SIMPANG PULAI: A quarry, where a 53-year-old lorry driver was killed after a large rock fell on the vehicle at Keramat Pulai here, has been ordered to temporarily halt operations.
Perak Health, Human Resources and Indian Community Affairs Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said that following a preliminary investigation into the incident, the Perak Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had issued a prohibition notice and an improvement notice for corrective measures.
“An investigation is currently being carried out, and the current instruction is for the operation to be temporarily closed.
"The (duration) closure depends on the findings of the engineer’s report," he told reporters after a site visit to the quarry at Mukim Sungai Raya, Keramat Pulai, Kampung Kepayang on Friday (Sept 18).
He said further investigations were being conducted under Sections 17 and 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Act 514), with legal action to be taken if any breach of the law was found.
He added that the state government views the incident seriously, noting that it was the third such incident in the state.
Sivanesan added that the quarry company was a legally registered company with a long operational history, adding that there had been no previous such incidents involving the company.
He added that preliminary investigations found that the victim was waiting to enter the quarry area when a boulder moved down the hillside and struck the cab of the lorry he was driving.
He said that prior to the incident, there had been blasting works around 1pm.
“However, while the vehicle was moving, there was no visible rock movement before the incident suddenly occurred.
“The victim was trapped inside the lorry cabin and was pronounced dead by Health Ministry personnel at about 5.50pm,” he said.
When asked whether the recent earthquake reported in Gerik could pose risks to quarry workers in the area, he said there was no connection between the incident and the earthquake in Gerik.
“No. There is no evidence linking the incident to the earthquake. They are separate incidents.
“The quarry operators also have their own consultants, who are conducting their respective investigations. There is no connection,” he said.
Sivanesan said the victim was also insured under the Social Security Organisation (Socso), which would take the necessary action to assist his family.
It was earlier reported that the victim, identified as M. Sivakumar, was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel following the incident on Monday (Sept 14) at about 5.15pm.
