KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has issued another reminder to contractors carrying out wiring works near its installations to contact its nearest branch beforehand to avoid untoward incidents.
This follows the death of a 19-year-old man on Tuesday (Jan 14) after he was electrocuted while installing a telecommunications system near an electrical pole in Membakut.
SESB chief operating officer Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said in a statement Friday (Jan 17) that the utility company was concerned about frequent electrocution incidents.
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Offering condolences to the victim’s family, he said a similar case occurred early last year where two contract workers were fatally electrocuted while installing fibre-optic cables for a telecommunications company in Kota Marudu district.
On Dec 13, three solar panel installers were electrocuted in Ranau, prompting SESB to remind all contractors to liaise with it before carrying out any electrical works.
"All parties, especially contractors planning to conduct such tasks, have to be careful and contact the nearest SESB office to inform us and get our permission.
"This is so we can cut off the power supply there if needed.
"This should be taken seriously to give utmost priority to safety – we do not want to see incidents that jeopardise a person’s safety and damage assets.
“We will also contact the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and related departments to ensure the appropriate measures are taken by contractors and workers carrying out telecommunications installations,” Yusmanizam said on Friday.
He said the company also plans to hold safety briefings for the relevant parties.
