Pengerang explosion: Ministry to take action following report from Dosh

The Human Resources Ministry expects to receive a preliminary report on the fire and explosion incident at the Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) near Kota Tinggi, Johor, from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) this afternoon.

Deputy Minister Mahfuz Omar said the Johor Dosh had already instructed its team to initiate the investigations into the 1.20am incident.

"So far there we have not received any feedback, maybe today evening we will receive a preliminary report...any action to be taken will be decided based on the recommendations of the Johor Dosh," he said during a press conference after the closing ceremony of a safety operation at construction sites in Kuala Lumpur today.

The incident, which took place at one of the lots at Petronas' Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project site in PIC, also saw two local security guards suffer light injuries.

The fire was successfully doused about half an hour after the incident.

Meanwhile, Mahfuz said a total of 479 construction sites throughout the country were inspected in a month-long operation from March 1, with a focus on high-rise projects and concrete works.

"Dosh also used drones to look at the conditions (of the site) and compliance of high-rise construction activities such as open edges and tower crane operations," he said.

Mahfuz said during the operation, Dosh had issued 719 directives for various offences committed, 2,160 repair and prohibition notices and 864 compounds besides sealing 1,131 construction sites and taking action against 128 sites.

As of 2019, there are 18,000 construction sites registered with Dosh.

- Bernama