KUALA LUMPUR: A man has died and a 12-year-old boy is in critical condition after they were involved in a crash with a contractor's lorry in Jalan Miri Airport, Sarawak, on Tuesday.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Chong Chieng Jen said according to authorities, the crash involving a local council contractor's water truck occurred at 2.47pm.
The crash resulted in the death of a 39-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy was left in critical condition and sent to the Intensive Care Unit of Miri Hospital.
In a statement today, Chong extends his deepest condolences to the victims' families, emphasising the importance of stringent safety measures for roadside operations involving heavy vehicles.
"Ensuring the safety of workers and the general public during such operations is paramount.
"NIOSH would like to advise employers and workers to practice the Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) method so that all parties, especially employers, will be able to mitigate risks and enhance workplace safety.
"This is also in line with the requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994), which has clearly explained the duties and responsibilities of the employers including contractors, subcontractors and employees to ensure the safety and health at workplaces," he said in a statement today.
Chong said NIOSH was committed to working with the local authorities, contractors and the community to review and enhance safety protocols to prevent unfortunate events in the future.