Ignored stop-work orders results in RM20,000 fine for construction firm

IPOH (Nov 28): Due to a construction company ignoring two two prohibition notices from the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH), the Sessions Court has issued a fine of RM20,000.

The Malay Mail reports that Loyal Engineering Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Ong Kian Min entered a guilty plea to both charges under Section 49 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 before judge Norashima Khalid.

The punishments for each charge, under Section 49 (2) of the same Act, are a fine not exceeding RM50,000, and/or five years in prison.

Construction workers were not provided with proper safety harnesses for working at heights, at around 1pm at Construction Proposal for Regional Sewage Treatment Plant and Sewerage Network in Papan on July 24. The charge sheet states that the firm did not comply with the stop-work order on the installation of falsework, formwork and rebar. 

There was also a prohibition notice issued for the issue of transporting workers to higher floors using the scaffolding access at the same place and time, the notice was also not observed.

Ong, unrepresented, asked for a reduction in the fine, saying it was the firm's first offence which would not be repeated.

DOSH prosecuting officer Hamirul Adli Hashim said the maximum fine should be set as the firm was blatant in disobeying the immediate prohibition notices.

“This is a serious matter as in Perak alone, there have been 31 casualties, mostly on workers falling from the higher floor after failed to follow the safety rules, this year.

“The punishment should serve as a lesson to others,” he is quoted as saying by the news portal.

The judge fined Loyal Engineering RM10,000 in default of a six month jail for each charge.