Health and safety regulations must be enforced at all construction sites

THE collapse of the three-storey building that was still under construction at Jalan Bukit Senjuang in Bandar Hilir, Melaka recently has raised concerns about the availability of occupational safety and health safeguards at construction sites.

While the actual reason for the collapse, which killed one foreign worker and seriously injured two others, is still under investigation, Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) recommends that the general principles of accident prevention under the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment 2022) Act (OSHA 2022) and Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design Management) Regulations 2024 (CDM Regulations 2024) should be strictly implemented at all construction sites.

Enforced in June this year, these legislation make it mandatory for a principal construction work designer (PCWD) and principal construction work contractor (PCWC) to be appointed at all construction work projects.

CDM Regulations also require the Construction Phase Plan and Safety and Health File to be made available for all work involving a particular risk.

It is also the duty of the client or project owner to submit the notification to the director-general of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in writing with all the project details before the construction phase begins (Third Schedule and Section 8, CDM Regulations).

During construction, temporary works, such as falsework and formwork, are required to support the permanent works. This scope of work is usually the responsibility of the PCWC.

CDM Regulations require a construction work contractor to take any practicable step to ensure that any new or existing structure at the construction site is stable, and the structure will not be affected or be in a temporary state of weakness or instability due to the conduct of any construction work.

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has published the Construction Industry Standard CIS 22:2023 Product Conformity for Used Scaffolding in Construction, and CIS 23:2023 Product Conformity for Falsework to provide guidance on the safe use of scaffolding and falsework in construction.

Prefabricated steel frame scaffolding, according to MS 1462-1, is prohibited for use as falsework, including shoring and back-propping.

TAM is part of the stakeholders contributing to the CIDB Construction Industry Standard (CIS 22 and CIS 23).

As construction work activities often require engineering knowledge, the contractor must ensure that qualified personnel are appointed to plan, manage, monitor and supervise the construction work activities. The Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) Guideline No.001, "The Role and Responsibility of Professional Engineers for Temporary Works during Construction Stage", requires a professional engineer for temporary works to be appointed for the design, installation and supervision of all temporary work structures.

Our government agencies, including CIDB, Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM), and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, have drawn up regulations that lay down the legal requirements to ensure the safety and health of not only the workers at the place of work but also the public as well. These guidelines and construction industry standard procedures have been published to help construction stakeholders adopt and implement risk management and best safety practices during the construction stage. The role and responsibilities of the construction stakeholders, including the project owner, contractor, consultant and professional engineer for temporary work, are clearly defined in these guidelines.

Our association is willing to offer technical assistance and opinion in the ongoing investigation. TAM is recognised locally and internationally as the learned society and professional body representing a wide section of technologists, and many of our members are experienced practitioners in their own field of expertise who will be able to offer their expert opinions on this tragic event.

TS IR LOUIS TAY CHEE SIONG

and TS IR WONG CHEE FUI

TAM Building Construction Working Group

Technological Association Malaysia (TAM)

Subang Jaya