KUCHING: The construction industry has been called to embrace innovation and stronger safety practices to reduce workplace accidents.
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Sarawak director Jamadi Yusup said the construction industry is among the largest contributors to workplace accidents in Malaysia.
“According to Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) records, in 2023, a total of 34,216 workplace accident cases were reported nationwide, with 5,379 cases originating from the construction sector alone.
“Of these, 88 cases involved fatalities. These figures are deeply concerning as they are not merely statistics on paper but involve the lives of workers who are the backbone of our industry,” he said.
He said this during the 10th Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) Seminar on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and Workshop on Practical Professionals’ Roles and Responsibilities in Construction Design Management here yesterday.
Jamadi also noted in Sarawak, the construction sector remains among the top three sectors with the highest rates of workplace accidents.
“This situation clearly indicates that we must continue to strengthen the culture of safety, not just by complying with laws but by making it a shared value,” he said.
He further advised that the nation must not only advance economically but also make equal progress in ensuring construction safety standards.
Meanwhile, MBAM council member and chairman of its Safety and Health Committee Alec Chong also urged industry players to take proactive steps to prevent accidents, adding that continuous training and safe work practices were vital to protect workers.
In a statement, MBAM said the two-day programme, jointly organised with the Sarawak Master Builders Federation (SMBF), aimed to raise awareness among employers and personnel, while promoting best practices in occupational safety management.
The seminar featured a workshop on Practical Professionals’ Roles and Responsibilities in Construction Design Management and presentations of five technical papers covering scaffolding compliance, Vision Zero strategy, construction incident response, Occupational Safety and Health System (MyKKP) reporting, and the safe use of powered access equipment.
In conjunction with the seminar, MBAM and SMBF also held a dialogue session to discuss pressing industry issues such as the challenges posed by foreign contractors, the impact of the Sales and Services Tax (SST), digitalisation through Building Information Management (BIM), and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.
Later in the evening, the programme concluded with MBAM Council Members joining SMBF in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Kuching Samarahan Division Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the 53rd anniversary dinner of SMBF.
The dinner, officiated by Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak permanent secretary Datuk Chiew Chee Yau on behalf of Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, marked the close of the programme.
MBAM also congratulated SMBF on the milestone celebrations and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Sarawak’s construction fraternity to strengthen safety culture and support industry growth.
