Worker died not in factory...and alcohol bottles found - so DOSH says migrant worker deaths not linked to occupational health and safety??

Well, the latest Malaysiakini report entitled 'DOSH clears sawmill over deaths of Nepali workers' whereby it is reported that the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) clears the sawmill of responsibility for the deaths (yes...deaths...the last being on 11 January 2014) and goes further to blame it on alcohol?[Of course, again there is no mention of the name of the factory or the employer...so we are left in the dark - why do they 'protect' employers in such a manner?

What exactly did the DOSH do? Was an autopsy conducted on the dead Nepali migrant worker? Was the cause of death established? What is 'sudden death' really? Was there any correlation with alcohol consumption at all, and if so what was this? In any event, was similar autopsy and investigations even conducted with the earlier deaths of migrant workers at all? Or is this just a case of 'racial profiling'? How many young people really die 'suddenly'...claiming 'breathing difficulty' by reason of alcohol consumption? Well, was there even alcohol in the blood of the deceased...was there even proof that the deceased was an 'alcoholic'? All that is said in the report, is that 'deaths were most likely alcohol-related' and 'Investigations found that bottles of alcoholic drinks were scattered around the place of death.' - so this sudden death by reason of alcohol consumption??

DOSH says that 'The deaths were most likely alcohol-related and not due to hazardous materials in the factory' - what about sawdust or wood dust in the lungs of the dead worker, for after all was it not a sawmill?

What about this comment by DOSH - “The victims died while in the workers hostel and outside working hours....“Following the probe, we conclude that there is no evidence that this is linked to occupational health and safety,” Mohamad Jais said...Come now, it matters not whether the victim died during working hours at the workplace or at home - we are not talking about an 'industrial accident' here - the question is whether the death is caused by the working environment. What about safety and protection clothing/masks during working hours. Further, this is a case of workers living in accommodation provided by employer(or determined by the employer) - hence if the death is caused by reason of poor living conditions, would not the employer also be liable?

Here, we are talking about not one death ...but several deaths - and would not this be not 'normal' - more investigation is certainly needed to get to the truth... we are talking about loss of human lives....worker lives... and we demand transparency - let the said DOSH report be made public... 

Something caused the deaths of these workers, and justice need to done...

See earlier posts:-

Did Malaysian Government investigate alleged deaths of workers at Besgrade Products Sdn Bhd?

Workers urge employer to get sick worker healthcare - employer calls police - worker dies - media call it 'Riot"?

Will the AG charge the employer for the death of the Nepali worker in Pokok Sena, Kedah? Will there be an autopsy to determine cause of death?

 

DOSH clears sawmill over deaths of Nepali workers

 

The Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) has cleared a sawmill in Kedah over a several deaths among its foreign workers.

The deaths were most likely alcohol-related and not due to hazardous materials in the factory, as activists suspect, Kedah DOSH director Mohamad Jais Suratman told Malaysiakini.

“The victims died while in the workers hostel and outside working hours. Investigations found that bottles of alcoholic drinks were scattered around the place of death.

“Following the probe, we conclude that there is no evidence that this is linked to occupational health and safety,” Mohamad Jais said in a statement to Malaysiakini, one month after the last reported death.

However, he did not respond to Parti Sosialis Malaysia's claim that the last death on Jan 11 could have been avoided if the sawmill supervisor had provided medical aid.

According to a report in The Star, 200 Nepali workers demonstrated at the sawmill in Pokok Sena for two hours before being dispersed.

Kota Setar police Traffic and Public Order chief Mat Akhir Jaafar confirmed that three men were arrested to facilitate investigations.

Mat Akhir also said the three deaths – all involving Nepali workers – have been classified as ‘sudden deaths’.

PSM lodged a police report, saying that negligence led to the death of at least one of three workers.

Malaysiakini contacted the sawmill several times on this matter last month, but the sawmill has not responded. - Malaysiakini. 12/2/2014, DOSH clears sawmill over deaths of Nepali workers