The Department of Occupational Safety and Health confirmed that the cable had snapped. Its director-general, Mohtar Musri, told the Malay Mail newspaper: “Yes, the cable gave way. We are conducting a forensic test to identify the exact cause.”
Investigators were checking on any other safety violations, such as any tampering or fault of the safety switch which cuts off the movement of the crane when it swings out of the construction perimeter.
“By right, the crane will not be able to hover above the road but in this case it did,” he added.
Police are still seeking the crane operator, a foreigner, who fled the scene after the accident at 7.15pm on Thursday, at the construction site for the Royal Pavillion Hotel in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur.
Mohtar said his department could not keep up with the rapid development in Kuala Lumpur, which has about 600 active construction projects, according to the report.
“We only have 12 construction site inspectors. We conduct compulsory checks on heavy machinery at the sites once every 15 months. We also conduct spot-checks if the need arises,” he was quoted as saying.
Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, urged construction companies to “be responsible and do what they can” to comply with every regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Factories and Machinery Act.
The accident killed a Penang woman, Chin Koon Sing, 24, who had completed a degree in business administration this year and recently moved to Klang to join her family.
Her remains were taken to the family home in Nordin Street Ghaut flats in Magazine Road, George Town, on Friday and Chin will be cremated tomorrow.
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