Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

WHEN a construction accident on the road repeats itself over a period of time leaving a trail of deaths and destruction, it means a lesson has not been well learnt at the expense of the victims and the general public.

It also indicates that developers, main contractors and subcontractors must strictly comply with legal requirements and safe operating procedures for the safety and health of workers as well as the public who may be at risk.

The latest incident that should trigger our concern is one that occurred at the Sg Besi-Ulu Kelang Expressway (SUKE) project site, resulting in three car-passengers dead. A crane launcher collapsed and crushed the car, while the driver was severely injured.

This came on the heels of a case early this month in which a portion of the unfinished SUKE collapsed, killing two people and severely injuring three. The five Malaysians had been travelling in a van on the way to work.

In September last year, a woman driver escaped death after a concrete slab from the SUKE site fell and hit her car. However, her left hand was injured.

According to a Bernama report, there were other such accidents that occurred since 2018, some of which were related to the SUKE project.

These accidents should alert the authorities that penalties for negligence in adhering strictly to safety precautions must be punitive enough to avert recurrences.

Human lives, irrespective of whether they are of our own people or foreign nationals, must not be “cheapened” especially if the mishaps are the outcome of a lackadaisical attitude of those who are entrusted to protect the lives of workers.

At the same time, it’s incumbent upon the Malaysian Highway Authority and Construction Industry Development Board to be vigilant particularly against recalcitrant contractors who are inclined to be reckless about workers’ safety.

Close monitoring should be carried out on all highway construction projects in the country in the effort to not only ensure quality roadworks but also the protection of lives of related workers and the public.

As it is, many workers, especially the foreign ones, are in a vulnerable position at a time when jobs are scarce amid the pandemic. Leaving the risky job is not a viable option.

Given the relative frequency of accidents that occurred at the SUKE project site, it is, therefore, an apt decision of the government to finally issue a stop-work order and a safety audit on the project. A thorough investigation is indeed in order.

The SUKE case should also serve as a red flag to contractors of other projects sites in the country to be always careful with the safety and health of workers as well as the public.

While money cannot bring back lost lives, it should, however, be made obligatory for the contractors concerned to pay compensation to the next of kin of those who died in the accidents, as well as the injured.

“Safety First” of the workers should not be reduced to mere banners hung on makeshift walls at construction sites. Vital equipment and tools, such as cranes, must be subjected to regular inspection.

To reiterate, strictly sticking to standard operating procedures is obviously of paramount importance at huge project sites. – March 24, 2021.