BANDAR BARU BANGI: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Malaysia is strengthening its strategic collaboration with the United Kingdom’s NOCN Group to raise occupational safety and health (OSH) training standards to internationally recognised levels, with the ambition of extending the initiative across ASEAN.

NIOSH Executive Director Dato’ Haji Ayop Salleh said the collaboration would focus on aligning training standards with international benchmarks, enhancing competency recognition and expanding opportunities for Malaysian skilled workers in regional and global markets.

Established in March 2022, the NIOSH–NOCN collaboration covers seven internationally recognised training programmes, with 13,354 training participations recorded between 1 November 2024 and 20 October 2026.

Meanwhile, NOCN Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Graham Hasting-Evans said the organisation had established collaborations in many countries including India and the Middle East and would support NIOSH in strengthening OSH modules within Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework.

Mr Hasting-Evans had earlier led a delegation from NOCN Group to visit NIOSH, comprising NOCN Regional Director Mr Sami Baig and Vistouso Sdn. Bhd. Chairman Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohd Zin Bidin.

The visit to NIOSH headquarters also included a tour of the Fall Protection Equipment Testing Laboratory (FPETL) and the Multipurpose Hangar to explore opportunities for deeper technical cooperation and joint training development.