Sunday June 2, 2013
Westport forklift operator crushed to death by container
By SHAUN HO
[email protected]
Heavy metal: The scene of the accident in Westport where a forklift driver was crushed to death when a container-bearing handler toppled forward.
PETALING JAYA: A second accident involving heavy equipment this week has claimed the life of a foreign worker in Port Klang.
The incident occurred at the Westport industrial area early yesterday morning when a Myanmar national was operating a forklift in the path of a loaded container handler.
The 10-tonne machine suddenly toppled forward and its load crushed the forklift roof and Myanmar driver.
The Bangladeshi driver of the container handler escaped injury even though he was thrown about in the cab when it tipped over.
The identities of both men have yet to be ascertained.
Klang Fire and Rescue Department chief Ahmad Zaidi Safuan said the Port Klang fire station received an emergency call at 4.20am about the accident.
An eight-man team rushed to the scene but they were unable to retrieve the body immediately as their lifting equipment was inadequate.
“We could only begin recovery operations at 7am because we had to wait for a crane to lift and move the container,” he said.
Once the container was removed, Zaidi said it took 10 minutes to cut through the steel roof to remove the victim.
The victim's remains were sent to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital for post mortem.
On Wednesday, 26-year-old restaurant worker Kelvin Kumar was killed when the car he was travelling in with his employer Anisa Abdul Rahman, 46, was crushed by a section of a crane that rolled off a trailer travelling next to them.
