Firms fined for safety violations

> Charges related to failure to provide safe work environment for employees

KUALA LUMPUR: Two companies were fined in separate cases at the sessions court yesterday for failing to provide a safe working environment, resulting in the death of two workers.

In the first case, Ireka Engineering and Construction Sdn Bhd was fined RM15,000 for failing to have safety measures at one of its construction sites, resulting in a labourer falling to his death from the 33rd floor of an apartment building under construction last July.

Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad Shaharudin handed down the sentence after the company’s security officer, K. Balakrishnan, 52, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The company was charged with failing to ensure the safety of its employees, which resulted in a fatal accident involving an Indonesian employee named Mudekki.

The mishap occurred at its construction site at Section 95A and 98, Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum, Jalan Bangsar, at 9.30am on July 27.

In mitigation, the company said it had since improved safety measures at the site, including appointing four project supervisors and conducting periodical checks.

In the same court, Asia One Management Development Sdn Bhd was fined RM15,000 for a similar offence.

It was charged with failing to provide a safe working system, which resulted in the death of R. Nageswara, after he fell from the ninth floor of a building while conducting lift maintenance work. The accident occurred at Pangsapuri Bukit Awan Sari, Jalan Awan Jawa in Taman Yari here at 3pm on Aug 22. – Bernama