Putrajaya has been urged to adopt a zero tolerance policy on the deaths resulting from accidents at construction sites.

In a statement today, Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lau Weng San said this policy was needed as there has been too many construction site mishaps of late.

He said that just a month ago, a couple was killed when a pile driver crushed their car in Meru while three months earlier a young woman was killed after a crane hook fell on her car.

"People are asking how many more deaths will it take before the government take stern action against errant developers?

"When will they be prosecuted and jailed?" asked Lau.

Yesterday, at least one construction worker was killed and several more injured when a pedestrian bridge that was under construction collapsed.

The bridge was supposed to connect the new Eco City development with Gardens shopping mall at Midvalley.

Lau said statistics from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) showed that there were 99 deaths annually relating to the construction industry which was four times the figure in Singapore and Australia.

Few ever prosecuted

He said that the deaths from such mishaps represents 41 percent of worker deaths, with the highest number of local worker deaths taking place in Selangor.

Lau argued that this signals a lack of concern and safety awareness by contractors, especially when employing unskilled foreign workers to operate heavy machinery, just to reduce costs.

Although most work related deaths occur in factories or small and medium scale industries, the most grisly deaths often took place on construction sites operated by big construction companies.

He said that in 2000, Dosh issued 1,023 improvement and prohibition noticse to contractors who failed to observe proper safety and health standards, with only 22 cases brought to court.

By 2011, there were 6,216 notices and 183 court actions, said Lau.

Lau said poor enforcement was the likely cause of low safety standards.

In view of the high number of construction industry related deaths, Lau said it enforcement efforts must be increased and errant firms must be penalised and blacklisted.

"These drastic measures will show the government's commitment in creating a worker-friendly and safe environment for workers," he said.