Causes of Construction Accidents

and the Provisions of Safety Regulations

in Construction Industry in Malaysia

Ku Adenan Ku Ismail1 and Idris Othman2(&)

1
Maju Perak Holdings Berhad, No. 1-a, Jalan Meru Casuarina, 30020 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia
[email protected]
2
University Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
[email protected]

Abstract. In order to improve safety performance, Malaysian government has

gazetted an occupational safety and health policies to provide guidelines to be
followed in dealing with occupational safety and health activities at site.
Meanwhile, Factories and Machinery Act provide regulation with respect to the
health, health and welfare of person, machinery and for matters connected
therewith for the control of factories. This paper aims to identify cause of
accidents and the provisions of safety regulations in construction projects in
Malaysia. Methodology is by analysing the DOSH report. Statistic from DOSH
shown that from 2015 to 2019, about 116% increase in accident cases. The main
causes of accidents are work at high, unsafe work practice or conditions and
failure of structure. Under Section 15 of OSHA 1994, contractors and
employers can be charged under this section if fail to provide a healthy and safe
working environment for their employees.

Keywords: Construction
Accidents
Safety
Regulations

1 Introduction

Accidents are still high in the Malaysian construction industry. Department of DOSH
indicated cases of construction accidents in Malaysia is a total of 1143 during the
period of 2015 to 2019 as shown in Fig. 1. The cases of accidents include cases of
permanent disability, death and non-permanent disability [1–3]. According to Rahim
et al. [4], construction industry requires a huge overhaul from the aspect of site safety
practices.
Rosli Ahmad [5] mentioned that safety programs can increase productivity, mini-
mize construction costs, reducing injuries and could save lives of workers. Ahmadon
Bakri et al., [6], proposed that reducing the hazards at construction sites can improve the
image of the construction industry. Providing a healthy and safe workplace is the most
effective strategies for holding down the cost of the construction [7]. Accidents directly
and indirectly incur additional and also cause delays in delivering projects [8, 9].

© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
B. S. Mohammed et al. (Eds.): ICCOEE2020, LNCE 132, pp. 602–607, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6311-3_69
 Causes of Construction Accidents and the Provisions of Safety Regulations 603

Number of Accidents in ConstrucƟon Projects in Malaysia

300
275

250 237 232

222
Number of Accidents

200 177

150

100

50

0
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Years

Fig. 1. Number of accidents in construction projects in Malaysia [1]

According to Tan Chin Keng and Nadeera Abdul Razak (2014) [10], safety practices
at construction site can minimize the accidents. Among the practices are education,
training, safety policy, safety auditing, site safety inspection, personal protective
equipment, safety measuring devices and fall protective system [11, 12]. The main
problem of safety practices is the attitude of the workers. Due to ignorance, Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) is not used. Stern actions again errant workers, contractors,
employers and should be carried out continuously in order to minimize problems in safety
practices [13].
According to Zhou et al. [14], penalties should be imposed on person in charge or
the organization. Penalties can be in form of warning, confiscation of the income,
charges of correction, charges to temporary detainment or to stop production. In order to
improve safety and health at construction site, I Othman [15] recommended that safety
impact assessment should be implemented systematically as part of safety management
practices[15]. Implementation of laws under OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967 are approa-
ches undertaken by government to address the safety issues in construction sites.

2 Review on OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967

OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967 are the current fundamental legislation which regulate
construction activities in Malaysia. The main objective of OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967
are to ensure the welfare, health and safety for all employees and visitors and protection
for the disable. In terms of securing the health, safety and welfare among the entire
Malaysian workforces, OSHA 1994 can be considered as act that provides the leg-
islative framework for construction site [16].
604 K. A. K. Ismail and I. Othman

The self-regulation scheme that had been designed to coordinate with the particular
organization or industrial firm are the basis of the establishment of this act. The
effective health and safety performance is the main aims of this act.

3 Methodology on Analysing DOSH Reports Construction

Accidents

Figure 2 shows causes of construction accidents from 2010 to 2019 that have been
reported by DOSH.

Causes of ConstrucƟon Accidents (DOSH)

Not Wearing
PPE Unsafe Work
Incorrect or Practice or
No 5% Conditions
Working 10%
Procedure 27%
18%

40%

Failure of
Structure Working at
Height

Fig. 2. Causes of construction accidents [1]

The analysis shows that the biggest causes of construction accident (40%) is
working at height. Then, followed by unsafe working conditions or practice (27%),
failure of structure (18%), no work procedure (10%) and not wearing personal pro-
tective equipment (PPE) (5%). Therefore, the main causes of fatality accidents on
construction sites in Malaysia are employees falling from height or from the same level
and accidents cause by fallen objects.
The appropriate safety procedure such as evaluate the hazard by comprehensive
risk assessment, provide adequate training for all employees working at height, using
appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementing safe working
practice are actions can implemented to prevent fall from height or from the same level
and fallen objects accidents cases [1, 17].
 Causes of Construction Accidents and the Provisions of Safety Regulations 605

4 Analysis on Legal Provisions Under OSHA 1994 and FMA

1967

Table 1 below shows the causes of construction accidents and legal provisions under
OSHA 1994 and FMA 1967.

Table 1. Causes of construction accidents and legal provisions

Cause of accident Legal provisions
Working at high Section 15 of OSHA 1994–Contractors and employers can
be charged under Sect. 15 of OSHA 1994 if fail to provide
a healthy and safe working environment for their
employees [18]
FMA Regulations 1970 (Safety, Health and Welfare) [19] –
the employers to follow and adhere to Guidelines for the
Prevention of Falls, under Regulation 12 practicable means
that the safety of person must be ensured for working more
than 10 feet high [20]
Unsafe work practice or Section 15(2) of OSHA 1994 - General duties of self-
conditions employed persons and employers. The section stated the
duties of every employer and every self-employed persons
[18]. Section 19 of OSHA 1994 stated that a person is
liable to a fine if contravenes the provisions of this section
[21]
Failure of structure Section 20(1) of OSHA 1994–General Duties of Suppliers,
Manufacturers and Designers. The Section stated that any
person who supplies, designs, import or manufactures any
plant for use at work, to ensure it is safe and without risks
to health [22]
A person who contravenes the provisions of this section
shall be guilty and liable to a fine [23]
Incorrect or no work procedure Section 15(1) of OSHA 1994 - General duties of self-
employed persons and employers are to ensure the health,
safety and welfare at work of all his employees [18]
Section 19 of OSHA 1994 stated that a person is liable to a
fine is contravenes the provisions of this section [21]
Not wearing personal Section 24(1) of OSHA 1994–Every employee while at
protective equipment (PPE) work to use or wear any protective equipment provided by
the employer at all times in order to prevent risks to his
health and safety [24]. A person is liable to a fine if
contravenes to the provisions of this section [24]
606 K. A. K. Ismail and I. Othman

5 Conclusion

The cases of accidents include death, permanent disability and non-permanent dis-
ability. The top three causes accidents are working at high, unsafe work practice or
conditions and failure of structure. There are legal provisions under the OSHA 1994
and FMA 1967 Act that a safe and healthy working environment for employees are
responsibilities of employers.
Employers are subjected to a fine if fail to provide a safe and healthy working
environment for their employees. Since the biggest cause of accidents is related to
working at high, monitoring of projects involving workers working at high need to be
further enhanced. Various efforts carried by government agencies, employers, con-
tractors and consultants should incorporated by continuing safety improvement through
enforcement of legislations, promotion, education and training, incentive, development
and technology, occupational safety and health research.

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