Malaysia, despite having laws that give the power to the Minister to come out legally binding and enforceable Regulations, Orders and Directions - that will clearly specify what safety measures MUST be put in place to keep workplaces safe CHOOSES to come out with non-legally binding or enforceable documents - even referring to them as 'Construction Industry Standards'
During COVID-19, the Health Ministry gives us legally binding and enforceable Regulations, Orders - all of which starts with made pursuant to the power under Section XXX of the Act. If anyone breaches this, then they clearly commits an offence - and can be arrested, charged in court, sentenced or even compounded.
Without similar legally binding and enforceable regulations, etc for workplaces and construction sites - the number of deaths and accidents will remain high - Malaysia's contruction fatal accidents is disappointingly 10 times higher than UK..
So, quick was our Malaysian government to impose even more deterrent sentences for drunk driving - but unfortunately a similar concern to impose better laws and deterrent sentences to ensure workplace safety is lacking...workers safety do not matter? public safety do not matter? A pro-business approach that protects construction bosses, companies, employers MUST shift to a pro-people...pro-worker
Safe site ....2nd accident > see article below > but all that “Construction Activities Risk Assessment — Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (Cara-Hirarc)” and “Guideline on prevention of fall at construction site”are still not legally binding and enforceable legislation. It is maybe just advice or recommendations - do not follow is not a CLEAR offence. No legally binding legislations and regulations - also means public/worker cannot even complain to the authorities that they are breaking the law
Concrete slab falls on car on SUKE: Works Ministry awaiting report from CIDB, says minister
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — The Works Ministry is awaiting the full investigation report from the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on the incident in which a parapet wall slab from the ongoing Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) construction fell and hit a car last week, before taking any further action.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the investigation, among others, involved the highway structural design as well as safety monitoring and traffic management aspects in the area.
“We will get the report from CIDB and DOSH (the Department of Occupational Safety and Health) first and we will share the actions to be taken later,” he said at an engagement session with more than 40 construction industry players here today.
According to media reports, a one-sq metre concrete slab from a construction site of SUKE fell on a Proton Saga BLM driven by a woman at the Middle Ring Road 2 at about 4.30pm on Saturday.
The 25-year-old victim was however rescued by members of the public with injuries on her left arm before being sent to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre for treatment.
Meanwhile, Fadillah said the government has agreed to a proposal to form a committee to discuss the issues and direction of the country’s construction sector on a regular basis.
He said the proposal was submitted by construction industry players at the engagement session.
“The committee will, among others, hold non-ad-hoc discussions between the government and the industry players,” he said.
The second engagement session was held to get input and feedback from the industry players on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the recovery plan for the construction industry.
Earlier in his speech, Fadillah said the ministry is formulating digitalising construction sector-based initiatives and programmes in an effort to support the country’s economic growth.
He said among the initiatives drawn up were the Industrialised
Building System (IBS) and the Building Information Modelling (BIM). — Bernama - Malay Mail, 22/9/2020
How construction safety hazards can be avoided — Wong Chee Fui
SEPTEMBER 21 — The public are shocked and horrified with the incident where a parapet wall has fallen from the Sg Besi — Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) under construction and hit a car travelling along MRR2 near Tasik Bandar Selatan at 5.45pm on 19 Sep 2020.
The woman driver was inches away from death but instead escaped with an injury on her hand. It is even more shocking that this is not the first construction mishap incident for the same construction project site.
It was also reported that piling steel frame has fallen and injured three construction workers for the same SUKE construction project near Taman Connaught Cheras on August 16, 2020.
Construction sites create a risk not only for construction workers, but also for members of the public who move around the site or who may live adjoining them. The public must be protected from the hazards associated with construction that may be carried out in a public area or adjacent to such areas.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) and other government agencies have regulations that lay down the legal requirements to ensure the safety and health of not only the workers at the place of works but also the public as well.
For a construction project it is paramount important that the structure to be built is designed and constructed so that workers, and any other persons on the construction site, are protected from hazard such as a fall from height.
The risk management process should be undertaken to identify fall hazards and control measures. CIDB has published the “Construction Activities Risk Assessment — Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (Cara-Hirarc)” and “Guideline on prevention of fall at construction site” to assist the construction stakeholders to adopt and implement risk management and best safety practices.
An investigation committee should be formed to identify and assess the risk hazard and formulate the control measure to prevent similar incident from happening again. Dosh, CIDB and other government regulating bodies should take necessary measures to ensure all occupational safety and health regulation and guidelines are implemented at the construction site.
* Wong Chee Fui is a Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) specialist - Malay Mail, 21/9/2020
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