Contractors face insurance rule

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will sign an agreement with infrastructure-related agencies to include accident-insurance requirement in construction regulations, a senior city official said yesterday.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the BMA would invite the agencies to sign a memorandum of understanding that would require construction firms to provide accident insurance.

The firms will have to follow international standards by having independent engineers control all work. In the past some construction activities have not been handled by engineers, resulting in accidents. The BMA will discuss the issue with the Architects Council of Thailand and the Council of Engineers, Theerachon said.

The BMA will also make the process of seeking construction permits stricter and get more serious about taking legal action against firms that ignore safety regulations, Theerachon added.

The BMA has finished installing crash cushions on the Ratcha-wipa expressway and will begin installation on the elevated Borommaratchachon-nani Road tomorrow. Installation of cushions in 18 at-risk areas on seven elevated roads should be finished within a month, he said.

The Expressway Authority of Thailand and the Department of Highways have been urged to install these safety features.