In November 2006, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) was alarmed to read three newspaper reports of four deaths at worksites within the space of four days. Now, about exactly two months later we are confronted with news reports of more deaths and disabilities at another construction site. This time two men literally dropped dead when equipment carrying them and construction materials failed and they plunged to their deaths.

Another six foreign workers are fighting for their lives at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital while four others have been admitted with fractured limbs. Apparently, this is not the first such incident at this particular work site; five months earlier this site was the scene of a fatality when a worker was hit by a piece of wood that fell off a scaffolding.

It has taken two fatal incidents before the Human Resources Ministry intervened by instituting a stop-work order on this construction project. Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn was reported as saying that both these two accidents were the result of '... some degree of non-compliance or a lapse in the system'.

The CAP feels that the minister is being too kind to the construction industry in couching these tragic deaths in such mild language. There have been so many 'lapses in the system' lately that calling this most recent tragedy the result of 'some degree of non-compliance" is incomprehensible, reprehensive and a tragedy itself.

The developer Pavillion Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd and its sub-contractor Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd have apologised over the incident and extended their condolences to the families of the deceased workers. This is just not enough. The construction industry is well known for its high rate of worker accidents and deaths. Most of the workers in this sector are either informal or foreign which immediately excludes them from any social security scheme.

The industry is also known to employ unethical working methods and lacks accountability. We have yet to hear of compensation by the construction industry to injured workers and the families bereaved by the deaths. Pavillion Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd and Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd must be penalised in a way that sends a strong message to the industry.

It is clear from past experience that warnings, stop-work orders, fines, blacklisting and legal action have not been sufficient deterrents against worksite deaths and disabilities due to injuries. The government must act by taking away contracting licences, imposing really hefty penalties and disallowing the use of foreign labour by guilty parties in future development projects.

In not adhering to safety guidelines and disregarding the need to repair and replace faulty equipment at worksites, these main and sub-contractors have made their workers pay the ultimate price their lives. Who will look after the families of these workers? Will these foreign workers be compensated for loss of permanent or temporary use of limbs or other disabilities? If the construction industry cannot answer these questions, then they should not be in the business to begin with.

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) - the agency responsible for ensuring the safety, health and welfare of people at work - has remained largely silent all this time. This is the government agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of legislation related to occupational safety and health. Why have we not heard from Dosh? What safety and deterrent measures have Dosh instituted at these worksites?

It is time that Dosh barred its teeth and take forceful action against this errant and ruthless industry. If Dosh is to lead the nation in creating a safe and healthy work culture as stated in its vision statement, it should act against such obvious and blatant oversights in worker safety as has been demonstrated with such frequency at construction sites, unfortunately, with loss of life and disabilities.

The writer is president of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).