An explosion at a private university underscores the critical role of engineering controls, routine maintenance, and safety audits in accident prevention.
PETALING JAYA: A recent explosion at a private university along Jalan Semantan in Bukit Damansara has highlighted the importance of engineering controls, routine maintenance and safety audits in preventing such incidents.
The blast, which occurred near a cafeteria-side maintenance area, has been preliminarily linked to an air-conditioning compressor and related maintenance work.
While investigations are ongoing, safety experts caution against drawing early conclusions about the cause.
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Universiti Teknologi Mara Civil Engineering Faculty Industry, Community and Alumni Network coordinator Dr Warid Wazien Ahmad Zailani weighed in on the engineering and safety issues surrounding the explosion.
“Higher learning institutions maintain dedicated teams to oversee all installations sensitive to fire or explosions.
“This vigilance is why such mishaps are extremely rare in Malaysia.”
He stressed that many potential accidents are preventable through proper engineering controls and management systems.
“Facilities are equipped with sensors to detect irregularities.
“These warnings give personnel sufficient time to respond, often preventing accidents before they occur.”
Routine maintenance and safety audits are equally critical.
According to Warid Wazien, university management and maintenance teams work closely to ensure inspections are conducted responsibly and thoroughly.
“Participation from top management down to the personnel supervising routine checks is essential to maintain a safe environment,” he said.
In the aftermath of the explosion, he recommended immediate measures, such as investigating the root cause, isolating or replacing the source of the blast and, where necessary, constructing structural barriers to buffer future incidents.
For long-term safety, he advised universities, particularly those with older or high-traffic facilities, to prioritise upgrades.
“Obsolete equipment should be replaced with modern, state-of-the-art systems and parts experiencing frequent malfunctions must be addressed without delay.”
He also cautioned that the investigation is ongoing, adding that one fatality and several injuries have been reported.
“We are not in a position to draw conclusions at this stage as it could interfere with the investigation.”
