On June 1, 2024, Malaysia implemented the Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 (CDM 2024), marking a significant advancement in the nation’s construction safety standards. These regulations aim to enhance safety and health protocols within the construction industry by clearly defining the responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in construction projects.
Purpose of the CDM 2024
The primary objective of the CDM 2024 is to integrate safety and health considerations into every phase of a construction project, from initial design to completion. By mandating the incorporation of risk management principles during the design stage, the regulations seek to proactively identify and mitigate potential hazards, thereby reducing workplace accidents and fatalities. This approach aligns with the Prevention through Design (PtD) concept, which emphasizes designing out risks before construction begins.
Key Responsibilities Outlined in the CDM 2024
CDM 2024 delineates specific duties for various stakeholders to ensure comprehensive compliance:
Clients/Employers: They are required to allocate sufficient time, funds, and resources for projects; ensure, as far as practicable, that construction work is carried out without risks to safety and health; provide basic facilities as specified in the regulations; promptly supply pre-construction information to designers; and take reasonable steps to ensure that principal designers and contractors comply with their respective duties under the OSHR.
Construction Work Designers: They must consider safety and health aspects during the design process, ensuring that their designs do not pose risks when implemented. This includes identifying foreseeable risks and taking steps to eliminate or control them.
Contractors: They are responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring construction work to ensure it is carried out safely. This involves coordinating with other stakeholders, implementing necessary safety measures, and complying with all relevant regulations.
Rationale Behind the Implementation
Prior to the enforcement of the CDM 2024, Malaysia’s construction industry faced concerning safety challenges. Between 2017 and October 2023, the sector recorded 548 fatalities, the highest among all industries in the country. This alarming statistic underscored the urgent need for more stringent safety regulations. CDM 2024 was introduced to address these issues by enforcing mandatory safety protocols and clarifying the responsibilities of all parties involved in construction projects.
Conclusion
The implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 represents a pivotal step towards improving safety standards in Malaysia’s construction industry. By clearly defining the duties of clients, designers, and contractors, and emphasizing proactive risk management, CDM 2024 aims to create safer working environments and reduce the incidence of workplace accidents and fatalities.
