Jail for forklift stacker operator whose negligence caused surveyor to be crushed under container

A certified forklift stacker operator failed to ensure that he had a clear view while transporting a shipping container, which resulted in a quality control surveyor getting crushed to death on Oct 1, 2021.

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

In earlier proceedings, the court heard that the container, which weighed more than two tonnes, had been lowered onto Mr Teo Ser Kiong, 49. It was 6.06m long, 2.44m wide and 2.59m high.

Malaysian Arumugam Ganesan, 45, who admitted he had been negligent on the day of the tragedy, was sentenced to 138 days' jail on April 4 after he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

Ministry of Manpower prosecutor Delvinder Singh said that at the time of the offence, Arumugam and Mr Teo were working for a firm called Allied Container (Engineers & Manufacturers).

Mr Singh added: "The accused had assumed that there was (no other person and no container) in his path when he operated the forklift stacker, resulting in his view being blocked, and the eventual fatality."