Government Under Fire Over Rama II Construction Accidents

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a resonant statement on Monday, the Thailand Structural Engineers Association (TSEA) laid the blame for recent construction-site accidents along Rama II Road squarely at the feet of the government. This crucial artery, linking Bangkok to the country's southern reaches, has been marred by mishaps, with the latest calamity claiming six workers' lives on Saturday.

 

The TSEA attributes these tragic incidents to insufficient adherence to safety standards. As Prof Dr Amorn Pimanmas, TSEA's president, vocalised, the frequent accidents starkly highlight the peril posed to both workers and the public by safety regulation non-compliance.

 

Prof Dr Amorn emphasised the imperative for meticulous knowledge and application of safety procedures in complex construction projects, warning that cost-cutting at the expense of safety is indefensible. The association is urging the government to enforce stringent safety protocols, ensuring site compliance and material reliability for all substantial infrastructure projects.

 

Training workers in safety practices and emergency protocols is non-negotiable, Prof Dr Amorn asserted, as is bolstered safety inspection oversight to guarantee regulated adherence across construction endeavours.

 

Moreover, the TSEA urges the institution of controlling measures over subcontracting practices. While prime contractors register with the Comptroller General's Department, subcontractors often escape regulatory scrutiny, potentially compromising project integrity when cost-driven approaches override expertise. The TSEA recommends penalties for contractors that flout safety norms, alongside appointing independent inspectors to uphold standards.

 

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra demanded accountability, both civil and criminal, for these recurrent disasters along Rama II. Addressing a special meeting on Monday with state representatives, Ms Paetongtarn underlined the need for urgent intervention.

 

 

 

In related developments, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) launched a detour on Monday to alleviate inbound traffic on Rama II Road, offering access to the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway via the Dao Khanong toll plaza. This move comes in response to severe blockage caused by the collapse of an expressway beam early Saturday.

 

Exat has prioritised the debris removal, with full reopening to inbound traffic anticipated within a week, although outbound lanes, with damage extending to a significant stretch of the elevated ramp, will remain under repair for an estimated 30 days.

 

The diligence in reinforcing safety compliance and addressing traffic disruptions lies with the ongoing ITD-VCB Joint Venture of Italian-Thai Development Plc and Vichitbhan Construction Co., tasked with project completion, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

 

[Artisi]

Never mind, it's mainly migrant workers. 

🤬🤬🤬

[blaze master]

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prof Dr Amorn emphasised the imperative for meticulous knowledge and application of safety procedures in complex construction projects, warning that cost-cutting at the expense of safety is indefensible

 

He must be new to Thailand. 

[YayaManos]

Oil & Gas with Power Industries has adhered to proper safety enhancements as well as safety classes. Those who don't attend or complete the prescribed safety classes are not allowed into the plant. Why is this not applied to construction industries?

[bamnutsak]

So I'm guessing they won't finish this 30 year project "by the end of this year".

 

 

Rama II Road expansion on track for completion this year: Suriya

 

Three construction projects should ease traffic congestion on ‘endless highway’ running south from Bangkok
 

The Transport Ministry has expressed confidence that all three ongoing projects on Rama II Road – dubbed the “endless highway” due to constant construction – will be completed by the end of this year.  

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40046367

[MikeandDow]

2 hours ago, YayaManos said:

Oil & Gas with Power Industries has adhered to proper safety enhancements as well as safety classes. Those who don't attend or complete the prescribed safety classes are not allowed into the plant. Why is this not applied to construction industries?

There is no enforcement of safety in Thailand,  lives are cheaper than enforcing safety in Thailand, Thais think quality and safety are toooooo expensive no need, waste of money better in my pocket

[Aussie999]

Blaming the government, mm, ok, to a certainly degree, but surely the, on site, construction company has a higher degree of responsibility to public, and worker safety, and construction methods/standards.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, YayaManos said:

Oil & Gas with Power Industries has adhered to proper safety enhancements as well as safety classes. Those who don't attend or complete the prescribed safety classes are not allowed into the plant. Why is this not applied to construction industries?

 

Oil and gas safety and emergency training for offshore workers Worldwide is quality assured by OPITO, which is now a global body and largely helps circumvent Thai incompetence, malfeasance, and corruption. The Thais have their own standards, but they are only accepted locally and are long out of date.

 

I was reliably informed that recently, one of the OPITO providers in Songkhla had their approvals removed, due to safety issues.

 

[MikeandDow]

19 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Blaming the government, mm, ok, to a certainly degree, but surely the, on site, construction company has a higher degree of responsibility to public, and worker safety, and construction methods/standards.

you are correct !! but Who is responcible for enforcing this !! Thailand has a plethora of ISO quality and safety standards but there is NO enforcement for these to be used ??

[Aussie999]

31 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

you are correct !! but Who is responcible for enforcing this !! Thailand has a plethora of ISO quality and safety standards but there is NO enforcement for these to be used ??

and that is the part where the government is responsible... 

[MikeandDow]

17 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

and that is the part where the government is responsible... 

Yes correct, But untill there are multi million baht litigation cases against non enforcement of safety nothing will happen, Thai's need to realize to hit companys and goverment where it hurt Money !! before anything will change

[wozzlegummich]

Huge sums of ฿฿฿฿฿฿฿ have been scraped from these projects for years. Hence the same company has always been engaged. It's amazing any is left for construction let alone safety measures.

It's the same situation Thai Airways finds itself in. The officialdom cannot get rid of the corruption without being self-incriminating.