KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) confirmed a cable holding the crane hook at the construction site in Jalan Raja Chulan had snapped, causing the 500kg hook to fall 20 floors and slam into a car, killing woman driver Chin Koon Sing, 24, on Thursday.

DOSH director general Datuk Mohtar Musri said the department was in the midst of finding out why the cable had snapped.

“Yes, the cable (holding the crane hook) gave way. We are conducting a forensic test to identify the exact cause,” he said yesterday.

Mohtar added investigators were checking if the safety switch, known as the limit switch, that cuts off the movement of the crane when it swings out of the construction perimeter, was tampered with.

“We are checking if there were other safety violations, including if the crane’s limit switch, was tampered with or faulty. The switch acts as a safety net, cutting off the crane’s power if it goes beyond the construction area,” he said.

“By right, the crane will not be able to hover above the road but in this case it did,” he added.

Police were still looking for the crane operator, a foreigner, who fled the scene after the 7.15pm accident.

Mohtar said the department lacked manpower and were unable to keep up with the rapid development in Kuala Lumpur. According to City Hall, there are some 600 ongoing construction projects in the city.

“We only have 12 construction site inspectors and are unable to keep up with the many projects. We conduct compulsory checks on heavy machinery at the sites once every 15 months. We also conduct spot-checks if the need arises.”

“We are doing our level best to ensure every heavy machinery used at these sites meet safety standards.”

He would like to conduct inspections and site visits regularly but is unable to do so given the lack of manpower and assets.

“We have to be realistic with our capabilities.”

National Institute of Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, while understanding DOSH’s predicament, has urged industry players to conduct self-regulations.

“They have to be responsible and do what they can to ensure every regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Factories and Machinery Act are followed through,” Lee said.

“Accidents will continue to occur if safety is considered a non-piority,” he said.

Lee added that developers and contractors had a civic duty to ensure innocent lives were not lost in the name of profit.