MRT Corp appoints DNV GL to probe fatal accident

Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has appointed European certification giant DNV GL to investigate the Aug 18 fatal incident at its worksite, here, which claimed three lives.

A statement from MRT Corp on Friday said, DNV GL's task included reviewing documentation and procedures and providing inputs on how to improve.

MRT Corp CEO Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid said apart from finding the root causes and to allocate responsibility and accountability for the incident, MRT Corp wants to achieve several things with the report.

"One, we want the report to benefit the construction industry. The findings must be used by the authorities to set new standards for the construction industry. The incident on Aug 18 must be the catalyst for the industry to move forward with better and higher standards.

"Two, the public needs to be able to be reassured on the safety of MRT worksites. I fully intend to make the report public so that the public can see what needs to be done. They deserve this reassurance," he added.

Azhar said the report was expected to be issued within the first week of September and two DNV GL personnel were currently in Malaysia conducting interviews and site checks.

He said the review exercise was separate and in addition to the report currently being drawn up by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).

This would and should complement the DOSH report, he added.

In the Aug 18 incident, three Bangladeshis died as the platform deck toppled and crushed them. Their remains were repatriated to Dhaka on Aug 21.