The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has ordered an immediate halt to work at a factory construction site in Bandar Penawar following a fatal landslide on Tuesday.
Johor DOSH said it also issued two prohibition notices and two improvement notices at the project site as part of its enforcement action.
The incident occurred while a 52-year-old Indonesian plumbing contractor and another worker were installing a sewer line at the engineering plant. During the operation, the ground suddenly collapsed, burying the contractor under soil and debris. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second worker escaped with his life.
In a statement, Johor DOSH said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the landslide.
The department added that legal action would be taken against those responsible if any breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act are established. Upon conviction, employers may face fines of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
DOSH stressed that comprehensive risk assessments must be carried out for all work activities, with effective control measures in place to eliminate or minimise hazards at worksites.
