PUTRAJAYA : The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) will improve and upgrade escalator safety features in public places following the latest incident which left a boy with a severed foot on Feb 8.
Dosh said it would conduct a thorough study on escalator safety including its technical, usage and human factor which could cause accidents.
“DOSH will improve existing legislation on escalator safety, including tightening its safety features and premise management where the machines are installed.
“Dosh will also meet with Malaysia Complex Management Association and Malaysia Lifts and Escalators Association to find a solution to avoid similar accidents from recurring,” it said in a statement.
Dosh said that to ensure that escalators are safe, the machine must be designed, built and installed according to the code of design under European Standards (EN115-1), before they can obtain a Certificate of Fitness.
Dosh said this was in response to the call by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim who has asked for public places such as hypermarkets to add additional safety features to ensure the safety of the public, especially children.
Rohani said the ministry was also waiting for Dosh to submit its investigation report on an incident where a boy’s foot was severed in an escalator accident at Kuala Lumpur Sentral.
The four-year-old boy had his left foot trapped in an escalator and it was subsequently partially cut off.
Dosh said preliminary investigation showed that the safety devices at the escalator were functioning and in good condition when it was tested.
However, as a proactive measure, Dosh will inspect escalators nationwide, especially those in shopping complexes and public places.
Dosh will also intensify its promotional activities and advocacy on escalator safety through mass media and campaigns in shopping malls.
The public, especially parents and guardians, were advised to be alert whenever they escortchildren on escalators.
“Always be careful and stand behind the yellow line on the escalator step. Parents and guardians need to pay extra attention if their children wear rubber slippers as they are easily pulled in between the moving gap, and in turn pulling the wearer’s foot in as well.”