than to punish. Since the implementation of the LSR, fatal accidents have significantly decreased. Enforcement of the LSR has been in place since 2017, covering LSR No. 1, 2, and 3. Subsequently, LSR No. 4 and 5 were introduced in July 2024, and LSR No. 6 is scheduled for implementation in 2025.
Six (6) Life Saving Rules
Quality Potential Incident (QPI) Management
The Quality Potential Incident (QPI) Management system is designed to detect potential incidents (PIs) early, aiming to prevent them from turning into accidents. Employees are encouraged to actively report any PIs they observe, fostering a heightened awareness of safety within the team. Every individual takes responsibility not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of those around them.
Once reported, potential incidents are carefully tracked and reviewed, allowing continuous monitoring of risks. Patterns and trends that emerge from this analysis inform the adjustments needed to improve safety measures. This proactive approach ensures that corrective actions are taken before an incident occurs, helping to prevent injuries or property damage.
QPI also reduces the financial impact of workplace accidents. Costs related to compensation, repairs, and lost productivity are minimised, as the system focuses on preventing incidents before they escalate. By encouraging employees to engage with the system and report potential hazards, TNB strengthens workplace safety while lowering operational risks.
Strategic Engagement with DOSH: SEP-25
The Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP-25) with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has been a key factor in advancing our occupational safety and health (OSH) initiatives. The collaboration, which covers seven areas of cooperation, has been implemented annually and consistently improved results. Over the past two years, SEP-25 achieved 90% of its objectives in 2022 and 2023, with a target of 95% by the end of 2024.
The primary objectives of SEP-25 are to forge strong cooperation between DOSH and TNB in implementing OSH programs, position TNB as a model organisation in Malaysia's OSH landscape, and actively contribute to the National PPE Master Plan 2021-2025 (OSHMP25). This close bilateral cooperation with DOSH helps create a safe, healthy, and productive work environment, supported by high management commitment and a progressive workplace culture.
Our long-term goal is to strengthen self-regulation practices across all levels of the organisation by 2025, ensuring that safety is deeply embedded in our operations and culture.
Strategic Engagement with DOE: SEP-30
To ensure our environmental practices align with Malaysia’s Vision 2030 for Environmental Sustainability for Shared Prosperity, we partnered with the Department of Environment (DOE) through the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP-30). This smart partnership focuses on increasing the effectiveness of TNB's governance to meet legal environmental frameworks while building a work culture that always integrates aspects of sustainability. Through three areas of cooperation between DOE and TNB, the plan has been implemented and refined every year.
The programme achieved 85% of its objectives in 2022, followed by 82% in 2023, and is expected to reach up to 90% by the end of 2024. The objectives of SEP-30 are to establish strong cooperation with DOE in implementing activities and training related to environmental conservation, positioning TNB as a leader in environmental management, and contributing to the success of the DOE Strategic Plan 2021-2030.
These efforts keep environmental sustainability a key part of our operations and ensure compliance with governance requirements while supporting national environmental goals.