Students of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at Universitas Indonesia (UI) have once again achieved an outstanding accomplishment. Fairuz Khansa Nabila (Class of 2021), Salwa Fadhilah (Class of 2022), Jessee Yuliana (Class of 2023), and Salsa Zakia Fakhira (Class of 2023), students of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Study Program at FPH UI, successfully secured 1st place in the OHS Debate Competition held on February 27, 2025, by PT Kilang Pertamina Internasional (KPI) with the theme “HSSE, I Know Better Than You.” The competition was organized to commemorate National OHS Month and took place in the Ballroom of Graha Pertamina.
In the final round, the FPH UI OHS team debated the motion on National and International OHS Standards, focusing on the statement that OHS standards implemented in Indonesia are already adequate compared to international OHS standards.
“At that time, we chose the pro team because Indonesia’s OHS regulations are actually quite good compared to international norms. This is because Indonesia has adapted and aligned international standards to its specific conditions and situations. As a result, companies find it easier to implement these regulations in the workplace. However, one crucial aspect that needs improvement is the supervision by higher management to ensure proper implementation in the workplace,” said Salwa Fadhilah.
International-standard OHS regulations are voluntary and highly complex, requiring adjustments in certain countries. Nevertheless, international OHS standards remain a reference for OHS regulations worldwide, including in Indonesia as a UN member.
In Indonesia, OHS regulations are well-established and coordinated across different sectors. These regulations have even been codified into law, as seen in Law No. 1 of 1970 on Occupational Safety, which serves as the primary legal foundation governing the principles and general provisions of OHS implementation in the workplace.
“What also strengthened our confidence was during our training session when Prof. Dr. Robiana Modjo, S.K.M., M.Kes., explained a similar perspective—that national OHS standards are already quite good compared to international standards. So, when the opposing team argued that international standards were more comprehensive than national standards, we responded by pointing out that Indonesia has a five-year OHS National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). This plan was formulated by the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with FPH UI academics,” said Salwa Fadhilah.
In addition to winning the OHS Debate Competition, FPH UI OHS students also earned the Best Supporter award for their enthusiastic chants, which included the spirited cheer, “Go, FPH!” The competition invited more than 10 universities and national institutions, with four finalists making it to the final round: Universitas Indonesia, PT Pertamina Rosneft Processing and Petrochemicals, Universitas Pertamina, and the Polytechnic of Manpower.
The Dean of FPH UI, Prof. Dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., also expressed appreciation for the achievements of the undergraduate OHS students at FPH UI. “FPH UI is extremely proud of the outstanding accomplishments achieved by our students in the National OHS Debate Competition. This achievement reflects their excellent academic competence, critical thinking skills, and strong dedication to the field of Occupational Health and Safety. It also demonstrates that FPH UI students not only understand theory but are also capable of applying their knowledge in real-world contexts and competing at the national level. Hopefully, this success will serve as motivation for all FPH UI students to continue contributing to the development of OHS science and practice in Indonesia. Congratulations to the debate team and everyone who supported this achievement,” said Prof. Mondastri.(ITM)