PETALING JAYA | The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has urged on contractors to make sure the health and safety of workers are being taken care of during the ongoing heatwave.
Construction workers’ health may be impacted by the heat, according to CIDB Chief Executive Ahmad ‘Asri Abdul Hamid.
Last week, the meteorological department (MetMalaysia) issued a Level 1 heatwave alert for eight districts in Peninsular Malaysia after daily temperatures topped 35°C for three consecutive days.
On May 16, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the deputy prime minister, indicated that if the weather continues to worsen, the government might declare an emergency.
Asri said that they urge construction companies to ensure the safety and health of their workers by providing shaded areas for rest and plenty of drinking water in order to avoid any problems, such as heat stroke, FMT reported.
Adults should consume at least 2.5 liters of water daily and an additional 500 ml during exceptionally hot weather, advises the health ministry.
However, monitoring or managing the welfare of workers is within the jurisdiction of the department of occupational safety and health (DOSH) and not CIDB.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Zaharani Yusof, secretary-general of the Bumiputra Contractors Association of Malaysia (PKBM), has stated that the organization will visit construction workers onsite if requested.
He stated that they would make regular inspections to verify that these people were still able to work despite the hot weather.
Zaharani adds that construction workers are mostly experienced and are capable of adapting themselves according to weather conditions.
