DOSH to take action against contractor over ramp collapse
The Star Online, 10 Jun 2013
Mohd Anuar (right) and other personnel inspecting the wreckage at the collapse site.GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will take action against the contractor of the ramp which collapsed near the second Penang bridge site if there is evidence to suggest that there was negligence.
Its director Mohd Anuar Embi said the contractor could be charged under the Occupational Safety and Health Act if they had failed to adhere to the provision.
The penalty is that those found guilty can be liable to a fine of not exceeding RM50,000 or two years’ imprisonment, or both, he said during a site inspection yesterday.
“If we have enough evidence to suggest the contractor has violated the Act, we will take them to court.”
The collapse of the section could be due to a defect or failure of the form-work support.
The bridge concessionaire Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) has assured that every safety procedure and precaution was met in the construction of the second Penang bridge.
Mohd Anuar said they have gathered about 10% of information at the site, adding that it was still too early to draw conclusions on their findings.
He said the department had up to a month to finish the probe before presenting the outcome and findings to the Human Resources Ministry.
A team from its forensic division is also helping out in the probe.
Mohd Anuar said the contractor would only be allowed to carry out their work once DOSH has completed their probe.
Some 2km stretch of the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway near the Batu Maung area, where the ramp had collapsed, is expected to be closed throughout the probe.
Meanwhile, Penang Consumer Protection Association president K. Koris Atan said motorists should have been diverted to use other roads instead of allowing them to pass underneath the flyover ramp.
“Safety perimeters should have been put up at least 20m or 30m from the existing beams,” he said.
A check at the site yesterday found many motorists pulling over to catch a glimpse of the scene of the tragedy.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman, who was at the scene yesterday, advised the public and motorists not to go near the site for safety reasons.
