Safety cannot be compromised
THERE has been an alarming rise in the number of construction-related accidents in the country.
According to the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board, there have been 117 cases since 2012, involving 87 deaths.
This year alone, there have been eight reported incidents, including the recent KL Eco City disaster.
The Malaysia Consumers Movement calls for an immediate overhaul of regulations governing worksite safety, and raises questions on the effective monitoring of construction safety standards, including the materials used.
What punishment was imposed following previous incidents is unknown, and what further action will be taken over the KL Eco City incident is anyone’s guess.
Will the stop-work order slapped on the construction company be lifted after the dust settles?
The loss of lives, when it is avoidable, is deeply saddening. The mere thought of accidents happening due to a lack of safety measures is chilling, and yet, they continue to occur. It is worth asking if our construction safety standards and monitoring mechanism are being compromised.
It is agreed that competitiveness is a fundamental aspect of sustainable growth, but the rising number of construction-related accidents raises major questions regarding business priorities, especially when it comes to projects that are exposed to the public.
The repercussions of the KL Eco City incident would have been far worse if the pedestrian bridge had collapsed when it was fully operational and accessible to the public.
Stringent safety standards are imperative. It is worrying if developers and contractors are compromising on construction standards to facilitate rapid development. Several incidents have taken place in a short span of time, some of which have endangered people’s lives.
The looming question is whether concrete action is being taken by the
authorities. If the answer is “yes”, it must be transparently communicated to the public. Checks must be conducted on all development projects to ensure construction and safety standards are met.
Needless to say, worksite safety is a shared responsibility among stakeholders in the project, especially developers and contractors.
They must understand that if standards are compromised, there may be fatal consequences. The authorities must ensure that regulations are enforced. Losses are detrimental, be they to people or infrastructure. It may be time to explore the basics again.