KUCHING: A fatal construction site accident here on Tuesday has prompted the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) to urge contractors to adopt stricter workplace occupational safety and health (OSH) measures.
Niosh chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye made the call following the mishap at a flood mitigation project construction site near Padang Merdeka here.
A 28-year-old man was killed when the motorcycle he was riding plunged into a one metre-deep hole at the construction site.
Passersby alerted the police when they spotted the victim’s body floating inside the watery hole at 6.30am.
Lee said developers and contractors must adopt the hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control (HIRARC) principle for their operations to avoid accidents.
“HIRARC can help construction supervisors identify hazards and risks, as well as formulate ways to avoid them.
“The contractor should place a clear warning signboard at strategic locations surrounding a construction site.
“There should be barriers placed along the construction site to prevent vehicles from entering the area. And if the construction of the project is time-consuming, contractors should consider installing concrete barriers.
“The respective authorities, meanwhile, should perform safety audits to ensure that the working area or construction site is safe for the public as well as site workers,” Lee said in a statement.
Although the government has introduced OSH laws, the responsibility to ensure the safety of a construction site falls on contractors and their sub-contractors.
“We must remember that when an accident results in injury or death, the tragedy will also emotionally affect the next-of-kin of victims,” Lee added.