LETTERS: The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) is deeply concerned by the recent collapse of falsework during construction of the highway segment of the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) in Sungai Buloh which injured two workers on June 19, 2021.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA) prescribed the general duties of an employer to ensure the falsework and formwork are safe for the workers, and the employer must also provide safe systems at work (commonly known as method statement or safe work procedure) based on the risk assessment, carried out during planning, and designing for the construction work.
The safe systems at work must be fail-safe to ensure workers are not at risk of injury while working on it. As construction work activities often require engineering knowledge, the employer must ensure that there are qualified engineers appointed to plan, manage, monitor and supervise construction work activities.
The Factories and Machinery (Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction) (Safety) or BOWECS Regulations require the design of falsework and formwork higher than 9m to be carried out by Professional Engineers with Practising Certificate (PEPC). The law further requires the PEPC to be responsible for the supervision of the construction and stability of the falsework and formwork that he designed.
Both OSHA and BOWECS Regulations are enforced by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Other government agencies including the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) have published industry standards and guidelines that recommend good practices to ensure the safety and health of not only the workers at the place of work but also members of the public.
Some of the established and published guidelines and procedures on the safety requirements during the construction works includes BEM Guideline No.001 – "The Role and Responsibility of Professional Engineers for Temporary Works during Construction Stage" and CIDB published Construction Industry Standard (CIS) "CIS25 : 2018 Construction Activities Risk Assessment - Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (CARA-HIRARC)" and "CIS 15:2019 Guideline on prevention of fall at construction site".
DOSH has also published the Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health in Construction Industry (Management) or OSHCIM Guidelines as a practical guidance for the client, designer and contractor on how they can work together to ensure the implementation of their project safeguards the safety and health of workers and members of the public.
These laws, guidelines and construction industry standards are published to provide guidance for the construction stakeholders to adopt and implement risk management and best safety practices during the construction stage. The role and responsibilities of the construction stakeholders including the Project Owner, Contractor and Consultant are clearly defined in these guidelines.
The Institution is willing to offer our technical assistance and opinion in the investigation. The IEM is recognised locally and internationally as the learned society and professional body representing a wide cross sections of engineering practice.
Many of its members are learned and experienced practitioners in their own field of expertise who will be able to offer their expert opinions.
Ong Ching Loon
President, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
