Worksite mishaps decline as safety drive kicks in

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The numbers are going down. From 4,654 accidents at building sites with 95 deaths in 2003, the figure fell to 4,445 accidents with 81 deaths in 2004 and 3,150 accidents with 77 deaths last year.
Despite this, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn remained concerned.
He said contractors and sub-contractors continued to flout safety rules, one of which was the use of unskilled workers to erect scaffolding for high-rise construction.
"Do you know how dangerous it is when the scaffolding is not up to specifications? It can collapse, resulting in death or serious injury to the workers," he told the New Straits Times.
The number of scaffolding collapses and workers falling to their death or suffering serious injury has been rising, especially in the Klang Valley.
Fong also suspects many minor accidents and near-misses are not reported to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.
He said mobile teams from DOSH doing routine checks on construction sites had found workers leaving tools and equipment around carelessly when they stopped for tea or lunch breaks.
"They do not realise that their carelessness could result in accidents."
He said contractors were still defying the law despite the tightening of safety rules following an accident that resulted in the death of management consultant Dr Liew Boon Horng at Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas, in December last year.
In the first four months of this year, 1,307 construction sites in the Klang Valley were checked. Many were told to upgrade safety procedures.
Most complied after warning notices of stop-work orders were issued.
Fong said DOSH had initiated legal action against 34 contractors for not adhering to safety rules.
Most will be charged under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, under which they are liable to a RM50,000 fine or two years’ jail or both upon conviction.
Fong said he would rope in the Master Builders Association and contractors associations to hold talks for contractors and sub-constractors on the importance of adhering to safety procedures.

ACCIDENTS AT BUILDING SITES
Number of accidents in 2003: 4,654 with 95 deaths
Number of accidents in 2004: 4,445 with 81 deaths
Number of accidents in 2005: 3,150 with 77 deaths