KUALA LUMPUR: The death of Evelyn Ang, 44, should be a wakeup call to all marathon organisers to review the existing safety procedures for future events.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye in a statement today said as marathon events are now a popular sports and community event involving people of all ages, a thorough review is needed to prevent such mishap in the future.
“She must not die in vain and her death and way it happened should be a wake up call to all marathon event organisers to have a thorough review of all existing safety procedures for future events and see how they could be beefed up.”
Lee said the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) and all athlete bodies must look into this matter seriously and work with the authorities to device and implement the highest standards for road running.
“They must review all the present safety standards and procedures and if there are weaknesses they must be addressed and reviewed with the initiatives taken by the Sports Commissioner, through its commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman.
“Marathon and other sport activities on roads are getting more and more popular as they are being promoted at the community level and they must be made safe with the adoption and implementation of highest safety standards.” On December 10, Ang was knocked down in an accident during the Klang City International Marathon 2017 after a car had crashed into her and two other participants. As a result of the crash, Ang suffered a skull fracture and brain haemorrhage and has been comatose since then.
The other two; Amiruddin Hamid, 37, and fellow pacer Ahmad Hadafi Yus, 42, — sustained minor injuries.
Last week, it was reported that Ang’s family had decided to take her off life support, as her body’s system was no longer functioning.
Ang passed away peacefully early Thursday morning.
In the statement, Lee also said that the spectators could also become the victims.
He cited an incident last year, where a father and daughter were killed after a racing buggy slammed into spectators during the Education Innovation Motorsports and Automotive Race (Eimarace) in Kuantan.
Lee said those involved in sports should adopt good occupational safety and health (OSH) management and implement the best practices to reduce the number of accidents and health problems in the sector.
During Sept 25 incident, company supervisor Izwan Isa, 39, and his five year-old daughter, Nurzulaikha were killed at the scene. “NIOSH is ready to assist those in the sector to implement good OSH management as it is part of its main roles which are to provide training, give consultation, disseminate information and conduct research on OSH.
“Although death and severe injuries did not occur every day in sports, the risk exists as what had been reported by the media from time to time.”
Lee said accidents could be prevented if those involved, especially the relevant authorities and the organisers, adopted an OSH management system based on the concept of hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control “It is incumbent upon the agencies involved and the organisers to identify the hazards and risks and take safety measures to address them so that it will not give rise to accidents or deaths.”