02.01.2024

Scissor lift electrocution

A man died on Saturday in Georgetown on Penang, Malaysia while working from a scissor lift.

The man was a subcontractor carrying out ducting and piping installation work on a construction site. It seems he lifted the platform too close to power lines. He was spotted dangling over the guardrail by a colleague who was quickly able to bring him down.
Sadly, he was pronounced dead while on route to the hospital. An autopsy conducted by Penang Hospital confirmed the cause of death as electrocution. An immediate stop work notice was issued for the site while an investigation is carried out. The contractor and employer have also been instructed to carry out an internal investigation to identify the cause of the incident and to conduct a safety upgrade before presenting their case for restarting work.

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health said: "The department will conduct a follow-up investigation by obtaining relevant documents and recording conversations during the examination of identified witnesses, as well as follow-up visits to the employer's premises after corrective and preventive actions have been taken."