Safety must always come first

THE recent fatal accident at a low-cost housing project in Kampung Sungai Sering, Bukit Antarabangsa, Selangor, which claimed the lives of three foreign workers, is a stark reminder to all those involved in the construction industry not to take workplace safety for granted.

The Indonesian workers fell to their death from the 13th floor of the low-cost flats when the gondola they were in tilted and slipped.

According to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, the workers had brought up cement with them on the gondola. The maximum weight it could carry is 350kg but with the workers and the cement in it, the gondola was overloaded and gave way.

Accidents of this nature are avoidable if all safety procedures and instructions are strictly adhered to by workers at their worksites.

The spate of accidents due to poor safety management of construction sites must be addressed urgently. Those responsible must learn from the past and be prepared to avoid such accidents in the future.
Accidents such as the collapse of scaffolding at construction sites, resulting in injuries and damage to public property, are matters which must not be taken lightly. There have also been cases of partial collapse of buildings and bridges under construction, etc. Such accidents can be fatal and must be prevented.

It is essential for those involved in the construction industry to be sensitive to such problems and take all necessary measures to prevent accidents at the worksites.

The construction industry has been one of the foremost components of Malaysia's economic boom, enjoying impressive growth rates in the past. Although we are pleased with the sector's continuous growth, we cannot take pride in its safety record. There is still room for improvement.

What we need is the adoption and implementation of safety measures at construction sites by responsible safety-conscious contractors supported by experienced and trained employees. Occupational safety and health management must be practised at all levels of the construction industry.

In this regard, developers have a responsibility to choose competent and safety-conscious contractors. During the tendering stage, it must be emphasised that the acceptance of low bidders should not be at the expense of safety and health.

The time has come for contractors who wish to bid for any construction contracts to provide a safety policy statement, the risk assessment or audit system and also information on the experience and safety training given to their employees.

Although the authorities enact laws and enforce them, the responsibility for implementing a safety system at the construction site lies mainly with the main and sub-contractors.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health wishes to call on all industries, particularly the construction industry, to be always sensitive to the demands for safety at the workplace and work towards an accident-free or zero accident target.



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