SIBU: Construction sites contributed 33 per cent or 13 cases of fatalities from the 39 deaths due to occupational accidents in Sarawak last year.

Dosh Sarawak head of construction works section Shahrul Azhar Mustaffa considered that fatalities from the construction sector last year as high.

“From the 13 cases last year, three deaths were recorded from falling from height,” Shahrul Azhar told a press conference after the closing of the ‘Ops Cegah Runtuh’ at University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) here yesterday,

Azhar said they had taken court action on six cases with penalty amounting to RM35,500.

They also issued nine compound with collection amounting to RM32,500.

Shahrul Azhar further cautioned that construction sites not registered with Dosh could be slapped with a RM2,500 compound.

Dosh Sibu branch chief Chai Chong Foong meanwhile said that until June this year, Sarawak recorded three cases of occupational accidents involving scaffolding.

Chai said that until April 2014, Dosh Sarawak had registered 2,049 scaffolders for basic level, 242 for intermediate and 37 for advanced.

Contractors must ensure that scaffolding are erected and inspected by a competent person, he added.

Excuse of unavailability of competent scaffolders was not accepted as the causative factor was contractor wanting to trim down on cost, he said.

Towards this end, Chai stressed that all construction sites had to engage a site safety supervisor (SSS).

Shahrul Azhar chipped in, saying this was for site with a project sum of less than RM20 million, where at least one of such personnel was needed.

On working at confined space such as at shipyards, Chai said they had rolled out campaigns with the shipyard associations to create the necessary safety awareness.

“Employers too need to abide by the Industrial Code Practice for confined space,” he said, adding that such workers needed to be properly trained.

He said they had started enforcement on shipyards and would soon issue notices to employers yet to comply with the guidelines on confined space.

Rounding up the press conference, Chai observed from the places they visited in Sibu, Sarikei and Mukah, there was still a lack of safety awareness.