Fatal injury of a factory worker in Malaysia
Malaysian factory worker, 57, killed by conveyor belt while working with frying chains. The frontline worker became stuck in a moving chain conveyor and died from his injuries. Condolences to the dead family, friends and work colleagues – life won’t be the same for them. As this instance illustrates, conveyor systems frequently cause catastrophic injuries or even fatalities to employees. A properly guarded conveyor system eliminates all potential risks to workers. When doing maintenance or clearing away obstructions, lock-out methods are also used. The fact that the worker was caught and had to be cut free shows a safe system of work was either not in place or was not being followed, albeit specifics regarding the incident are scant. The tragedy, which should have been avoided, will cause the owners and managers of the factory some unease.
Task HIRARC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk Control) , safe systems of work, operator/maintenance worker training and workplace culture (the way things are done) will all come into question during the post-incident inquiry. Since this death may have been avoided, DOSH is likely to regard it negatively. At the expense of someone’s life, the factory’s working conditions will inevitably shift. This is the tragic aspect. A thought for the emergency services that attended the accident scene and recovered the corpse of the deceased from the conveyor mechanism.
