2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (ICBEDC 2008)

SCAFFOLDING SAFETY ASSESSMENT IN CONSTRUCTION SITES IN

PENANG

Norzalili Abu Bakar1, Mohd Rodzi Ismail2 and Tan Guat Lin3
1,2,3
School of Housing Building and Planning,
Universiti Sains Malaysia,
11800 USM, Penang, Malaysia.
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT This paper discusses about the scaffolding safety in construction sites in Penang.
Safety of workers at construction sites is one of the major concerns in construction industry. It is
well recognized that the construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in which to
work in. The reasons for these dangers are the hazards faced by the workers in this industry.
The equipment of their use on the construction sites are the cause of many of these hazards.
One of the equipments with which injuries and death commonly occur among workers is working
with scaffolds. Scaffolds play its role by providing passageway, support the structure and as a
working platform. They are commonly used for working at heights and where there is the
potential risk for workers to fall from height during job done on scaffolding. Falls are the largest
cause of accidental death in the construction industry. Therefore, a study has been carried out to
investigate and to emphasize on scaffolding hazards and strategies to prevent the hazards. The
main objective is to measure the level of safety factor by using scaffolding awareness among
employers and construction workers through case study observations in medium sized housing
projects and high-rise projects at construction sites in Penang. Questionnaires have been
distributed among the employers and unstructured interviews have been conducted with safety
officers and officer from the Department of Safety and Health. The results show that scaffolding
safety management at the high-rise projects is in compliance with the act and regulation
requirements in Malaysia compared to the medium sized housing projects. The study also
shows that all employers are well aware of the safety and health regulations in construction sites
including scaffolding safety and their responsibilities to reduce fatalities and injuries in the
construction industry.

Keywords: Scaffolding, safety assessment, construction sites

1. INTRODUCTION

The rapid growth of the construction sector coupled with the rise in the number of
fatalities within the sector over the last ten years has brought into focus the hitherto low
priority placed by the employer on occupational safety and health. The number of
fatalities encountered in the construction industry is alarming. Over the years, the
Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has taken a lot of effort to
reduce the number of people killed, injured, or suffering from ill health as a result of
construction work. But their initiative alone is insufficient to increase or strengthen
safety and health activities within the growing construction industry.
The design and construction of scaffolds must conform to Occupational Safety
and Health Act (OSHA) requirements concerning type of equipment, rated capacities,

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construction methods, and its use. Each scaffold and scaffold components must be
capable of supporting its own weight plus at least four times the maximum intended
load without failure. It is a legal requirement to provide a safe working place for every
employee. Scaffold working platform is the most commonly seen structure at any
construction site but at the same time, it is also one of the most legally abused working
provisions in the industry. Current statistics confirm that most fatal accidents occur as a
result of a fall from scaffoldings.

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Malaysian Construction Industry has a poor health and safety record, according to
the Department of Occupational Safety and Health statistic injuries (2005), where there
were 3,150 accidents and 77 deaths reported in the year 2005 alone. Even though the
number of accidents and deaths has declined compared to previous years, the statistics
are still amongst the highest compared to the other sectors in the economy.
In construction work many of the hazards are obvious; most of them can be
found on almost every site. The causes of accidents are well known and often repeated.
Falls are the largest cause of accidental death in the construction industry. Most
accidents involving falls can be prevented if the right equipment has been provided and
properly used. When planning for work at heights, it is essential to provide a safe
working platform for all phases of a project. A safe working platform is usually provided
by the erection of scaffolding.
Every year, many workers are killed by falls from scaffolds. Besides problems
with planks and guardrails, the main causes of injuries and deaths on scaffolds are poor
planning for assembling and taking them apart, missing tie-ins or bracing, and being too
close to power lines. Some scaffolding have collapsed because of improper erection,
some have fallen because the scaffolding could not support the loads placed on it. Also,
falling objects can hurt people below the scaffolds. The major causes identified are the
lack of appropriate knowledge and skills of those assigned with responsibility for safety
and health.

3. METHODOLOGY

Methodology is a systematic approximation that involves in a data collection process.

The data collection been analyzed to obtain the results of the study. Several methods

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had been used to meet the objectives of the research on the scaffolding safety
awareness in construction sites. The first stages are collected a secondary data through
the literature studies from the textbooks, handbooks, newsletter, journal, articles, thesis
and also through the multimedia such as Internet and television. This is to verify the
element of scaffolding including the basic scaffolds elements, types of the scaffolding,
the provision of act and regulation based on Malaysia Standard, the statistic of injuries
cases that has been related due to the constructions industry, potential hazards that
may occur and also the guidelines to preventing the hazards and reduces the injuries
cases in Malaysia
Second stages, collected a primary data through the case studies observations,
questionnaires for the employer and unstructured interviews. The observations at the
construction sites are to examine the real situation of the scaffolding safety, in the mean
time to achieve the objectives of the study. The case studies are concentrated in
comparison between the high-rise and medium housing construction project regarding
measures on the level of awareness of the scaffolding safety.

3.1 The Case Studies:

a. 32 units of The Residence Bungalows Projects, Bayan Mutiara. Sg. Nibong,
Pulau Pinang.
b. 1 Block unit Apartments 29th storey, Persiaran Minden Tiga, Pulau Pinang.
The observations based on evidence of safety and health issues in construction site
requirement and in the same time identify the problems of scaffold components failure
and personal protective equipments (PPE) requirement via checklist and photographs.
The checklist consists of 2 sections:
a. Section A – Scaffolding Safety Due To The Component
This section is to compare scaffolding components at case studies project
with Factories And Machinery Act (Building Operations And Works Of
Engineering Construction) (Safety) Regulations 1986, Part X (scaffold)
accordingly to Malaysia Standard.

b. Section B – Worker Safety While Using the Scaffolding.

This section will measures the level awareness due to safety and health at
the constructions sites.

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3.2 Questionnaire for Employer

The questionnaire is to obtain the feedbacks among the employers on their

understanding and their knowledge about the scaffolding safety, and in the same time
the questionnaire analysis represent the level of awareness among them due to
scaffolding safety in construction sites.
The questionnaires were distributed to the 55 respondents personally by hand
directly to the employers in ten construction sites around the Pulau Pinang. This is the
best method in order to get an immediate response and to prevent any non-returns or
non-feedbacks from the responders instead of using snail posted mail or via email. A
sample of respondents from the construction site management includes the safety
officer, site supervisor, clerk of work, resident engineer and the contractor or
subcontractor.
The questionnaire consists of 3 parts:
a. Part 1 – Background of the Respondents
b. Section A – General Questions Related to Safety and Health Issues in
Construction Sites.
c. Section B – Scaffolding Safety.

Table 1: List Name of Construction Project that Involved in Questionnaires.

No. Project Name Number of
Respondents
1. 32 units Residence Bungalows Projects, Bayan 6
Mutiara. Sg. Nibong.
2. Jelutong Sewerage Treatment Plant, Jelutong. 7

3. 1 Block Apartment 29th storey Persiaran Minden 6

Tiga.
4. Project Sek.Men.Keb.Pondok Upeh, Lot 2011, 7
Mukim 6, Jalan Balik Pulau. Balik Pulau.

5. Pembinaan 4 Tingkat Bangunan Mahkamah 6

Rendah Syariah Daerah Barat Daya. Balik
Pulau.
6. Pembinaan 1 Blok pejabat/kedai 3 tingkat (56 5
unit), 1 Blok Pangsapuri 9 tingkat, 1 Blok
Pangsapuri 8 tingkat dan 1 Blok Pangsapuri 21
tingkat. Jalan Bukit Gambir. Mukim13. Penang.

7. Pembinaan Balai Polis dan Kuarters kelas E, F 5

dan G. Bandar Batu Feringgi. Pulau Pinang

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8. Pembinaan 32 unit Rumah Berkembar ‘Strata 4

Title’ 3 tingkat bersambungan dan 1 Blok
Rumah Pangsa 5 tingkat. Mukim 13, Lebuh Bukit
Jambul.
9. Pembinaan 119 unit Kondominium terdiri 6
daripada 1 blok 36 tingkat dan 1 blok 35 tingkat.
Bandar Tanjung Bungah. Jalan Tanjung Bungah.
Penang.
10. Pembinaan Pangsapuri 17 tingkat dan 21 tingkat 3
Mukim 13, Jalan Bukit Jambul.

Table 2 : Respondent Category

Number of
Position Respondents
Site supervisor 13
Clerk of work 15
Safety officer 10
Subcontractor 7
Resident engineer 5
Contractor 5

The checklist and questionnaire based on the Scaffold Safety Checklist for use
at Inspection by the Armstrong (1980) and Construction Standard (Jobsite Audit
Instrument) by Reese & Eidson (1999).

c. Unstructured Interviews
The unstructured interviews were conducted to have an in-depth and better
understanding of the real situation on scaffolding safety in construction sites. The
sample selected for interviews includes both safety officers in case studies who are the
true experts in this area. The interviews also conducted with officers from government
agencies, Department of Safety and Heath (DOSH) Putrajaya to obtain the government
act and regulations, statistic of injuries in the construction industry and also the
government action to reduce the injuries in construction site nowadays.

4. SCAFFOLDING HAZARDS AND RECOMMEND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES

The high number of incidents of injuries and fatalities amongst construction workers
has generally been due to the nature of the works (evolving), weather condition and
variety of hazards involved. Construction workers who work on scaffolding are exposed

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to falling from heights, falling objects, scaffold collapse, overturning of tower scaffolds
and electric shock or electrocution.
There are several strategies that have been determination to prevent and at
same time reduce the death or injuries cases that is caused by scaffolds hazards.
Following are the summarized of the strategies:
i. Assign a competent person to oversee the scaffold selection, erection, use,
movement, alteration, dismantling, maintenance and inspection.
ii. Employees who are involved in activities such as erecting, dismantling,
repairing, and inspecting scaffolds being trained to recognize hazards
associated with those activities.
iii. Make sure that scaffolds must be capable of supporting their own weight and
at least four times the maximum intended load.
iv. Scaffolds are to be erected, moved, altered and dismantled by competent
and experienced personnel or personnel under the supervision of a
competent person to ensure safe installation according to the manufacturer’s
specifications and other requirements and scaffolding collapse.
v. Provides a complete of fall protection system and personal fall arresting
system for construction workers safety.
vi. Installation of toe-boards, screens or guardrail systems or through the
erection of debris nets, catch platforms, or canopy structures to catch or
deflect falling objects for preventing falling objects.
vii. Scaffolds must be far enough from overhead power lines to prevent any
conductive materials (e.g. building materials, paint roller extensions, scaffold
components) that may be handled on the scaffold, at a distance greater than
10 feet from the power line.
viii. Maintain scaffolds in good repair and only replacement components from the
original manufacturer should be used. Any intermixing scaffold components
from different manufacturers should be avoided.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

5.1 Case Studies

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Both projects used the same types and material of scaffolding, which is fabricated
frame scaffolds from metal materials. Because the scaffolding in the same types so it
easier to makes a comparison between both projects due to scaffolds component. The
main scaffolds components including footing, standards, ledger, cross bracing, ties,
platform, guardrail and toe-boards which any one of these components missing or loose
that will occurs due to scaffolds collapsed or any falls hazards. It is importance to
determine all these components are accordance due to the Malaysia Standards
scaffolds regulation.

Table 3 : Comparisons of scaffolds component between both case study

COMPONENT BUNGALOW PROJECT APARTMENT
PROJECT
Footing Good Some no base
plates
Standards Good Some bent
Ledger Some loose and missing Good
Putlog and Transom Good Good
Couplings Good Good
Cross Bracing Good Some bent
Ties Some loose and not Good
enough
Platforms Not wide enough Good
Guardrail Bad Good
Toe-Boards Bad Good
Access Some obstructed Good

Footing has a shank in its center to hold the tube and is sometimes pinned to a
sole board. Malaysia Standards Regulation 77 states that scaffolds should have a firm
footing or be firmly supported, and shall, where necessary, be sufficiently and properly
strutted or braced to ensure stability. The scaffold footings at the bungalows project are
mostly in good condition compare to the apartment projects, scaffolds did not have
base plates at the 5th floor, which is the scaffold are sitting on the floor directly. There
are only base plates for the scaffolds that are sitting on the ground.

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Figure 1 :Good condition of footing scaffolds at Bungalow Project,

Most of the scaffolds standards components in both projects are in good
condition and jointed at the same height except some of the standard component at the
apartment project, which are bent. All the standards must accordance to Malaysia
Standard on scaffolds Regulation 76 which is “standards or uprights of scaffolds shall
be where practicable vertical or slightly inclined towards the building; and fixed
sufficiently close together to secure the stability of the scaffold having regard to all the
circumstances.”
Some of the scaffolds at bungalows project are incomplete where no ledgers are
connected between standards component at the top of the scaffolds, which may cause
of scaffolds collapsed.

Figure 2 : No ledgers and loose of scaffolds components at Bungalow Project.

The entire of cross bracing at bungalow project in good condition compared to

apartment project some of the cross bracing are bent. Scaffolds Regulation 97 state,
“cross braces should be straightened if bent, and the alignment of the tops of frames
should be check and braces realigned if necessary.”

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Figure 3 :Some of the cross bracing are bent and no base plates at Apartment Project

Ties are the components that connected all the scaffolds components so If any
of the ties are loose, missing or some of the physicals are not enough then it will affect
the rigidly of the scaffolds and may cause a scaffolds to collapse or workers may fall
from height. Loose ties will cause injuries to the workers or anybody at the site because
they will be exposed due to falling of some of the ties. Ties of scaffolds component at
the apartment project are complete and fulfill the Malaysia Standards Act as compared
to the bungalow project which some of the ties are not complete and loose.
Guardrails component at the apartment project are in good condition and
specifically accordance due the Malaysia Standards scaffolds Regulation 88. As we
know risks of falling from high-rise building are higher than medium housing
construction. The situations are different in the bungalow project where the workers are
working on scaffolding without guardrail system and toe-boards. Even though this is a
medium housing construction however the risks of workers falling from height are still
there. Guardrails complete with the toe-boards are used to prevent any objects fall from
the top of scaffolds and prevent falling from height.

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Bungalow Project

Figure 4 : Construction workers done their jobs above 3meter on incomplete scaffolds
that without guardrail systems and fall protection equipments.

Overalls of checklist analysis between the Residence Bungalow Project and

Apartment Project worker safety factor at apartment project is more satisfactory than
compared to the bungalow project. According to Table 3 almost 73% of scaffolding
component at apartment project are in good condition and compliance with the
Factories And Machinery (Building Operations And Works Of Engineering Construction)
(Safety) Regulations 1986 Part X (Scaffold). It is different with the bungalow project
which only 45% of the components are compliance with the Malaysia Act and
Regulation. The guardrail system and toe-boards these two are the most important
component and should be completed in scaffolding structure to protect workers from
falling during done a job on scaffolding. Other component that will cause scaffolds
collapsed are the ties of scaffolding which should not be loose or not enough physical to
prevent bad situations. Even though bungalow project is a medium size housing project
as employer they supposedly provide complete scaffolding components with a guardrail
system to prevent any unexpected situation.
Other issue in scaffolding safety is personal protective equipment, fall protection
system and attitude of the construction workers while doing their jobs at construction
site. Based on the observation, at the apartment project the fall protection system are
more complete and almost all workers follow safety and health rules in construction
sites. The fall protection system consists of guardrail systems, safety net, safety
monitoring and overhead protection. The employer had done a good job by ensure their
workers safety to prevent any injuries that might occur in site especially during work

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done on scaffolding. Both parties have a good level of awareness on scaffolding safety
at construction sites. Compared to bungalow project the scaffolding safety management
is not very satisfied because the fall protection systems are not completed. There is
only safety monitoring system at these sites to monitor the safety construction workers.
Almost of the workers also do not follow the safety rules although as we know at the
medium housing project the hazards risky are lower than the high-rise project but safety
in construction site still important.

Figure 5 : Complete with safety net and overhead protection at Apartment Project to
prevent any injuries or accident.

Table 4 : Workers safety attitude during using scaffolding

No. Question Bungalow Project Apartment Project
1. Dressed appropriately for the job No No
2. Inspect all fall protection No No
equipment priors before used.
3. Inspect the scaffolds every 7 days No No
before use, for damaged of
weakened
4. No stack construction material on No Yes
the scaffolding.
5. Climbing on cross bracing No No
6. Maintain three points on contract Yes Yes
at all times while climbing
7. Perform job according to the Sometimes Sometimes
safety operating procedure
8. Follow the safety and health rules Sometimes Sometimes
9. Safety attitude Poor Good

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Both employers and construction workers did not inspect all scaffolds
component before used the scaffoldings. It is recommended that every week scaffolds
be inspected by the competent person but in both case studies inspection of the
scaffolds was only conducted every month or longer. Overall on the safety factor while
using scaffoldings, based on the Table 4, the bungalow project workers are poor due to
their safety attitude while doing them jobs at construction sites. Compared to the
apartment project workers, they have a good safety attitude while using scaffolding.
These we can see the level of awareness between the employer and workers in both of
the projects.

5.2 Questionnaire Result

Safety officers responsible to create and maintain an awareness of all changes in

legislation with full knowledge of all legal requirements, anticipate possible hazards due
to scaffolding with a recommendation relevant procedure, the adequate provision of
safety equipment to prevent any injuries or accident, which may be caused by
scaffoldings. In Occupational Safety And Health Act 1994 (Part VII - Safety And Health
Organisations) Section 29, Safety and health officer states “that an occupier of a
place of work to which this section applies shall employ a competent person to act as a
safety and health officer at the place of work. An occupier who contravenes the
provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable
to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding
six months or to both.”
Almost all the construction site have their own safety officer to control and
monitoring the safety and health everyone that inside construction sites. But seven
respondents, which is one out of ten construction site in these survey state that there is
no safety officer. It is at Project Sek.Men.Keb.Pondok Upeh, Lot 2011, Mukim 6, Jalan
Balik Pulau. Balik Pulau.
100% of the employers provide a complete first aid kit for construction workers.
First aid shall be available and complete in the site office to care for a casualty until
recovered or placed under medical care. First aid is important to recover any small
injuries that cause by scaffolds for example small bleeding that occurs because of
falling object or a dust that stick at safety net and enter into the eyes.
The employers also provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for
construction workers. The PPE that required while using scaffolds are safety helmet,

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safety boots, safety harness, lanyard and Dee-rings and snap hooks. All these PPE are
required to all workers that done their works on the scaffoldings to prevent from fall from
height that will cause death.
Most of the constructions site had never injuries or accident case that caused by
the scaffolding. All the employers are aware on safety hazards, which may cause of
scaffoldings and make sure their workers done their work accordingly to safety rules.
Scaffolding will occurs a falling object injuries, fall from heights and scaffoldings
collapse that caused death, permanent disable (PD) or non-permanents disable (NPD).
A little percentage of employers (27%) respondents admit there is already injuries or
accidents caused by the scaffolds but it only a small injuries not committed to serious
injuries that happen in their construction sites.

Provided fall protection equipments for workers

35
29
30 26
No. of respondent

25
20
15
10
5
0
0

Yes No Maybe

Figure 6 :Employers provides fall protection equipments.

Fall protection equipment consists of personal fall arrest system (e.g. safety
harness, lanyard) and fall protection system (e.g. guardrails system, safety net, safety
monitoring system). The employer must have a competent person to determine the
feasibility and safety of providing fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling
supported scaffolds. Only 47% of employers have provided fall protection equipment for
their workers. Majority of respondents or 53% are not provided fall protection
equipments for construction workers. It is important to provided fall protection
equipments and make sure the workers are wearing the equipment while done their job
on scaffolding to prevent any injuries. This situation is very anxious because without the
fall protection equipment all the workers are exposed to scaffolding hazards, which is
fall from height. Falls from height are the major hazards that exist due to works on

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scaffolding. According to DOSH statistic of injuries or accident 2006 and 2007 states
falls from height are the major injuries or accident that occurs in work on scaffoldings.

Give enough hazard training and protection for

workers

50
40

No. of respondent
40
30
20 15

10
0
0

Yes No Maybe

Figure 7: Employers give enough training on hazards and protection to workers to

assure their safety while using scaffoldings.

Almost 73% of employers give enough training on hazards and protections

among their workers for assure their safety while using scaffoldings. But still 27% are
not give enough training on hazard and protection of scaffoldings, that might occurs
scaffolding collapse or injuries while done their jobs at site. Based on the survey most
of the employers are not provided complete fall protection equipments but still give
enough training on hazard and protection to workers to assure their safety while using
scaffoldings. They are having budgets problems to provided completes fall protection
equipments for all of their workers so they had replace it with giving enough training for
workers. So the construction workers will more alert on the potential hazards that may
occur during done jobs on scaffolding.
Some of the workers refuse to wear all the protection equipments even though
the employers provided complete fall protection equipments. But in the same time some
of the employers are still not aware on their workers safety what did they care about is
the project must be complete on time without delay. These attitudes become one of the
causes of death and injuries cause by scaffolding in construction sites.
Either skilled or unskilled workers it still can do work on scaffolding. Lack of
knowledge and training will become one of factor due to death or injuries that cause by
scaffolding component. It is important to provided a complete hazards and protection
training for workers to prevent any injuries or deaths. Scaffold failure in construction site
because of human weakness.

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The study show that the level awareness of scaffolding safety in construction
sites in Pulau Pinang among the employers and workers are still in the comfort zone
where almost all of the sites did not have any cases of death or injuries cause by the
scaffolding. All employers are well aware of the safety and health regulations in
construction sites including scaffolding safety and their responsibilities to reduce
fatalities and injuries in the construction industry.

5.3 Unstructured Interviews

The interview is being conducted with Mr. Sadiyuk Henry Rigit the R&D officer at
Pusat Pentadbiran Kemajuan Persekutuan, Putrajaya. It is to know any government
agencies action to reduce injuries and death in construction site especially related due
scaffolding safety. Presently the government has implement a five year (2005 – 2010)
master plan program to be known as the “MASTER PLAN FOR OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY” (MPOSHCI) to guide the
industry stakeholders to strengthen safety and health activities within the industry.
There is 6 strategies that has been implement and planned by the governments
agencies to reduce the injuries and death in construction sites:

a. Enforcement and Legislation

Programs identified for implementation include, increasing the number of
DOSH officers, appointment of construction safety and health officer instead of
general safety and health officers, comprehensive provision of Personal
Protective Equipments, registration of all site safety and health supervisors and
certification of Contractors Management Systems.

b. Education and Training

To impart safety and health management skills and to inculcate safe
working behaviour amongst workers, a number of safety and health training
programs has been identified for implementation. It is envisaged that a strong
focus on education and training will afford greater opportunity to all in the
industry to relearn and equip themselves with the knowledge necessary to
produce innovative solutions to safety and health issues in the industry.

c. Promotions

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Regulatory bodies are implements consider to sensitizing make

promotion through electronic media such as television, radio and Internet.
Government’s Agencies still in R&D with relevant parties (such as NIOSH) to
develop and publish guidelines for the development of standard safety signs in
local languages (English and Bahasa Malaysia) in consultation with and for
implementation by, industry players (stakeholders, Trade associations and
worker unions). CIDB and DOSH had jointly a Special Certificates of
Achievement for Best Practice in Occupational Safety & Health in Construction
Industry, to first 100 contractors and 20 developers who may achieve a certain
pre-determined standard.

d. Incentives
Incentives are in various forms such as award of recognition, financial
support and premium discounts for good risk management.

e. Standard Development
Implementation of ‘Guideline on Prevention of Falls at Construction Sites
2007’ by Department of Safety in Health. Standards design and drawing for
Scaffolding material and jointing method, workers housing and amenities
produced by DOSH to assist the contractor to erect scaffold safely. Hand Book
on Good Practice – Occupational Safety and Health at Construction Sites for the
use of every employee or worker at construction sites. As there are quite a
number of general workers who could not read or write properly in construction
industry, it is proposed that the contents of this handbook be illustrated and
explained by using cartoons, drawings and simple & plain language (in Bahasa
Malaysia, English, Chinese and Tamil).

f. Research & Development and Technology

Development of new mobile elevation work platform (MEWPS), mast
Climbing Work Platforms (MCWPS) and motorized mobile scaffold to reduce
risky situations at construction sites. Personal Protective Equipment, Safety
tools and Equipment for Working at Height. DOSH or NIOSH still in researching
to identify and recommend suitable PPE necessary to secure the safety, health
and welfare of the worker working at height and endeavor to make it mandatory
the use of safety harness with straps attached to horizontal lifeline.

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A lot of program have been conducted and will be done during year 2005 to
2010 due to reduce the death and injuries in construction with collaboration between
the employer of construction industry to succeed and achieve a target fatality rate of 26
per 100,000 workers in 2003 be further reduced by 30% by the year 2010. According to
Asian-Pacific Newsletter on Occupational Health Safety, current fatality rate in the
developed countries like Japan, France and the USA is below 20 per 100,000 workers
and Malaysia which is striving to achieve developed nation status by 2020 should strive
to achieve the target of reducing fatalities to less than 20 per 100,000 workers.

6. CONCLUSION

Poor management safety in construction sites is the contributor of death and injuries in
construction sites. All parties such as government agencies, construction industry
management, employer and also construction workers had to realized that scaffolding
safety is one of the importance parts to be focused on, preventing is more preferable
than to cure.
Based on the case studies analysis the cause of increasing number of injuries
and death cases in construction industry within working with scaffolding because of the
employer neglecting to provide complete personal fall protection equipments for
workers and human weakness. Some of the employer failure to comply an OSHA
standard regulation of manufactures guidance regarding proper assembly, dismantle
and use of scaffolding.
The present levels of awareness between the employer and workers in
construction industry have improved from year to year. Even though some of them have
still not realized the importance of scaffolding factor safety in construction sites. It is to
reduce the death and injuries cases in construction industry. The government agencies
have implemented a lot of program to improve the level awareness all the parties in
construction industry at the same time to improve professional image.

7. REFERENCES

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2nd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (ICBEDC 2008)

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