Western Digital’s crumbled wall area shut off - New Straits Times Online
New Straits Times Online, 13 November 2014 - By PHUAH KEN LIN
GEORGE TOWN: A section of a building at Western Digital in Free Industrial Zone, Bayan Lepas has been placed off-limits to workers after a concrete wall collapsed on a worker on Wednesday night.
State Department of Occupational Safety and Health director Mohamad Anuar Embi said this was necessary until the safety of the entire building could be ascertained.
He said investigations were on-going to find out how the wall had crumbled when there were no construction works in progress.
"We are concerned about the structure of the building as there was no reason for it to collapse," he said when contacted.
He said the section had been cordoned off indefinitely.
Store supervisor Wan Nazari Wan Mokhtar, 48, died on the spot after he was crushed by the huge concrete wall while he was clocking for work at about 6.45pm.
The father of four children, who had worked at the factory for almost 10 years, had succumbed to serious head injuries.
There were no other casualties in the freak accident, believed to have been caused by strong winds during a downpour which hit the industrial site.
Mohamad Anuar said his department would liaise with other authorities, including the Penang Island Municipal Council, as part of its investigations on the cause of the incident and on the safety of the building.
Wan Nazari's body was buried at the Sungai Ara Muslim cemetery after Zohor prayer.
Meanwhile, Western Digital senior public relations director Steve Shattuck, in a statement, said the American multinational corporation was extremely saddened by the tragedy.
He said the structure that collapsed was a non-structural exterior wall that fell from the rooftop.
"No one else in the plant was injured and we are extremely saddened by the tragedy.
"We offer our condolences and deepest sympathies to the employee’s family, friends and colleagues," he said.
He said the multinational firm would ensure those close to Wan Nazari received the needed support and assistance.
"We plan to have grief counselors on site in the coming days to support our employees.
"We also ask that the privacy of the employees family be respected.
"The safety and well-being of our employees are always our highest priority at Western Digital.
"We do not yet know what caused the exterior wall to fall and have begun a thorough investigation, in cooperation with local authorities," he said.
The section of the wall that crumbled killing a Western Digital employee yesterday -- Bernamapix.
