Ministry lauds call for safety audit unit
SIBU: The Ministry of Local Government and Housing welcomes National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ( Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye’s call for all local authorities to set up a safety audit unit.
Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said the setting up of such unit will be initiated easily by the city and municipal councils and Bintulu Development Authority ( BDA) because they have the necessary resources and manpower to do so.“This may not be so for the district councils as they have inadequate number of staff and the capacity or capability to carry out such work, at least within the next few years unless the creation of such posts are put up by the local authorities,” Penguang told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He was asked to comment on Lee’s suggestion that all local authorities set up a safety audit unit to help check on works being carried out by contractors and subcontractors.
Lee had lamented that far too often contractors or sub contractors involved in road works and improvement or repairs of infrastructural facilities showed scant regard for public safety.
According to Lee, the safety audit unit would be able to help check on works being carried out by contractors and subcontractors doing construction and repair or maintenance works on public infrastructure such as roads and in public areas.
Penguang, who is the Marudi assemblyman, meanwhile, stressed that contractors or subcontractors should have their own safety officers to ensure compliance with standard operating procedure to prevent accidents.
“The contractors or subcontractors are equally responsible, as I believe all these safety aspects are covered/ included in their letter of award or in the terms and conditions of their contracts,” Penguang added.
For the record, there are 19 district councils, three municipal councils and one city council in Sarawak, excluding Kuching North City Commission ( DBKU), Kuching South City Council ( MBKS) and BDA.