Ammonia leak probe should involve DOSH

I REFER to the report on the ammonia gas leak in a factory in Shah Alam that resulted in the death of two foreign workers, “Factory gas leak claims two lives” ( The Star, Aug 14).

The Selangor Mentri Besar in a statement said the state government viewed the incident seriously and had instructed the Shah Alam City Council and other authorities to take the necessary action to ensure the safety of residents in the surrounding areas.

I believe one of the most important authorities that should be involved in this is the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) which is under the Human Resources Ministry.

Ice production using ammonia as the refrigerant involves the use of pressurised vessels, pipes, tubes and valves in the factory. Under the Factories and Machinery Act, DOSH is the authority that is responsible for verifying that the engineering plant and equipment meet industry standards, codes and technical specifications in design, construction and maintenance to ensure safety.

After installation, the pressurized engineering plant and equipment would deteriorate with time, increasing the hazards to workers if routine checks are not conducted to verify that the plant and equipment are still able to meet the original design standard, code and specifications. DOSH is responsible for this. A report by DOSH on this fatal ammonia gas leak incident would also be enlightening. LEO PAUL Malaysian Welding and Joining Society Kajang