The panel explaining on CELP during the press conference.
SERDANG, 2 March – Centre of Excellence on Lightning Protection (CELP) Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) made a shocking discovery that 80 percent of buildings in Malaysia are not equipped with lightning protectors which fulfill standard requirements.
Director of CELP, Dr. Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir said statistic shown that Malaysia recorded the highest number of thunder storm which is 180 days a year hence the public is encouraged to increase their safety by installing lightning protector that meets the requirement from EIC as well as Malaysian standards.
“Protectors that do not meet the requirement are not able to provide substantial earthing. Statistic even stipulates that 70% of electric disruptions are due to lightning strikes.
Dr.Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab Kadir making a point that CELP will be able to prevent incidents caused by lightning strikes.
““The significance of CELP lies on the fact that in a year, a number of 25000 people are struck by lightning and this includes damages that could reach 1 billion dollar,” he said during the press conference held recently at the Faculty of Engineering.
He said electricity disruptions and busted electronic devices particularly in the industrial sector have caused economic loss for the country due to lightning strikes.
Dr. Zainal also proposed that the government should establish a special body to create a policy to monitor the issues on lightning protector for the sake of public safety.
In addition, Director of CELP Richard Kithil Jr. said CELP is established to create awareness on the importance of lightning protector to industrial sector and human lives.
“More often than not, profit oriented organizations dismissed the safety of the labours and they are unaware of compensations. Employers should also fix on lightning protection policy for the workers,” he concluded.
CELP advisor, Richard Kithil Jr.
News by Media, Publicity and Publication Section, UPM.(Intern: Siti Madihah Shaharizan 03-89466013).
