NIOSH urges probe into Bangsar site after Briton's tragic death

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has urged authorities to investigate the developer and all parties involved in the Bangsar construction site where a 25-year-old British solo traveller was found dead last week.
Its chairman, Chong Chieng Jen, said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) must immediately determine whether there were breaches of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or violations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 (Amendment) 2022.
He said NIOSH viewed the incident seriously and called for an immediate and comprehensive probe into how a high-risk worksite in an urban area like Bangsar could be accessed by members of the public.
"Construction sites are high-risk zones and should, under no circumstances, be accessible to the general public," he said, adding that the death raised serious questions about the adequacy of on-site safety controls.
Chong said the incident underscored the need for developers, contractors, and all stakeholders to re-evaluate their approach to workplace safety and public risk management.
He noted that Section 15 of the amended OSHA 1994 mandates employers to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of their workers, while Section 17 imposes a similar duty to protect others, including non-workers, who may be affected by worksite activities.
"Section 17 explicitly states that employers and self-employed persons must, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure that people who are not their employees are not exposed to health or safety risks due to their activities.
"They are also required to inform individuals present at their worksites of any risks that could affect their safety or health," he said in a response to the New Straits Times.
Chong added that failure to comply with these provisions could result in a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
According to police, the 25-year-old victim is believed to have entered the construction area before falling to his death into a partially completed lift shaft, where his decomposing body was later found submerged in water.
The man, who had arrived in Malaysia from Vietnam on May 17, was reported missing on May 27 by his mother in the United Kingdom.
According to police, the 25-year-old victim is believed to have entered the construction area before falling to his death in a halfway constructed lift shaft, with his decomposing body partially submerged in water.
The man The man who arrived here from Vietnam on May 17 was reported missing since May 27 by his mother in the United Kingdom.
The case has sparked widespread concern over site security and public safety enforcement.
Chong said project stakeholders, including developers, principal contractors, subcontractors, site owners, and security providers, must fully understand their legal responsibilities and the severe consequences of negligence.
He stressed that those responsible must ensure all construction sites are secured with effective perimeter fencing, proper surveillance, controlled entry and exit points, as well as clear and comprehensible warning signage.
"The amended OSHA 2022 reinforces the principle of shared responsibility among all parties involved in a construction project.
"Risk management at construction sites must not only focus on worker safety but also on ensuring the protection of the general public, especially in densely populated or tourist-heavy urban areas," Chong said.
He added that NIOSH stands ready to assist the relevant authorities in strengthening the safety culture across the construction industry through awareness programmes, training, and guidance to ensure full compliance with OSHA 2022 requirements.
On Saturday, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye questioned whether proper safety measures had been in place at the project.