Fined for supervisor’s death

Company pleads guilty for failing to observe safety procedures

KAJANG: An aluminium packaging company was fined RM20,000 for an incident which led to a supervisor being crushed to death.

LB Aluminium Bhd was charged with failing to observe safety procedures in the handling of an overhead travelling crane (OTC) to lift metal racks filled with aluminium products, causing the death of Mokhtar Mansur, 54.

The accident occurred at the packing area of the factory in Jalan Perusahaan Beranang here on Feb 10 between 9.40am and 10am.

Safety and Health officer Md Azinor Sulaiman pleaded guilty on behalf of the company.

The offence under Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 was punishable by a maximum RM50,000 fine, and a jail term of up to two years under Section 19.

Based on CCTV footage, Mokhtar was seen in the packing area going over some documents without noticing the metal racks being lifted above him.

The OTC operated by Nepalese national Ashok Mahato was carrying two racks filled with square hollow aluminium weighing 1,214kg, when the cables snapped.

Preliminary investigations showed poor maintenance of the cables.

Md Azinor pleaded for leniency, saying the company was set up in 1985 and had done tests on its cranes before.

Selangor Department of Occupational Safety and Health prosecuting officer Zurena Mohammad Yusoff told the court that proper safety procedures were not observed.

“At the time of the incident, the victim was underneath the lifting area. Safety-wise, no one should be there,” she said.

Judge Surita Budin fined the company RM20,000.

At the time of the incident, the victim was underneath the lifting area. Safetywise, no one should be there.

Zurena Mohammad Yusoff