Panel to identify work practices to reduce construction accidents
New Straits Times Online, 27 June 2013
KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry has formed a panel of 11 experts to conduct a study aimed at identifying effective work practices to reduce accidents at construction sites, Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said today.
He said the panel, comprising professionals, academics and industry practitioners and headed by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) chief executive Datuk Seri Judin Abd Karim, started the study two weeks ago and was expected to complete it in three months.
"The study involves the construction sector as a whole. We need to figure out practical ways of improvement in terms of materials, processes, procedures and work methods," he told reporters after the presentation of the ministry's 2012 excellence service awards, here.
Replying to a question, he said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health in the Human Resources Ministry was still conducting the investigation into the collapse of a ramp of the Second Penang Bridge now under construction.
Earlier, in his speech at the event, Fadillah said the ministry would continue to focus on efforts to improve the country's network of highways.
"Highway development can have a significant impact on real estate, industrial and city development," he said.
In this connection, he said, the cabinet had approved two highways under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), namely the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) and the West Coast (Taiping-Banting) Highway, on which work was expected to start next year.
A total of 911 ministry staff received excellent service awards at the function. -- BERNAMA
