IN a lucrative industry such as construction, a sector which is moving rapidly in tandem with the country’s fast pace of development and urbanisation, workplace accidents demand attention and swift action from the industry players and the authorities.

This is because accidents in this sector do not only delay a construction project and bump up its overall costs, but worse, they can also result in deaths as well as serious injuries among workers and people in the vicinity.

The recent accident that occurred in Taman Desa, where a portion of a 35-storey condominium collapsed and injured two workers, has caused deep concern among nearby residents.

Their concern is not only triggered by the fear that the collapse might be due to the building’s structural weaknesses, but also because they claimed that there had been more than 90 minor incidents on the site since construction started in 2017, including falling objects and debris.

In January last year, a crane fell in the area, partially damaging a unit in a neighbouring condominium.

Given the gravity of the issue, it is understandable that the Taman Desa residents have insisted that the Federal Territories Ministry makes public the findings of the investigation into the latest incident.

In fact, Malaysians, particularly those who are concerned about construction companies adhering to high standards in construction regime and worker safety, would also like to know what went wrong with this condominium project.

Indeed, there are other accidents that have happened elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the country over the years that should make us sit up and take notice, such as the one in Persiaran Stonor last year that caused a worker to be injured after a crane he was operating collapsed at a construction site.

As it is, the statistics on accidents in the construction sector are alarming. Last year, up until October, the Occupational Safety and Health Department received reports of 72 deaths in the construction sector, the highest among all sectors, and 190 accidents resulting in non-permanent disability and 13, in permanent disability.

It is possible that these figures could be higher if unreported cases of accident are taken into consideration.

Obviously, death or permanent disability of the construction workers inflict unbearable pain and loss on their families and loved ones. Alas, their lives – and this includes those of the migrant workers – are no cheaper than ours.

We must be mindful that the many buildings that have filled our landscape could not have existed had it not been for the hard work of construction workers who labour under the scorching sun.

This points to a need for the construction sector to reappraise its position regarding work safety and ascertain whether it has done enough to ensure workers’ safety in construction sites.

It must be noted that accidents and occupational injuries can be prevented if and when safety and health procedures are adhered to at the workplace.

Vital equipment such as cranes and scaffolds must be subjected to regular inspection so as to ensure not only the safety of construction workers, but also that of passers-by.

The relevant authorities should also be mindful that a construction project should not be given approval so as to avoid overdevelopment of a particular residential area, which, in turn, could pose safety hazards and unnecessary distress to nearby existing residents.

The health and safety of workers should not be reduced to a mere banner at the construction sites. – February 18, 2020.