Owners urged to ensure safety of premises
Mohd Roji Abdullah
THE Johor Fire and Rescue Department has recorded 268 premises which have yet to obtain safety certificates from the department.
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| Abdul Ghani Daud: Most owners do not have safety certificates |
Its director, Abdul Ghani Daud, said the failure to obtain the certificates was due to negligence on the part of owners of the premises, and not bureaucracy.
Since last year, the authorities have taken legal action against 15 premises for not possessing safety certificate, which is an offence under Section 33 of the Fire Services Act 1988.
Ghani said five premises were charged this year for not having the certificates in their buildings or shops.
There were also owners who obtained the certification but failed to adhere to regulations set by the fire department.
"These owners failed to adhere to the minimum fire safety requirements, such as ensuring equipment is in working order and facilitating fire exits," he said at the Fire Certification Symposium 2008 in Batu Pahat last week.
More than 200 owners of shops, hotels and factories attended the event.
There are 768 premises in the state that require the department's safety certification.
Of the total, about 35 per cent have yet to apply for the safety certification.
Ghani said the safety certificates would enable the department to enforce basic safety measures in the buildings.
"It is a way to guarantee the safety of tenants, workers and property because our department would check all aspects of the premises.
"Having a certificate means the owners are responsible for their workers' safety."
Ghani also urged building owners to regularly inspect fire extinguishers at their premises and monitor against vandalism.
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