Answer for Oral Question PL223

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Md. Yusof

YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA JOHAN PAHLAWAN DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ADANAN BIN BEGAWAN PEHIN SIRAJA KHATIB DATO SERI SETIA HAJI MD. YUSOF asked the MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT to state the extent of the effectiveness of enforcement by the relevant authorities in ensuring contractors comply with the "Safe Working on Roads, Health, Safety and Environment Manual 2012"? This is in view of safety concerns in temporary work zones (Temporary Work Zones) due to contractors’ non-compliance with safety measures which may pose risks of accidents and harm at the Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pembangunan

• Thank you Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua. I would also like to thank Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Md. Yusof regarding the effectiveness of enforcement by the relevant authorities in ensuring contractors comply with the "Safe Working on Roads, Health, Safety and Environment Manual 2012".

• The Ministry of Development through the Public Works Department Roads Department is responsible for the management and maintenance of the use of the Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge (SHOAS) in general, with the assistance of relevant agencies in terms of enforcement, security and safety.

• The continuous monitoring of the use of the SHOAS Bridge is guided by several logistical methods including patrols along the bridge, monitoring through closed-circuit television (CCTV), especially in the aspect of traffic management.

• Touching on traffic management, it is categorised into several types depending on the level of disruption to traffic flow, namely:

  Single Lane Closure

  • One of the lanes, either the left lane (slow lane) or right lane (fast lane) in the same direction, is closed to vehicles.
  • Involves the temporary diversion of traffic flow from two lanes to one lane in the same direction.

  Contra Flow

  • A one-way route is made into a two-way route.
  • Involves the temporary diversion of traffic flow to the opposite-direction route when the route in the other direction is closed.

  Road Diversion

  • Closure of one or both lanes in the same direction.
  • Involves the temporary diversion of traffic flow when a route is closed in one direction or entirely from use by all vehicles.

• Therefore, every contractor who will carry out maintenance works on SHOAS Bridge assets as well as assets of other agencies must apply for permission to work on the bridge through a permit-to-work (PTW) application from the Director of Roads, Public Works Department (JKR). In the PTW, the contractor must state the purpose, duration and location of the related works to identify the Temporary Work Zone. After PTW approval is granted, the Roads Department will usually liaise with the contractor to attend a brief on traffic management before commencing physical works on the bridge. They are also required to provide the following information:

  • Work method statement or Method statement to know the work plan to be implemented
  • Work schedule plan
  • Layout plan in the Temporary Work Zone including placement of equipment, construction materials, electricity, facilities such as rest areas and so on
  • Traffic management in the Temporary Work Zone if it requires heavy vehicles entering and exiting the area
  • List of all workers involved in carrying out the works
  • List of workers appointed as contact persons
  • List of vehicles including heavy vehicles
  • Establishing a WhatsApp working group for ease of communication

• In ensuring traffic management on the SHOAS Bridge is carried out successfully, the Roads Department also has a contractor appointed through a term contract to handle operations and traffic safety management such as the installation and arrangement of road cones, and safety signs to remind users to reduce vehicle speed and exercise caution when passing through the Temporary Work Zone.

• In monitoring and enforcement by the Bridge Authority so far, it was found that contractors have complied with road safety regulations as stated in the 2012 Manual. According to accident incident reports through CCTV, to date from 2020, a total of 28 cases have been recorded showing that breaches of safety measures (cones and road signal lights) were caused by the negligence of road users.

• In addition, weather factors such as sudden windy rain also cause road cones to shift and warning lights to topple, which may endanger bridge users.

• As an additional safety improvement measure, the Brunei Bridge Authority has carried out two (2) joint inspections with the Road Safety and Enforcement Unit (RSE), Roads Department, and any non-compliance or findings against contractors have been given warnings.

• Here, road users, especially of the SHOAS Bridge, are once again reminded to always be careful and be more alert to warning and safety signs placed on the road, especially at night and during rainy weather.

• Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua. That is all the answer that Kaola is able to convey in answering the question from Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Md Yusof.