KUALA LUMPUR: Nine workers died and another 24 were incapacitated in 33 accidents in the construction sector in the first three months of this year.
However, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Ismail Abd Mutallib told the Dewan Negara that the numbers were smaller compared to the corresponding period last year.
There were then 10 deaths, two permanently incapacitated and 26 suffering from non-permanent disabilities in 38 accident cases, he said.
Ismail was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Chiw Tiang Chai on the accident statistics at the construction sites between 2013 and 2014.
Ismail said that among the main factors were ineffective occupational safety and health management system of the companies involved, no comprehensive evaluation of the hazard and risk levels, and inadequate training for the workers. “This is especially so for foreign workers,” he added.
He said there was also a lack of monitoring over the implementation of work safety procedures by the contractors and sub-contractors over hazardous and high-risk activities.
Ismail said RM1.1mil in compound fines were imposed on those who had flouted safety rules at the workplace last year with 350 cases prosecuted.
To a supplementary question from Senator Syed Shahir Syed Mohamed, he said a special evaluation panel, comprising officers from his ministry and a medical team, would identify the type of accident, location and time of accident before deciding whether a worker was entitled to protection under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) scheme. — Bernama
