Scaffolding Collapse Incidents To Keep Recurring, When Will It Stop?

Scaffolding was reported to have fallen again, but this time at the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Highway (DASH) construction site last Saturday.

The unfortunate incident claimed the life of a Bangladeshi worker while another foreign worker was fortunate to suffer only minor injuries after being hit by fragments of concrete and steel frame.

During the incident, the two victims were said to be working under the iron structure before it suddenly collapsed from a height of 12 meters.

The concession company, Projek Lintasan Damansara Shah Alam Sdn Bhd (PLDSASB) was ordered to immediately stop work involving the temporary structure.

On the other hand, PLDSASB stressed that the incident did not involve highway users or the public as it took place inside a covered construction area.

It was noted that during the concrete pouring work is carried out, the construction area is completely closed to users as per the prescribed procedure.

In fact, the scaffolding work process is said to use the same engineering method involving 14 locations in the area and four of them have been successfully completed.

"However, the remaining work involving ten locations can only be continued after the audit report of the Independent Consulting Engineer (ICE) is issued," PLDSASB said in a statement.

In a similar development, the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) expressed its readiness to offer technical assistance and share ideas related to engineering to assist in the investigation of the incident.

Following that, the Ministry of Works gave a period of one week to the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the consulting engineer, Zaidun Leeng Sdn. Bhd (ZLSB) to provide a complete report on the incident.

As always, it is always better to set up a committee first, then scrutinize and discuss! But what is the question, till when will the government allow this incident to continue to recur and continue to claim the lives of innocent people?

For your information, this is the third highway-related accident this year.

On March 3, a trailer truck crashed into a scaffolding on the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang (SUKE) Highway, causing an unfinished bridge to collapse on a moving van. The incident left two people dead and three others injured.

Then on March 22 this year, three construction workers were confirmed dead, while another was injured when a launcher crane used in a highway construction project at Persiaran Alam Damai here, fell and hit a vehicle.

What is your opinion on the incidents of iron seasonings that often collapse in highway construction areas? Share your thoughts down below!