IPOH: A contractor company, Loyal Engineering Sdn Bhd, was fined RM20,000 by the Sessions Court here today for failing to comply with two notices of prohibition issued by the Perak Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
Its managing director Datuk Ong Kian Min pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him before judge Norashima Khalid.
According to the first charge, the company was accused of failing to comply with notice of prohibition issued on July 16 to immediately discontinue unsafe working activities that are using scaffolding.
For the second charge, the company was accused of failing to comply with notice of prohibition issued on the same date, to immediately discontinue unsafe working for the installation of falsework, formwork and rebar as no provision of personal protective equipment such as safety harness to employees which may cause fall injury.
Both offences were committed at the regional sewage treatment plant and sewer pipe network site project in Papan here on July 24 at about 1pm.
The charges are framed under Section 49(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and Section 49(2) of the same act, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to two years or both, upon conviction.
DOSH prosecuting officer Ir Amirul Adli Hashim earlier requested for the maximum punishment under the law.
Ong, who was not represented by counsel, sought a light penalty as it was the company’s first offence since it was established in 1995 and promised not to make the same mistake again.