THE Human Resources Ministry will put in place regulations extending responsibility for construction workers’ safety to include developers and designers.

Minister M. Kula Segaran today said under current rules on employee safety and health, the contractor shoulders the full burden.

“There must be stringent compliance. The Occupational Safety and Health Department (Dosh) has already sent (the regulations) to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“At present, only the contractor is liable, so we want to enlarge it to (include) the designer and developer, because they are part of the team, too.

“We want them to be jointly responsible, and to maintain certain standards. They know they have to meet these standards.

“(The regulations) should be coming at any time for me to gazette them,” he told reporters after visiting the site of an under-construction condominium in Taman Desa that partially collapsed last week.

Asked if the workers injured in the incident have valid permits, he said investigations are ongoing, and the findings are expected to be made known within a week.

He said Dosh’s forensic team is determining the cause of the collapse.

“I have been informed that the forensic team is looking at it. They will take all the cement and other things. Our drones have also gone into some places that are difficult to reach (in person). A report is being prepared, and it will be made known soon.”

Kula Segaran said action will be taken against the developer if offences are discovered.

He urged the public not to speculate on the incident.

The 37-storey structure partially collapsed on Friday afternoon, leaving two Bangladeshi workers trapped on the first floor.

It was reported that the flooring of the sixth-storey car park gave way during heavy rains that day.

The two workers were rescued about 5.15pm and 9.40pm, and taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital. – Bernama, February 17, 2020.