IPOH: A company was fined RM35,000 by the Sessions Court here today for negligence which resulted in the death of its contractor while fixing the company’s roof five months ago.
Lysaght Galvanized Steel Bhd which represented by its director and chief executive officer, Chua Tia Bon pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him before Judge Norashima Khalid.
According to the charge sheet, the 69-year-old man was accused of failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of his employee while on duty.
Chua was also accused of failing to conduct safety workplace system in term of checking, fixing and changing the roof works which resulted in the death of its 55-year-old contractor Cheong Kim Loong.
Chua allegedly committed the offence at the company in Tasek Industrial Area here on April 22.
He was charged under Section 17(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, punishable under Section 19 of the same act.
The offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 and jail term of up to two years.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Fazira Azita Abdul Rashid represented DOSH, while the accused was not represented.
Earlier, the accused during mitigation said he was upset over the incident and has since improved the company’s safety system.
Chua said it was the first recorded case at the company and it has been following safety measures which set by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) following the incident, while pleading for a lower penalty.
However, Fazira Azira requested the court to impose a just punishment against the company as it had been operating for more than 40 years and that the incident should serve as a lesson.