Construction Sites To Be Closed If Workers' Safety Neglected

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- The government will close any construction sites if the company or developer fails to provide adequate safety and health measures for their workers, after they are given three notices of improvement.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said the new rules were enforced last month, following the death of a businessman who was killed by falling concrete.
"This is also aimed as a reminder to developers not to continue to neglect workers'safety after being repeatedly reminded," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby Wednesday.
He said the government would ask companies with more than 40 workers to set up a committee on health and safety to enable them to proide maximum safety measures for workers at the sites.
He said safety measures for workers in Malaysia were among the best in the world at 6.8 per cent accidents for every 1,000 people.
"In other countries, except Singapore, the rate is more than 10 per cent", he said.
There were only 26 cases last year including five cases which have been brought to court, including the death of Dr Liew Boon Horng who was hit by falling concrete.
Answering a question, he said among the most common crimes at construction sites last year were unregistered sites and failure to adhere to safety regulations.