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UPM student's drowning: SPAN investigates safety procedure violations
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Disasters & Emergencies

UPM student's drowning: SPAN investigates safety procedure violations

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) is investigating the death of a Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) industrial trainee during maintenance work at a water treatment plant.
  • The trainee died on June 16 after experiencing difficulties near a scour point in a water pool, with initial reports suggesting a possible breach of confined space safety procedures.
  • SPAN will take action against any involved parties, including the water service operator Air Selangor or SPAN-permit holding contractors, if non-compliance with procedures or the Water Services Industry Act 2006 is found.

The National Water Services Commission (SPAN) is conducting a thorough investigation into the drowning death of an industrial trainee from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The incident occurred on June 16 during maintenance work at the Saujana 1 Reservoir in Kuala Selangor.

SPAN has stated that appropriate action will be taken against any party found to have violated safety procedures. This includes the water service operator, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Air Selangor), or contractors holding SPAN permits. Violations of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) and related subsidiary legislation could also result in penalties.

Appropriate action will be taken against any parties involved, whether it is the water service operator, Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn. Bhd. (Air Selangor) or SPAN permit holding contractors, if non-compliance with procedures is found.

— SPANStating the commission's commitment to holding responsible parties accountable.

Initial findings suggest a potential failure to adhere to confined space safety protocols. It is suspected that workers may have entered the area without proper authorization or before safety checks were completed. However, the definitive cause of the incident awaits the official investigation report from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (JKKP).

There is a possibility of non-compliance with work safety procedures in confined spaces, including the entry of workers without permission and before safety verification is given.

— SPANProviding initial findings on the potential cause of the incident.

The commission takes this fatality very seriously. SPAN was notified of the incident on June 17 and visited the site on June 18. During the visit, it was confirmed that scheduled cleaning and maintenance of the service pool were being carried out by a contracted vendor on June 16. At the time of the incident, the water level in the pool was reportedly at waist height.

Two workers experienced difficulties near a 200-millimeter scour point, and a third worker became trapped in the area. Despite immediate emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the victim was pronounced dead before being transported to UiTM Hospital for an autopsy. The preliminary cause of death was reported as drowning. The JKKP visited the site on June 17 and issued a Prohibition Notice, with a follow-up visit on June 18 involving SPAN, Air Selangor, and JKKP to determine the cause.

The cause of death was initially reported as drowning.

— SPANReporting the preliminary medical findings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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