KOTA KINABALU: A 29-year-old woman lost two fingers after her hand became trapped in a meat grinder while at work in east coast Tawau.
A team of eight firefighters, led by operations commander Rudhaifi Ajak, was deployed to the Bazhong Commercial Centre following a distress call at 2.37pm yesterday.
Tawau Fire and Rescue Station chief Jemishin Ujin said the woman’s middle and ring fingers were crushed when her hand became lodged in the machine.
Firefighters used hydraulic tools to dismantle the meat grinder and free her hand.
The victim was then transported to hospital in the department’s Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle for further treatment.
No other hazards were reported, and the operation ended at 3.47pm.
The Star’s front page yesterday highlighted that occupational injury involving the hand, including the loss and permanent disablement of fingers, had been rising across various industries nationwide.
This prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH) to step in to address the matter amid growing concerns.
DOSH deputy director-general (occupational safety) Bahrudin Mamat said the upward and worrying trend of cases involving finger injuries warranted an urgent need for stricter workplace safety regulations and regular training to prevent such incidents.
He said the figures were alarming with 4,651 cases reported nationwide in 2021.
The number of cases increased to 6,788 in 2022 and 7,109 in 2023.
Bahrudin added that apart from having their fingers severed, there were also cases of serious injury, leading to permanent disability.
