Safety checks in Pattaya's once famed Walking Street show it's a disaster waiting to happen

[peterfranks]

2 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

What ? Illegal or forced to close.

My money goes on the former

If you have lived in Thailand for more than a few weeks, I'm sure you know my answer LOL

[Mavideol]

and I though inspections were to be conducted before issuing a license to operate such venues not after an accident took place.... this being Thailand I guess licenses are issued depending on the brown envelope thickness

[KannikaP]

6 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

There is no 'First World,' anymore  just look at the UK and US for the truth of that statement 

Where is the 'Second World' coming before 'Third World' countries.?

[Bangkok Barry]

Note that in the article there is not one word stating that the unsafe places have been ordered closed. Not one.

[Anant72]

8 hours ago, peterfranks said:

Tell us something new.

 

 

If you want to stay alive, stay away!

[prakhonchai nick]

I used to work alongside the Health and Safety Executive in the UK 40+ years ago. They would make random checks on business of all types, and if something was found dangerous, and could not be fixed immeiately, the business would be closed down, until such time as all requirements had been complied with.

 

With my background, I am ashamed at the Thai authorities, who only check when forced to, and then  just report their findings. All such clubs in Pattaya, and all and any other businesses in Thailand should immediately be shut down until all safety features are fully implemented

[Burma Bill]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Walking Street is a hodge-podge of bars, clubs and restaurants that critics say should be demolished to make way for something more modern and tourist friendly. 

Yes indeed - I wholeheartedly agree!!

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm… what a surprise? Thai’s are usually so responsible. TIT

[ChrisY1]

4 hours ago, thailand49 said:

For whatever reason I had a dream about this same thing just last night.  

Take any club or place for example on WS,  opposite side of water typical shop house style I've not seen any fire exit signs this I think is even worse in the LK area.

That being said the whole place is a firetrap? ????

You should join Soothsayers Anon......

[G Rex]

I am surprised at many of the responses here.  WorkSafe is not an issue in Thailand.  Has anyone been to a building site here? Or watched some road workers ( while driving past at 120 mph) ? 
why would you think typical Western building regulations with regard to safety would apply here?  Unfortunately when you pay people peanuts ???? , they are treated like monkeys ????.  The value of a life is pretty low here.

[StevieAus]

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

So better to be ill informed than Safe .........??

No, better to avoid such places in the first places, but again each to their own.

[StevieAus]

30 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

I used to work alongside the Health and Safety Executive in the UK 40+ years ago. They would make random checks on business of all types, and if something was found dangerous, and could not be fixed immeiately, the business would be closed down, until such time as all requirements had been complied with.

 

With my background, I am ashamed at the Thai authorities, who only check when forced to, and then  just report their findings. All such clubs in Pattaya, and all and any other businesses in Thailand should immediately be shut down until all safety features are fully implemented

Obviously they missed the high rise in London with flammable cladding or was someone else’s fault?

[J Branche]

Thailand, Buddhism believes in the next life.  I've traveled the world and agree unfortunately in some countries the value of your life is noticeably less.  That just means you have to be more accountable and way the risk versus the reward.  

 

Every government does theatrical things to attempt to fool and appease the masses.  

 

They are in a tough place.  The media picking up on club fire kills 22 is bad enough.  Media writing 30 clubs closed down in Pattaya because of whatever violations hurts tourism, and business.  The business owner says mine and the other businesses have been open how many years and there have been no fires.  

 

You decide the risk and how much self preservation to take as a guest in Thailand.  

[roamer]

21 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Obviously they missed the high rise in London with flammable cladding or was someone else’s fault?

The cladding on our London flat was replaced free of charge by the developer. As it was being removed we saw why they had agreed to do so as quickly as they did. When they were removing the panels much of the "insulation" turned out to be polystyrene, quickly bagged up and taken away. Standards drop everywhere if there is money to be earned  by not following them.

[bristolgeoff]

The bigger clubs,the one in the middle  are always busy with farang and thais in the high season.close round 4 am.If they was a fire i know the entrance is very big and people would get out quickly,they would not hang around.safety important of course but I think the club or owner knows this and provides for this other wise many clubs would not be operating sucessfully

[OneMoreFarang]

Obviously nobody could have foreseen what could possibly happen... 

 

 

[spidermike007]

So, are they going to shut down these clubs, until the violations are addressed, or will there be yet another disaster in the not too distant future, due to inadequate inspections, payola, or influential owners?

[wombat]

2 hours ago, wombat said:

rumour has it for what its worth reflex was the only one compliant 

oops that should be republic

[prakhonchai nick]

1 hour ago, StevieAus said:

Obviously they missed the high rise in London with flammable cladding or was someone else’s fault?

Residential buildings did not come under their remit. Only business premises

[thailand49]

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

You should join Soothsayers Anon......

I don't follow nor do I need to join any club,  what I plan to do in future is get my lap dance near the front door. ????

[SportRider]

3 hours ago, peterfranks said:

????????????I really want to see the first tourist, or expat, who goes to check the exits when he enters a club.

I check where the exits are routinely, and would think others do too.

 

I also check where the fire exit is when I check into a new hotel room, and count the doors down the corridor so I can feel my way to the exit in the dark if ever needs be.

 

Not joking.

[PETERTHEEATER]

10 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

............ensure they do not re-open until a safety certificate has been issued.........

Available in Khao San Road, Bangkok for a modest fee.......

[whaleboneman]

11 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

The problem is, you don't know how many exits there are when you visit the club.

Sit by the entrance then.

[kiwikeith]

18 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why not name these places in an unusable state, in addition, ensure they do not re-open until a safety certificate has been issued, when will Soi LK get inspected as I am sure places in a similar condition will be found within the night clubs there.

Don't worry they are working on star trek technology, and soon will be able to beem everyone out if a fire starts. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Once again a "show" action. Does anyone think a Gogo in Nana or Cowboy or Patpong has a fire exit other than the door they came in by?

[thaibeachlovers]

8 hours ago, thailand49 said:

I don't follow nor do I need to join any club,  what I plan to do in future is get my lap dance near the front door. ????

Lap dances in LOS? Do tell us where such are to be found. No doubt where all the strip clubs are, and do you put 100 baht notes in their garter?

[thaibeachlovers]

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

So, are they going to shut down these clubs, until the violations are addressed, or will there be yet another disaster in the not too distant future, due to inadequate inspections, payola, or influential owners?

LOL. The answer is self evident. I take it that is a rhetorical question.

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

The bigger clubs,the one in the middle  are always busy with farang and thais in the high season.close round 4 am.If they was a fire i know the entrance is very big and people would get out quickly,they would not hang around.safety important of course but I think the club or owner knows this and provides for this other wise many clubs would not be operating sucessfully

and if the fire is blocking the front exit?

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Walking Street is a hodge-podge of bars, clubs and restaurants that critics say should be demolished to make way for something more modern and tourist friendly.

And in light of these "death traps" that are allowed to operate disregarding any safety measures I totally agree.

Time it was all sorted out and not just ignored until the next unfortunate accident.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, connda said:

We're not exactly in the First World here.

I tend to disagree, doesn't Thailand boast about and market Pattaya as being a world class family friendly destination...

Thailand can't have it both ways.