Outraged at the frequency of fatal accidents in
the construction sector, PSM is demanding immediate action from the
government, its central committee member Rani Rasiah said in a statement
today.
Rani said accidents were happening more frequently especially in the past few years according to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH).
She gave examples of the recent migrant worker deaths at construction sites in Tapah and another accident which happened at the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) construction site at Jalan Duta,
“DOSH statistics up to December 2013 reveal that fatal accidents in the construction sector are highest and have been constantly high from 2007 to 2013.
“DOSH has concluded that fatal accidents at construction or newly-completed buildings are mainly due to poor construction structures.
"A
DOSH official has said that about 80 percent of fatalities are due to
weaknesses in the implementation of occupational safety and health
management policy,” Rani (left) added.
Citing an academic paper, Rani suggested that the high incidence of fatalities in the construction sector was due the low priority given by employers of the mainly foreign labour-dominated construction industry, to the occupational safety and health of their workers.
“The government must view this unnecessary loss of lives seriously and take immediate action against delinquent employers.
“The public must also be told what action was taken against the MRT Corp over its last fatal accident last year and why its actions failed to deter a similar incident yesterday,” Rani said.
She also urged the government to review workers' rights for better compensation for the deceased family.
“The government must also review the provisions of the out-dated Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952 which pays out to dependent families of migrant workers the 'princely' sum of RM18,000 in the case of death. To give someone so little for death is an act of crime,” Rani added.
Yesterday it was reported a Bangaldeshi worker died as a result of an accident when steel bars crashed into him at an MRT worksite at the V4 Semantan portal.
Rani said accidents were happening more frequently especially in the past few years according to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH).
She gave examples of the recent migrant worker deaths at construction sites in Tapah and another accident which happened at the Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) construction site at Jalan Duta,
“DOSH statistics up to December 2013 reveal that fatal accidents in the construction sector are highest and have been constantly high from 2007 to 2013.
“DOSH has concluded that fatal accidents at construction or newly-completed buildings are mainly due to poor construction structures.
"A
DOSH official has said that about 80 percent of fatalities are due to
weaknesses in the implementation of occupational safety and health
management policy,” Rani (left) added.Citing an academic paper, Rani suggested that the high incidence of fatalities in the construction sector was due the low priority given by employers of the mainly foreign labour-dominated construction industry, to the occupational safety and health of their workers.
“The government must view this unnecessary loss of lives seriously and take immediate action against delinquent employers.
“The public must also be told what action was taken against the MRT Corp over its last fatal accident last year and why its actions failed to deter a similar incident yesterday,” Rani said.
She also urged the government to review workers' rights for better compensation for the deceased family.
“The government must also review the provisions of the out-dated Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952 which pays out to dependent families of migrant workers the 'princely' sum of RM18,000 in the case of death. To give someone so little for death is an act of crime,” Rani added.
Yesterday it was reported a Bangaldeshi worker died as a result of an accident when steel bars crashed into him at an MRT worksite at the V4 Semantan portal.
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