Construction accidents to be everyone’s responsibility

According to new guidelines by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), all parties involved in the construction industry are responsible in the event of an accident at construction sites. These include project owners, developers and designers.

Under the current law, only the contractor is responsible if an accident occurs at the workplace.

“We are concerned over the number of deaths occurring at construction sites not only in Penang but in other states as well,” said DOSH director-general Omar Mat Piah after the opening of the Penang International Construction Conference 2019 on 18 July 2019, as reported by Bernama.

“We have guidelines that are mostly voluntary, but it will probably become mandatory in the first quarter of next year.”

At present, DOSH is conducting engagements efforts, dialogues and training jointly with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the implementation of the guidelines.

“With the promotion hopefully they know what to do. Later when we make it a rule it will be easy for us to enforce,” he said.

The guidelines would also create awareness among developers, designers and contractors in the construction industry to ensure that the workplace is safe for workers and the public.

The construction industry has the highest fatality rate when compared to other industries.

“According to a study, basically 30 to 40 per cent of accidents in the construction industry is caused by design failures … that is why we are now working closely with the DOSH, CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia) to promote these guidelines,” said Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) president Foo Chek Lee.

The two-day conference, themed ‘Safety and Innovation’, was attended by more than 200 participants. It covered topics such as Industrial Building System, slope stability and safety and occupational safety and health challenges in the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project. — Construction+ Online