The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is grieved to learn that another life is lost in a manhole. It is reported that a worker conducting maintenance work in an underground sewerage system in Tanjung Tokong drowned while a co-worker is still missing after the water level inside the drain suddenly rose and swept them off.

According to news reports, the workers had not used any safety and protection gear.  A number of deaths and accidents in manholes have happened over the years due to disregard to occupational safety. Early this year, workers had succumbed to hazardous fumes in a manhole in Subang Jaya.

We have many provisions in our law to ensure workers safety, health and welfare. Nevertheless, if workers and employers continue to be negligent, we can expect more accidents and fatalities at work place. It is sad that lives are lost and injuries sustained, when it can be avoided by taking precautionary measures.

Section 15 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 states the duty of the employer, which among others include the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety and health at work of employees.

It is also the duty of the employee, as stated in Section 24 of the OSHA to take reasonable care for the safety and health of himself and other persons who may be affected by his acts, to wear or use at all times any protective equipment or clothing provided by the employer for the purpose of preventing risks to his safety and health.

Employers and workers must promote occupational safety and health; and work against risks to safety or health arising out of the activities at workplace.  To prevent more deaths and accidents in manholes, only workers who have undergone adequate training and wear proper safety and protective gear should be allowed to undertake the job.

We urge the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) to take stringent measures to ensure that employers provide proper training on occupational safety to their workers and ensure that workers comply with safety rules and measures.

SM Mohamed Idris is president of Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP).