In an effort to tackle the troublesome spate of accidents on Bangkok’s notorious Rama II Road, workers from the Expressway Authority of Thailand were out on a Sunday mission, clearing away debris from a collapsed beam along the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway. This distressing incident, taking place in the bustling Chom Thong district, has prompted a call for action from the Thailand Structural Engineers Association (TSEA) as well as some hard-hitting proposals aimed at preventing similar mishaps.
Over at the TSEA headquarters, President Amorn Pimanmas got straight to business, signing off on a comprehensive set of safety measures targeted not only at the infamous Rama II road but also at other large-scale construction projects cluttering the city’s skyline. The association’s proposal landed on the desk of Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the opposition People’s Party (PP) leader, with a thud—perhaps a symbolic echo of the very accidents it aims to prevent.
Naturally, the first step is an urgent review of all ongoing state-funded projects, especially the ones sprawling near public thoroughfares. President Amorn urged that it’s high time the government enforces robust safety frameworks, ensures vigilant oversight by engineers, and tightens up regulations on construction materials—all measures that could be rolled out expeditiously.
Amorn was quick to highlight a glaring shortfall in the current regulatory framework—the Engineering Act, as it currently stands, only places its jurisdiction over engineers. According to him, this laxity gives a free pass to site supervisors, laborers, and technicians, who operate in the same potentially dangerous environments. The suggestion? Everyone involved in these major projects should have mandatory training and be duly certified, a rule especially crucial for work in public domains.
The TSEA’s blueprint also lays out plans for a registration system aimed at small contractors, particularly those dabbling in the installation, demolition, and lifting of steel structures. Allowing unqualified individuals to tinker with such tasks is, in Amorn’s words, simply inadmissible. The proposal goes further, advocating for regular inspections and the installation of CCTVs to keep things transparent and under scrutiny.
While Amorn recognized the merits of the government’s existing point deduction system as a deterrent for contractors, he did not mince words about the necessity of proactive measures. Prevention, it seems, is the new game in town.
Not to be left out of the conversation, Natthaphong has pledged to rally MPs from the nearby provinces of Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram to hop on board with these changes. A staggering revelation emerged—thousands of accidents have riddled construction sites along Rama II Road over the past six years. Even more disconcerting is the sparse accountability for these incidents, despite the toll in injuries and casualties.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Expressway Authority of Thailand, Surachet Laophulsuk, stepped up to confirm that the debris from the most recent collapse near the Dao Khanong toll gate has been completely removed. Hopefully, with these fresh measures on the table, we’ll see less clearing of debris and more proactive safeguards in the burgeoning construction scene of Bangkok.
I’m all for better safety regulations, but let’s be real. Do we really think this will be enforced properly in Thailand?
I agree it’s a challenge, but without starting somewhere, nothing will ever change. Maybe this is a first step in the right direction.
That’s true, but I’d feel more hopeful if corruption wasn’t a huge issue here. Who will hold these officials accountable?
Exactly, Jack. We gotta start dumping this ‘it won’t work’ attitude and demand accountability.
Why hasn’t the government done something sooner? It feels like they’re always reactive, not proactive.
You could say that’s typical of bureaucracies everywhere. They need to see the problem right in their face before taking action.
In fairness, massive changes aren’t easy to implement. It’s a very complex issue. I’m cautiously optimistic.
As someone who’s worked on sites before, I can tell you it’s usually the small contractors who ignore safety.
That’s why I like the idea of having a registration system. Keep tabs on these small guys going rogue.
Good point. It seems like more oversight is desperately needed.
Having mandatory training and certification for all workers makes a lot of sense. Why wasn’t this rule there from the start?
CCTV is a great idea. Let’s just hope it’s used for safety and not Big Brother tactics.
Doesn’t anyone else see this as more red tape? The focus should be on efficient processes, not just more rules.
But without proper rules, won’t we just get more accidents?
John, efficiency in the absence of safety measures can be disastrous. We need a balance.
Regular inspections sound like a good idea, but in practice, how effective are they really?
They can be effective if there’s no corruption. In many countries, they’re just a checkbox exercise.
True, TechLady, but we should aim for high standards instead of just avoiding action because of potential issues.
The opposition People’s Party is backing this? Interesting to see some cross-party agreement. We need more of that.
Thousands of accidents over six years? That’s horrendous. How can this have been overlooked for so long?
I’m glad they’re at least clearing debris quickly now. Small victories!
I hope Natthaphong manages to rally the MPs. They need to work together for real change.
Why isn’t the media covering these accidents more? Feels like there’s a lack of awareness.
Point deduction systems as deterrents? Great idea on paper, but I’m skeptical about its practical application.
Yeah, those systems can sometimes be manipulated. We need transparency to make it work.