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PETALING JAYA: The recent billboard fire which left nine Indonesian workers trapped shows the urgent need for stringent adherence to safety protocols, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said that the incident on Friday (May 31) is a stark reminder of the perils of neglecting workplace safety standards, adding that the preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit likely caused the fire.
In the incident, a LED electronic billboard near the Catholic High School along the Federal Highway caught fire, leaving the workers trapped.
The incident left one worker with arm injuries and others with minor burns on their hands and feet
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The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the workers were not adhering to the principle of Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control, which he added is a fundamental aspect of occupational safety.
“It is very clear that the workers involved in this incident were not following these protocols,” he said.
Lee added that the workers were found to be without any personal protective equipment that could have protected them should they be exposed to hazards.
“This is obviously against work safety regulations and standard operating procedures (SOP),” said Lee, adding that the absence of effective communication tools such as walkie-talkies worsened the situation, leaving the workers stranded without a means to call for help.
He also said that there was no safety coordinator present, which is mandatory if there are more than five workers on a site.
Lee then said that basic safety protocols such as turning off the electricity while working and ensuring it is safely restored upon the completion of tasks were neglected.
“The incident serves as a cautionary tale for all maintenance operators and workers, emphasising the necessity of strict adherence to established safety guidelines to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
