SHAH ALAM, 1 June 2009: The Selangor Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) today began investigations into the collapse of the Jaya supermarket building in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, which claimed seven lives.
Its director, Ir Amir Yahya, told Bernama that the department would appoint a structural expert to advise the investigation committee to determine the cause of the collapse.
He said the investigations would take a while as the department had to probe various angles.
It would also inspect the machinery used in the demolition works.
Amir said the department had in the meantime issued a stop-work order to the contractor as the area was unsafe for workers to perform their tasks.
The order was in addition to that issued by the Petaling Jaya City Council soon after the collapse last Thursday.
The DOSH stop-work order was in relation to worker safety. The contractor cannot resume work unless he obtains the department’s clearance, Amir explained.
MTUC safety and health committee chairperson A Balasubramaniam said committee members visited the site yesterday to assist workers who needed help.
Balasubramaniam, who is also MTUC vice-president, said the congress was concerned over the workers’ welfare and would ensure they were adequately protected.
He hoped the families of the seven Indonesian workers killed in the building collapse would be duly compensated by the contractor.
He called on the local authorities to completely seal off the area as it was dangerous since the portion of the collapsed area was hanging precariously and could collapse anytime. — Bernama
Hafidz Baharom says
DOSH = Department of Occupational Safety and Health.
Editor’s note: Thanks, Hafidz. Have corrected it.