Lorry driver crushed to death by crane arm
New Straits Times Online, 25 September 2014
MALACCA: A garbage truck truck driver making his early morning rounds was crushed to death after a crane arm fell on his vehicle, here yesterday.
The 5.35am incident took place in Banda Hilir, here, near a shopping complex.
The 55-year-old driver with Southern Waste Management (SWM) died on the spot due to serious head injuries.
The incident occurred as the victim identified as Anas Tawi was waiting in the vehicle for his colleague who was collecting trash, nearby.
"There was a construction project next to the garbage collection site and the crane was lifting goods, when the the crane's arm suddenly fell on the victim's vehicle,” said Acting Melaka Tengah district police chief, Superintendent Razali Abu Bakar .
He said they have classified the case as sudden death.
It is learnt that the incident took place as the crane was lifting a concrete pump to the rooftop for an extension project.
The victim's colleague Sabari Bidin, 45, said he was helpless as the incident occurred in a flash.
"I was collecting rubbish at the back of the truck at that time. I could not do anything or save him as everything occurred too quickly," he said at the scene.
Fireman extricated the victim out the mangled cab of the vehicle half an hour after the incident.
State Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh) director, Jaafar Leman said the crane arm could have fallen due to weight overload or the vehicle was parked on uneven ground.
He said they issued a one month stop order for the project to investigate the incident.
“We can take action against errant operators under the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 or The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994”, he said.
State Housing, Local government and Environment committee chairman, Ismail Othman who visited the site said there has been a breach on operation hours at the project site.
“Their working hours is between 8am to 5pm. The question is why did work began as early as 5am ?
"If there is a need to extend working hours beyond the period, the project architect should seek approval from the Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB),” he said.
The victim’s daughter, Siti Hidayu Anas, 22, when met at the Melaka Hospital said the family is considering taking legal action against the contractor.
She said her father had been with the company for the past 30-years.
“We never thought today (yesterday) would be the last day of his service,” she added.
Anas Tawi was waiting in the vehicle when a crane arm fell and crushed the cab of the truck. Pic by Rasul Azli Samad
