KUALA LUMPUR: Officers from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) safely removed an overturned crane from a construction site at Damansara Perdana at 5.30pm today.
“After all safety methods were agreed upon, the crane was brought down safely. All areas were cordoned off (during the operation)," said Dosh acting Selangor state director Baharudin Mamat.
He added that a stop-work order was issued for all other lifting activities at the site.
It is believed that the crane overturned at 2.05pm on Monday due to an overload of metal bars.
Baharudin told the New Straits Times that the investigation into the incident, which fortunately resulted in no injuries, is expected to be completed within this week.
"Our team is still taking statements from the crane's owner and operator,” he added.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said in a statement yesterday that the incident had generated negative publicity for the local construction industry.
"The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) has (voiced its concerns) that the local construction industry is facing a shortage of competent crane operators, as there are not enough locals to fill the gap.
"All construction crane operators must be certified competent by Dosh, while companies operating cranes must also register with Dosh.
"Although Dosh’s ruling maintains that only Malaysians can obtain the certificate of competency for operating cranes, there is a possibility that contractors may have engaged illegal local and foreign operators," he said.
Lee said incidents such as the overturned crane are unacceptable, and the authorities must be very stringent in monitoring crane operations.
"Severe action must be taken against incompetent crane operators who fail to operate cranes safely.
"Safety at construction sites must never be compromised, as too much would be at stake," Lee added.