The Star Publications (M) Berhad was charged on the 22nd February, 2011 at the Shah Alam Magistrate Court in the industrial accident death of its employee, Edward George a/l Edwin George. The late Edward George was crushed to death at the reel stand machine in the company's Media Hub Printing Plant in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam on 12th February, 2010.
The company was charged by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health for failing to carry out risk assessment at the 'reel stand area' thus committing a crime under section 15 of the Akta Keselematan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 if found guilty could be punished under section 19 of the same Act.
Section 19 of the said Act provides for a person found guilty under section 15,16,17 or 18 to a fine not exceeding RM50,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
The company had pleaded not guilty and as such the case will now go for full trial. The magistrate court fixed re-mention on 5th April, 2011.
The company had pleaded not guilty and as such the case will now go for full trial. The magistrate court fixed re-mention on 5th April, 2011.
Despite being reminded many times by the union at the poor standards of safety at the workplaces, some managements in the newspaper industry are still giving a deaf ear to these reminders.
Sadly, the Malaysian mentality is such that they will only "wake" up when tragedy has struck! Let's hope this will be a lesson for the "powers that be" to sit up, open their ears and heed the safety precautions that should be put in place. For now, let's ensure that those responsible do not get off scot free!!
ReplyDelete