Back in KL, I detested passing by construction sites. And there were (still are, I bet) scores of them everywhere. In my neighbourhood alone, there are a few here and there. And all of them are messy, filthy and dusty with all sorts fo building materials, equipment and tools strewn all over the construction sites. Some of them are not even working properly. And the makeshift "houses' occupied by the workers are such an eye sore. Worse, the mud and dirt accumulated and blocking the drainage systems frequently result in flash floods.
The only thing you can expect at a construction site in Malaysia is total mess and possibly hazards. Also, half of the workes don't wear proper safety attire. Well, you could see safety signs at the sites but I think they were put up just to pacify the authorities.
Before I came to Melbourne, I thought this is how construction sites everywhere look like. I was wrong. Construction sites here can and are supposed to be clean and tidy. I was stunned and impressed the first time I saw a construction site here. There's a huge restoration exercise and extensive renovation going on at a shopping mall near my current residence here and wow, it's amazingly clean and free of chaos.
It all boils down to the importance of work safety. And it's pretty simple actually, come to think of it. Everyone wants to go home in one piece at the end of the day. And the surest way to do that is by making sure everything is where it should be. When things are tidy and organised, it is less likely to cause accidents. Workers can also move in and out with ease.
Work safety is serious business here. More so because people here are more aware of their rights as workers and are more prepared to take legal actions if they suffer injuries while at work. You can see the same safety precautions and cleanliness at factories and vehicle workshops as well.
I guess Malaysia is in for a long wait to see that happen, not when so many construction workers don't even have valid working visas. No visas, no rights. No rights, no safety necessary. Enough said.
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2 comments:
life is cheap over here la. Why would would the greedy developer pay fer helmets, safety harness, goggles etc when it is cheaper to replace the dead/injured worker with a fresh underpaid living one?
PS: Pls ask Alex to check out me latest entry. Bet he'll have a good laugh!
It all boils down to attitude. The law is all clearly spelt out on these issues but if the authorities take a "tidak apa" attitude, then you have the Malaysian construction site as you know it. Heck, even Singaporean work sites are much neater than what we have..
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