MRT structures give motorists the jitters
New Straits Times Online, 3 September 2014
Motorists travelling under the MRT structures are concerned for their own safety. Pic by Muhd Asyraf Sawal
KUALA LUMPUR: MOTORISTS are still fearful of concrete structures jutting out from MRT construction sites in the Klang Valley, despite assurances given by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), following the recent collapse of a concrete span at a site in Kota Damansara which killed three workers.
Student Terrence Chan, 21, said he averted his eyes from the structures and usually sped past them.
When he uses the Sprint Highway to get to the city, he has to pass by the partially-built structures opposite Medan Damansara.
“On my way back home to Bandar Utama, it is even scarier as the metal beams are overhead.
“I feel unsafe because most of the structures do not have a safe buffer from the ground. The concrete and metal expansions don’t always have nettings on them. If anything comes loose, it is a direct hit on cars.”
Fern Grove Residents’ Association secretary, T. Ravi Shanker echoed Chan and said driving under the concrete structures was “spooky”.
“The MRT work sites in Cheras is parallel to the highway. But I am not happy driving under the structures which cross the road,” he said, adding that the structures crossed the highway in Cheras near Taman Midah.
Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents’ Association chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah said that local councils and other authorities needed to monitor the work sites to make sure that they are safe.
He said safety inspectors and engineers should be present when work is being done.
Kota Damansara resident Cindy Yap, 37, was worried that Persiaran Surian was becoming dangerous.
“The road has been narrowed and curved to facilitate MRT construction work. Sometimes the road is not lighted at night.
Motorists who have to pass under MRT structures are worried for their own safety. Pic by Mior Azfar Mior Kamarulbaid
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) deputy director-general Zabidi Md Adib said safety inspectors found that no engineers or supervisors were present to supervise the installation of the parapet wall in the Kota Damansara incident.
The installation of the parapet wall has to be supervised by engineers to ensure that work is carried out is according to procedure.
DOSH had issued a stop-work order at the construction site until a complete investigation has been carried out.
The order was issued to the main contractor, sub-contractors and the project owner, MRT Corp.
The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) has implemented a Zero Tolerance programme at high-risk stretches from Persiaran Surian to Semantan.
Pemandu and MMC-Gamuda will be implementing the programme to the entire project.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and chief executive officer of Pemandu Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the programme will ensure that there will be more checks and inspection at all the construction sites.
“There will 60 more personnel to enforce safety standards.
“We have about 12,000 of workers at the sites. Continuous training will be intensified for high-risk activities, he said this at a press conference held at the Pemandu office in KL Sentral recently.
He said investigation into the Kota Damansara accident is expected to be completed in a few weeks’ time.
Meanwhile, Gamuda Bhd and Project Delivery Partner (PDP) group managing director Datuk Lin Yun Ling said the root of the problem was contractors who outsourced work to their sub-contractors.
“Some contractors themselves do not have sufficient experience of safety measures and don’t take ownership of the SOP.”
He said action will be taken against any contractor who fails to comply with the Zero Tolerance programme.
