19 hours ago
Construction safety goes digital in Penang LRT project
With the Penang light rail transit (LRT) project, Mutiara Line, starting construction soon, Gamuda has come to town with its proven Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) framework, which is powered by cutting-edge digital innovation.
Having decades of experience in building mega infrastructures, the Malaysian construction giant has long developed comprehensive tech-driven safety protocols implemented across regional projects, including the completed Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Kajang and Putrajaya Lines, the ongoing Sydney Metro West in Australia, and Singapore's Defu Station and Tunnels.
The same proven award-winning SHE framework is now being implemented on the recently awarded Penang Mutiara Line. We hope this framework will contribute to efficient operations and the successful delivery of this much-anticipated LRT project for the residents of Penang.
By integrating advanced technologies and fostering a culture of shared responsibility, Gamuda is not only building infrastructure but also safeguarding lives and the safety of workers, protecting Penang's communities and the environment, as well as reinforcing trust in the state's progress.
Each worker has a unique QR code on their certification card and by scanning them, safety and health officers will instantly know if they are authorised to be on-site.
This commitment ensures that the Mutiara Line will be a model of responsible construction, aligning with Penang's vision for sustainable urban development towards a vibrant and better-connected future, which promises enhanced mobility and economic growth.
Safety tech for strong compliance
Gamuda's approach to safety represents a significant change from reactive enforcement to proactive self-regulation, where all stakeholders share SHE responsibilities.
Advanced technologies are integrated at every stage of its safety protocols in the Penang LRT project, from workers' training and site access to machinery inspections, monitoring, evaluation and measurement methodologies.
This systematic and risk-based approach has delivered tangible results – a 75% reduction in Lost Time Injuries (LTI) in past projects compared to earlier project phases and industry benchmarks, demonstrating the effectiveness of the digital-first safety methodology.
Project-specific safety training, digital passports for site entry
Every individual, from long-term workers and personnel to short-term hires, must have basic safety training before setting foot on any of Gamuda's construction sites. This fundamental requirement is especially crucial given the local construction market's predominantly low-skilled labour force, making comprehensive safety training critical.
Safety and health officers can regularly check machinery and temporary structures and get their safety status on the spot, minimising safety risks especially for high-risk activities.
While basic training is a prerequisite for all who enter the site, the Penang LRT project sets itself apart from others by requiring further mandatory training for those working on high-risk activities, such as lifting and hoisting, scaffolding, or operating plant and machinery.
This tiered approach ensures that the appropriate competency level matches the specific risks workers will encounter. To date, over 20,500 personnel have been certified through Gamuda's digitalised competency- based Safety Passport Scheme.
Even workers holding a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) green card are required to attend a SHE Induction that covers legal requirements, policies, roles, risks, and best practices to obtain a blue card. For those engaged in high-risk activities, a grey card is mandatory.
Meanwhile, supervisors, managers, and senior management are issued with the black card, a certification derived from the rigorous UK Site Management Safety Training Scheme module.
The group has digitised its training and certification process, offering structured training at dedicated Training Centres and tablet-based assessments, with instant results upon completion and immediate re-test options.
The training modules are mainly in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese, while also covering multiple languages to cater for workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Successful candidates are issued blue, grey, or black certification cards, each equipped with a unique QR code that functions as a digital passport. This digital passport scheme is integrated with AI-powered access control technology, ensuring that workers can only access areas for which they are certified.
Consistent with its digital safety approach in regional projects like Australia, Singapore and Taiwan; all project and construction data are unified on a single dashboard. Delivering real-time, quick actionable insights for senior and project management teams. Safety and health officers can regularly check machinery and temporary structures and get their safety status on the spot, minimising safety risks especially for high-risk activities.
Facial recognition and digital tracking of workers' competency
All Gamuda construction sites, including those in the Penang LRT project, use Access Control Systems (ACS) with advanced facial recognition technology, similar to airport immigration checkpoint systems.
Workers' facial data, certification status and relevant details are embedded within their QR code, ensuring only authorised personnel with the right skills and safety training can access work areas relevant to them and attend the daily Pre-Task Talks (PTT) before commencing their duties.
The PTT, mandatory standard practice in the construction industry, are held before work begins to ensure all team members understand the day's tasks and the associated safety measures. What sets the process apart from other sites is that the workers' attendance in PTTs in the Penang LRT project is tracked digitally.
Safety and Health Officers (SHOs) may conduct ad hoc checks on workers' validity by scanning their QR codes anytime and anywhere on the construction site, ensuring workers stay within certified work areas and as a result reduce accident risks at the sites.
Higher accountability for machinery safety compliance via QR codes
Another key safety feature introduced is the digital certification of all on-site equipment and machinery, resulting in a paperless project management.
After a thorough inspection, each machinery used in the Penang LRT construction receives a QR code, which provides instant verification of safety compliance.
These QR codes are generated via digital forms on the Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) platform. SHOs can quickly scan these QR codes during inspections, immediately flagging non-compliant machinery or temporary structures for rectification or removal, thus maintaining consistent safety oversight.
Data-driven project management for efficiency and risk management
Gamuda has introduced advanced digital tools to enhance project efficiency and accountability, namely Gamuda Digital Operating System (GDOS) and ACC. They consolidate data from various platforms into a unified, cloud-based ecosystem, creating fully paperless projects that enable robust governance and comprehensive record-keeping.
This system enables real-time tracking of SHE statistics, contractors' progress, and facilitates issue resolution through prioritisation and heatmaps.
This allows senior management to gain actionable insights for proactive safety management rather than reactive responses. GDOS and ACC also support modules for quality, safety, operations, and cost management.
Carrot-and-stick approach to safety audits for subcons
Gamuda's safety governance operates on a simple yet impactful principle- safety performance directly impacts payment schedules.
Monthly safety audits form the backbone of this system, with subcontractors required to achieve minimum safety scores for their SHE Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
This 'carrot-and-stick' approach ensures the entire supply chain is financially incentivised to prioritise safety as a core objective, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Conversely, poor performance triggers structured escalation from initial observations to non-compliance reports, stop work orders, and ultimately, financial penalties.
Furthermore, Gamuda addresses safety compromises before they occur by explicitly listing safety requirements as separate line items in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ).
This approach prevents subcontractors from under-pricing safety measures during tender submissions – an unfortunate industry practice that often leads to corners being cut during project execution.
In the long run, the practice should make safety an internalised culture for all contractors in the construction sector.
Industry recognition and UK awards
Over time, the Group's digital and systematic approach to safety has improved contractors' performance and worker competency. Most importantly, it has fostered a culture of shared ownership throughout its entire workforce and supply chain.
Gamuda's safety practices have garnered industry recognition with commendations from the CIDB and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in Malaysia.
These initiatives have been benchmarked internationally, having received multiple awards, including the National Occupational Safety and Health Award and international Distinction Awards from the British Safety Council for KVMRT projects.
