Construction industry must reduce worksite fatalities

IT was distressing to learn that two construction workers lost their lives within a single day in Penang on Oct 21: a 22-year-old Bangladeshi worker died after falling from a height of 18m, and a 26-year-old Myanmar worker died after falling from the eighth floor.

The construction industry is a vital part of Malaysia’s economy, employing a substantial workforce comprising locals and foreigners. It is also one of the most hazardous industries, and a major safety hazard for construction workers is working at height.