SIBU: Falling from high places tops the list of workplace fatalities in the construction sector as many of the workers have a low awareness on safety.
As such, Lee lauded the move to make it mandatory for construction sites to engage site safety supervisors (SSS) starting January 2012.
He said although the manufacturing sector has the highest workplace accidents, the construction sector is a high-risk industry in terms of workplace accidents.
“It is certainly good news that all construction sites need to engage SSS to manage matters related to safety and health of workers.
“And the progressive move will certainly go a long way to help reduce workplace accidents in construction sites,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
With the services of SSS, he reckoned the safety culture at work would be better implemented and passed on among the workers.
“Many of the construction workers, mostly foreigners, are not making use of safety harnesses which can help save lives.
“Instead they move about using bare hands and perform tasks at high places without any safety harnesses,” he disclosed.
Use of PPE such as hard hats are being taken for granted by these workers owing to their low level of safety awareness, he said.
Lee, however, expressed optimism that this is about to change when SSS next year would instill a safe job practice at the workplace.
“The role of SSS is to put in place the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programme, and ensure an effective implementation.
“This will help deal with the risks and hazards at the workplace to ensure good safety practices to safeguard the workers,” Lee said.
Asked if there was a penalty for construction sites failing to engage SSS, he explained that Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) would do the enforcement.
Source: www.theborneopost.com
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