KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) is conducting an audit on machinery used at a construction site in Jalan Raja Chulan where a crane hook that fell crushed Chin Khoon Sing, 24, to death in her car on Thursday.
Its director-general Datuk Mohtar Musri said the department seized the 500kg hook and was in the midst of inspecting other heavy machinery at the site to ascertain if they were safe.
“Our preliminary investigations have found the crane hook operated outside the hoard fencing which was in violation of safety regulations,” he said.
Mohtar said the accident could have been avoided if the crane was not hovering above the street.
“The crane was not supposed to operate outside the hoarding but it did, and we are looking at two possibilities which could have led to the incident.
“The wire which supported the crane hook could have snapped or the crane hook hit something including the side of the building, and fell onto the car,” he said.
He said even if the wire had snapped, the hook should have fallen within the construction site or warding area.
Mohtar also said the crane driver fled the scene following the 7.15pm incident and authorities have been unable to locate him.
He said the crane was operated by a Malaysian company certified to operate the equipment.
“We are working closely with police to track down the crane driver besides calling in other parties responsible for this incident,” he said.
“We are not leaving anything to chance and will find other security violations, if any, at the site,” he said.
He said those guilty of violating regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 could be jailed up to two years or fined up to RM250,000 or both.
City Hall building control department director Alias Marjoh said a stop work order had been issued to the developer for an indefinite period.
He said the developers were only allowed to carry out work between 7am and 7pm but the incident occurred after that.
“They were previously allowed to carry out work until midnight, but that was only for a three-month period which has since lapsed.
“We will not hesitate to seal the site if DOSH finds there are other irregularities.”
He said there had been no prior violations committed by developer Harmoni Perkasa Sdn Bhd before the incident.
The construction of the RM330 million 12-storey Royal Pavilion Hotel is slated to be completed next year.
Meanwhile, Construction company BUCG (M) Sdn Bhd has suspended works on its hotel project, pending advice from the authorities following an accident which killed Chin Khoon Sing.
BUCG said they were the lead contractor for the project by Harmoni Perkasa Sdn Bhd near Pavilion KL, with Yekon Equipment (M) Sdn Bhd being the crane equipment owner and Sufiyan Enterprise being the crane operator.
“It is with our deepest sympathies that BUCG (M) Sdn Bhd confirms that at 7.20pm yesterday, the fatal accident on Jalan Raja Chulan was as a result of equipment used on the project site of the Harmoni Perkasa Sdn Bhd hotel project,” BUCG said in a statement yesterday.
“We have suspended all works until further advice from the relevant authorities. Safety is our utmost priority and all construction partners are to provide a ‘duty of care’.
“Yekon is also cooperating with the authorities in their investigations of the accident and in relation to the crane operator Sufiyan Enterprise,” it said.
