Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) was implemented from June 10 to August 31 to replace the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) that ended on June 9. It was announced by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Due to the order, many businesses were affected including in developing cities such as Ipoh, Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur.
Under this phase, the interstate travel will be lawful, except for the areas that put under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO). Besides that, international tourism is not allowed as all the country’s borders will be closed during the RMCO. Meanwhile, domestic tourism will be allowed and highly encouraged for the citizen especially the tourist attraction Ipoh, Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur.
Apart from that, the public is allowed to carry out their daily activities while complying with the strict standard operating procedure (SOP) during RMCO. Hence, some businesses and industries are also permitted to operate normally in the period of RMCO including the construction industry under the supervision of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Hence, it is an advantage for the businesses to resume their operation especially in Ipoh, Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur.
As for the construction industry, the Ministry of Works is concentrating on three aspects which are the construction sites, workers’ quarters, and workers’ movements. According to Senior Minister of Infrastructure, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, he mentioned that all the industry players need to adhere to the procedures and guidelines provided to control the COVID-19 infection.
The CIDB conducts checks on at least 80 construction sites daily in the Kuala Lumpur city, including on public holidays and weekends. On June 4, CIDB performed the inspection on 6,750 construction sites. From the total sites checked, 1,312 adhered to the SOP set during the conditional MCO, while 5,131 were not in operation.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Construction Industry
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the construction sector has been prepared by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) in collaboration with The Ministry of Works Malaysia, and the National Security Council. The SOP for the construction industry comprised of some important elements to ensure the goodness of public health.
There are certain types of the allowed construction project that requires the processing of application that will involve cross-referencing with many relevant databases at the ministry and agency level. The projects included the G1 and G2 company that acts as the major company. Apart from that, the projects which had been verified that it has achieved physical progress of 90% and above.
The general procedures that need to comply are the operation in the areas that have been enforced EMCO is not allowed. Subsequently, it also subjected to the local authority regulations. All the contractors or companies need to follow the SOP provided by CIDB, National Security Council, and MOH. Any patient under investigation (PUI) and person under surveillance (PUS) are not allowed to work and need to be quarantined set by MOH.
a) Letter of Approval to Operate
This letter has to be displayed clearly at the construction site or premise. The application can be done by the contractor or company and need to be submitted at the MITI Portal. As for the application, it requires self-declaration attached with the Aku Janji pledging. In the pledging, the contractor or company need to pledge to perform all the function and responsibility set in the SOP. In addition, the orders from the Ministry of Health and other related enforcement agencies need to be followed. The result for the application can be checked at the MITI Portal system. Any appeals will be considered on a case by case basis and the result of appeal can be obtained in 5 working days.
b) Screening Before Getting Back to Work
The contractor or company needs to make sure that before resuming the operation of work, all the workers need to take the COVID-19 screening and they are free from the virus.
c) Temperature Measure and Symptoms Screening
Occupational Health and Safety Committees have to make sure the trainer members perform the temperature measuring and workers screening every day. The reading for each worker needs to be recorded and kept for a period of at least 3 months for reference. Any workers who have the symptoms of COVID-19 are not allowed to enter the site or premise. The worker shall be referred to the Company Panel Clinic or Health Centre nearby. Apart from that, hand sanitizer needs to be made available.
d) Reducing the Number of Workers on Site
The contractor or company shall reduce the number of workers to the minimum level or at least 50% of the current number needed. The work from the home system which is suitable for workers are not involved with the activity at the construction site or premise. Contractor or company is highly encouraged to use the system.
It is also highly encouraged for the contractor or company to have a risk management plan, job scheduling and distribution in the form of a sequence or staggered. Aside from that, the company is expected to conduct a virtual meeting.
e) Foreign Workers/Workers Who Just Back from Travel
The foreign workers who do not reside in Malaysia are not allowed to work. Workers who just come back from a foreign country are not allowed to work for 14 days from the date of arrival in Malaysia and has to undergo quarantine process throughout the period.
f) Movement of Workers and Supply
The contractor or company has to make sure that the movement of the workers involved is only limited from home to the construction site or premise only. The vehicles to facilitate the movement of the employee by practising social distancing should be provided by the contractor or company. Then, the vehicles need to be sanitised after each use. The transport vehicle prepared for the workers by the contractor or company is not allowed to cross the district or zone borders. As for the disinfection and sanitization process, the contractor and company need to make sure the vehicle transporting the workers has undergone disinfection and sanitization process before use.
The contractor or company must inform all suppliers of goods and services they deal with in order to obtain appropriate operating and movement approval as well as to comply with and adopt the COVID-19 prevention measures prescribed by MOH. The movement of materials into the site must be fully documented. The drivers who bring in materials should also be screened by taking body temperature and need to use hand sanitizer.
g) Coordinator Appointment
The contractor or company shall appoint one or more coordinator to perform coordination of COVID-19 outbreak prevention measures at the workplace. The coordinator has to be someone with Safety and Health Official (SHO), Occupational Safety and Health Coordinator (OSH-C) or Site Safety Supervisor (SSS). The coordinator needs to be registered or listed in the record of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) or Secretary of the Safety and Health Committee at workplace. It is an exception for contractor G1 to G5 and consulting company in which the company owner will act as the coordinator. Then, the appointed coordinator must report the compliance status to the approval conditions to operate as provided to MITI and DOSH.
h) Centralised Labour Quarter and Accommodation of Workers
The guideline is prepared as a reference to the contractor or company that has placed the workers in Centralised Labour Quarter (CLQ) or any other accommodations either outside or inside the site. It comprised of the CLQ premises managed by the contractor or company or any other parties. The contractor or company shall make sure to follow the Guidelines on Construction Workers Accommodation and Centralised Labour Quarters Operation issued by CIDB and any related agencies.
Workers who been provided with accommodation at CLQ, must be monitored. If the workers exhibit the symptoms of COVID-19 such as body temperature above 37.5°C, coughing, fever, sore throat or even difficulty in breathing, the following procedures must be followed by contractor or company.
Reporting procedure
The CLQ Warden must refer to any suspected Covid-19 case reported to him or her straight to the CLQ management immediately. CLQ operator must immediately report and take action to send the suspected person to Klinik Kesihatan for further inspection and treatment.
Isolation Procedure
The mentioned worker must be isolated or quarantined in a special area in the said CLQ and must be monitored closely. If the workers recovered after the monitoring period prescribed by the doctor, the person can be returned to CLQ. But, if the condition stays the same, the person must be sent for further check-up.
- Contact Tracing
When there is a positive Covid-19 patient, the CLQ Operator must immediately trace and identify all employees or workers that are known to be in contact directly or indirectly with the patient. The CLQ operator must record these close contacts and monitor them closely.
The contractor or company need to encourage the workers to download and use the application recommended by the Government to control the infection of COVID-19 outbreaks. (MySejahtera and MyTrace Malaysia)
- Disinfection Works
CLQ premise that has Covid-19 patient must be disinfected by CLQ Operator. Apart from that, CLQ Operator must maintain the records to be inspected by authorities.
-
Safety and Health Management
Workers living in CLQ are not allowed to leave CLQ without approval from the warden. The workers’ movement must be recorded and monitored closely. Visitors are not allowed to enter the CLQ area, except for the medical staff and other service providers that is approved by CLQ Operator.
-
Quarantine Area
As for the Government Quarantine System, the CLQ Operator can seek the advice from MOH or Klinik Kesihatan to quarantine employees or workers that have been identified to have close contact with Covid-19 patient. Next, the suitable area must be identified by the CLQ operator as temporary isolation or quarantine area that is set during Covid-19 pandemic period.
Violation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Any contractors or companies that do not comply with these Guidelines will be punished in accordance with Act 342 or any regulations made thereunder or under Act 520 or both. Construction work may be terminated immediately and permission to operate the grant may be revoked or withdrawn. In addition to amending the above conditions without prior notice and subject to the circumstances from time to time.
All the contractors and companies especially in Ipoh, Perak, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur need to abide by the guidelines provided by CIDB and MKN. This is essential in order to control the COVID-19 outbreaks.
If you want to know more on the little steps to save lives during this pandemic, do click this link: https://leadwayconsult.com/2020/03/18/covid-19-strike-little-steps-to-save-lives/
Foreign construction workers complying with social distance rule at TRX, Kuala Lumpur. – Art Chen/The Star.