Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Safety Manager - Antara Kerja Yang Terbaik di Amerika Syarikat

Laman web ini menyatakan bahawa di antara kerja yang terbaik di Amerika Syarikat pada masa ini ialah Safety Manager. Menurut laman itu, Safety Manager menyiasat kemalangan industri, kecederaan dan penyakit pekerjaan untuk menentukan punca dan langkah-langkah pencegahan. Gaji purata seorang Safety Manager di Amerika Syarikat ialah USD75,500 setahun (RM22,000 sebulan). Manakala gaji tertinggi seorang Safety Manager di Amerika Syarikat boleh mencecah USD115,000 setahun (RM33,000 sebulan). Setakat ini terdapat kira-kira 23,000 orang Safety Manager di sana. Amerika Syarikat memerlukan kira-kira 2,300 orang Safety Manager baru setiap tahun.

Dipetik dari laman web CNN ini.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Lagi Mangsa Letupan

Jusco blast claims second life

MALACCA: The recent gas explosion at AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang claimed a second life with the death of engineer Ooi Kok On at the Malacca Hospital.

The 33-year-old from Sri Taman, Alor Setar, passed away at the hospital’s intensive care unit at 9.40am yesterday after undergoing two surgeries over the last six days for serious head injuries.

AEON Jusco general-manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam, who was present at the hospital to console the deceased family, said the company would make arrangement for Ooi’s body to be brought back to his home for burial.

“We will bear the cost of sending Ooi’s remains back to his home in Alor Setar for the funeral.

“We will also ensure our staff are there for them if they need anything,” he told reporters yesterday, adding that Aeon had also presented RM10,000 to Ooi’s family.

The deceased father, Ooi Hua, 64, and several family members arrived at the hospital at about 10am to claim his remains but they were too distraught to speak.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who was also present to extend his condolences, said four blast victims are still warded at the hospital while 15 others have been discharged.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm last Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s opening earlier scheduled for Dec 17.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor at the Old Town White Coffee outlet, died on the spot when he was hit by flying debris while 20 others suffered injuries.

Following the blast, the complex grand opening was postponed pending a joint probe by the Energy Commission and the Fire and Rescue Department.

Initial investigations had revealed that negligence and a massive gas leak in the complex’s liquid petroleum gas system had caused the blast.

The contractors and engineers responsible for installation of the gas piping system have been suspended.

By ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 20 Disember 2009

Adakah Mereka Mempunyai Jawatankuasa Keselamatan & Kesihatan Pekerjaan?

Jusco gas contractors suspended

MALACCA: The contractors and consultants responsible for gas works at the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang here have been suspended with immediate effect as initial findings indicate negligence on their part.

Investigations found a massive leak in the centralised gas system as being the cause of the explosion on Monday that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 20 others

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the findings were based on the department’s investigations into the gas blast with the final report of the joint probe expected to be out in two weeks.

“The main cause of the explosion was due to a large gas leak at the Tea & Food outlet as indicated by a small fire following the explosion,” he told reporters after accompanying Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to the scene yesterday.

He added that negligence by those responsible for the centralised liquid petroleum gas system was also a factor.

Energy Commission Chief Operating Officer Ahmad Fauzi, who was also present, said the joint probe by the commission and the Fire and Rescue Department is expected to be completed within two weeks.

“We are still carrying out investigations and interviewing witnesses. It will take about two weeks before investigations are completed and the area cleared for repair works,” he said.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s opening scheduled for yesterday.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor at the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital.

Of the number, six are in critical condition, eight are seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, AEON Jusco general-manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam said it would defer the opening of the shopping mall until completion of the probe.

By MARTIN CARVALHO & ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 18 Disember 2009

Adakah Mereka Mempunyai Polisi Keselamatan Dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan?

Jusco gas explosion: Contractors, consultants suspended (Update)

MALACCA: The contractors and consultants responsible for gas works at the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang here have been suspended with immediate effect.

The order came as initial findings from an investigation pointed to negligence and a massive leak in the centralised gas system as being the cause of the explosion on Monday that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 20 others.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the findings were based on the department’s investigations into the gas blast, with the final report of the joint probe expected to be out within two weeks.

“The main cause of the explosion was due to a large gas leak at the Tea & Food outlet as indicated by a small fire following the explosion,” he told reporters after accompanying Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to the scene on Thursday.

He added that negligence by those responsible for the centralised liquid petroleum gas system was also a factor for the incident.

Energy Commission chief operating officer Ahmad Fauzi, who was also present, said the the joint probe by his commission and the Fire and Rescue Services Department is expected to be completed within two weeks.

“We are still carrying out investigations and interviewing witnesses. It will take about two weeks before investigations are completed and the area cleared for repair work,” he said.

He added the contractors, consultant and competency engineer responsible for work on the shopping mall’s centralised gas system would be suspended from work with immediate effect.

The deadly blast occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for the mall’s grand opening on Dec 17.

The force of the blast caused a 2m-wide hole in the building wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and causing a small fire.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor from Batu Pahat of the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital of which six are critical, eight seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, AEON Juscos general manager (corporate communications) A. Rashid Adam said they would abide by the authorities’ orders and defer the opening of shopping mall until completion of the probe.

“We will comply with the orders issued by the authorities. This will give them time to carry out a detailed investigation while ensuring the safety of the area,” he said.

Although not specifying an exact date, he said the shopping mall’s opening is likely to take place some time in January next year.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and ALLISON LAI

Dipetik dari Star Online 17 Disember 2009

Belum Boleh Shopping di Jusco Melaka @ Bachang

Opening of mall on hold

MALACCA: The Dec 17 grand opening of the AEON Jusco outlet in Bachang, the largest in the country, has been called off pending the approval from the authorities probing Monday’s deadly blast, said state public works and utilities committee chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo.

However, it is learnt that with Christmas just round the corner, the shopping mall operator is keen to start business on Dec 21 but would not be able to operate the food court that was damaged in the blast.

Gan advised AEON Jusco to wait for the report before opening the outlet because despite engineers saying that the main structure of the building is safe, the explosion had caused extensive damage to the interior of the food court.

The explosion occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm on Monday as workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for Thursday’s grand opening.

The force of the blast caused a 2m-wide hole in the building wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and caused a small fire.

Tiau See Peing, 25, a supervisor from Batu Pahat of the Old Town White Coffee outlet, was killed by flying debris while 20 others are being treated at the Malacca Hospital of which six are critical, eight seriously injured while six others received outpatient treatment.

State Women Affairs, Family Development and Health committee chairman Datuk Norpipah Abdol said the state presented aid of between RM2,000 to RM5,000 to the blast victims and RM5,000 to Tiau’s family.

A joint probe by the Fire and Rescue Services Department, Malay-sian Energy Commission, and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will focus on the possibility of gas leakage and human error for the blast.

However, investigations can only proceed after the centralised gas piping system in the building is purged of trapped gas to prevent a second blast.

DOSH deputy operations director Mohtar Musri said the section of the food court affected by the explosion was still deemed unsafe as there was a danger that loose ceiling panels could collapse in the event of a second explosion.

A search and rescue operation was mounted early yesterday morning for three people — two locals and a foreigner — whose identification documents were found in the rubble. They were not among those rescued.

State fire and rescue department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said the authorities were tracing the whereabouts of local workers Mahusin Jusoh and Rominor Chik and foreign worker Mominul Islam.

Earlier, Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob visited the injured blast victims at the Malacca Hospital and the blast scene to see the extent of damage caused by the explosion.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik dari Star Online 16 Disember 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Sotong Kurita Pun Pandai Pakai PPE

Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus

SYDNEY (AP): Australian scientists have discovered an octopus in Indonesia that collects coconut shells for shelter - unusually sophisticated behavior that the researchers believe is the first evidence of tool use in an invertebrate animal.

The scientists filmed the veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, selecting halved coconut shells from the sea floor, emptying them out, carrying them under their bodies up to 65 feet (20 meters), and assembling two shells together to make a spherical hiding spot.

Julian Finn and Mark Norman of Museum Victoria in Melbourne observed the odd activity in four of the creatures during a series of dive trips to North Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia between 1998 and 2008.

Their findings were published Tuesday in the journal Current Biology.

"I was gobsmacked," said Finn, a research biologist at the museum who specializes in cephalopods. "I mean, I've seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I've never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh."

Octopuses often use foreign objects as shelter. But the scientists found the veined octopus going a step further by preparing the shells, carrying them long distances and reassembling them as shelter elsewhere.

That's an example of tool use, which has never been recorded in invertebrates before, Finn said.

"What makes it different from a hermit crab is this octopus collects shells for later use, so when it's transporting it, it's not getting any protection from it," Finn said. "It's that collecting it to use it later that is unusual."

The researchers think the creatures probably once used shells in the same way.

But once humans began cutting coconuts in half and discarding the shells into the ocean, the octopuses discovered an even better kind of shelter, Finn said.

The findings are significant, in that they reveal just how capable the creatures are of complex behavior, said Simon Robson, associate professor of tropical biology at James Cook University in Townsville.

"Octopuses have always stood out as appearing to be particularly intelligent invertebrates," Robson said. "They have a fairly well-developed sense of vision and they have a fairly intelligent brain. So I think it shows the behavioral capabilities that these organisms have."

There is always debate in the scientific community about how to define tool use in the animal kingdom, Robson said.

The Australian researchers defined a tool as an object carried or maintained for future use. But other scientists could define it differently, which means it's difficult to say for certain whether this is the first evidence of such behavior in invertebrates, Robson said.

Still, the findings are interesting, he said.

"It's another example where we can think about how similar humans are to the rest of the world," Robson said. "We are just a continuum of the entire planet."

Dipetik dari Star 15 Disember 2009

Mari Menyiasat Kemalangan Maut Di Jusco Melaka

Joint probe on mall explosion

MALACCA: Authorities here will conduct a joint probe to determine the cause of the deadly blast at the AEON Jusco mall in Bachang that killed a 25-year-old man while injuring 20 others on Monday.

The probe, to be carried out by the Fire and Rescue Services Department, the Malaysian Energy Commission and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will focus on the possibility of gas leakage and human error as factors resulting in the gas explosion.

However, investigations can only proceed after the centralised gas piping system in the building is purged of trapped gas to prevent a second blast.

DOSH deputy operations director Mohtar Musri said the section of the food court affected by the explosion was still deemed unsafe as there is the risk that loose ceiling panels might collapse in the event of a second explosion.

“Our priority is securing the affected area to ensure that it is safe for those investigating the scene.

“At the moment, there may still be gas trapped along the piping system,” he said when met at scene here on Tuesday.

Although unable to pinpoint the cause of the explosion, he said an initial probe suggested a leakage in the gas piping system and a lack of coordination between those responsible for the installation of gas supply to the food court.

“Gas from the bullet tank is channeled through the pipeline and is supplied to the kitchens.

“It is likely that there was a leak somewhere along the piping system to the cooking area,” he said.

He added the blast caused extensive damage to six restaurants out of the 20 located in the area at the food court where the explosion happened.

Meanwhile, a search and rescue operation was mounted by the Fire and Rescue Department early Tuesday morning when three persons, whose identity cards were found in the rubble, were unaccounted for amongst those rescued on Monday.

The discovery of the identity cards belonging to two locals and a pass belonging to a foreign worker prompted a thorough search of the blast area which turned up negative.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Nik Zulkifli Ibrahim said authorities are trying to trace the whereabouts of local workers Mahusin Jusoh and Rominor Chik and foreign worker Mominul Islam.

“We carried out a thorough search of the area including sifting through the rubble and checking the ceilings but we did not find them.

“They may have left the scene after the blast and we hope that they will come forward to assist in our investigations,” he said.

Earlier, Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob visited the injured blast victims at the Malacca Hospital and the blast scene to see the extent of damage caused by the explosion.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik Dari Star Online 15 Disember 2009

Pekerja Terhidu Bau Gas Sebelum Letupan Di Jusco Melaka

Workers smelt ‘trouble’ before being floored

MALACCA: For workers at AEON Jusco, the only hint of trouble was the smell of gas before a powerful blast knocked them out.

Ghafar Baba, 41, was checking the final touches to the building which was set to open on Thursday, when he got a whiff of “an odd smell”. Minutes later, there was an explosion.

“I didn’t realise it was gas. I had just stepped out of the building when the explosion occurred,” he said when met at the scene.

A tenant, who will operate a restaurants there, said the tenants were told to be present at the building before noon yesterday for tests to be carried out on the gas system.

“We were told to come in at 11am with two representatives from each restaurant or outlet for the tests.

“It was before 1pm when I noticed the smell of gas and told the contractor about it. But before he could do anything, there was a loud explosion. I ran out as fast as I could,” he said.

Twenty-two-year-old Musli Ali, from Aceh, said he took an early lunch break and was resting when he was floored by the blast.

“The next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor covered in debris. I was stunned because I was quite close to the blast,” he said at the Malacca Hospital.

He was thankful to have escaped serious injuries and was given outpatient treatment for a minor cut.

Dipetik Dari Star Online 15 Disember 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Supervisor Terbunuh Di Tempat Kerja Dalam Letupan Di Jusco Melaka



Intensive damage: The glass and ceiling panels of this restaurant were completely shattered by the explosion.

Supervisor killed in gas explosion

MALACCA: The much-anticipated opening of the largest AEON Jusco outlet in the country in Jalan Legenda, Bachang, here is likely to be postponed following a gas explosion that killed a 25-year-old supervisor and injured 16 others.

The explosion is believed to have occurred at the food court section on the ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm yesterday when workers and tenants were busy making final preparations for Thursday’s grand opening.

The force of the blast blew a 2m-wide hole in the building’s wall, showering glass and debris over a 25m radius and causing a small fire.

Firemen from the Kubu station, who arrived six minutes after receiving a distress call, found two injured victims lying outside the building.

Tiau See Peing, a supervisor from Batu Pahat at the Old Town White Coffee, was found dead with a neck wound caused by flying debris.

Other victims were pulled out alive from the rubble.

State fire department operations deputy director R. Ezhumalai said the blast is believed to have been caused by a gas leak when workers were testing gas meters from the centralised liquid petroleum gas system.

“Several survivors mentioned there was a smell of gas shortly before the blast,” he said at the scene, adding that the injuries and damage came mostly from the blast and flying debris.

“We are still investigating to determine the exact location of the blast and what may have caused it.”

At press time, seven victims were reported to have suffered serious injuries while three are in critical condition. They have been warded at the Malacca Hospital.

Six other victims received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, state Human Resources Committee chairman Datuk Yaakub Md Amin said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health had been directed to investigate the blast, adding that investigations would focus on whether the contractors had followed safety measures.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN

Dipetik Dari Star Online 15 Disember 2009

Kemalangan Maut Di Jusco Melaka



Malacca Fire and Rescue Department personnel leaving the Aeon Jusco mall after investigating the cause of explosion on Monday. - Starpix by A Malex Yahaya

Gas explosion at mall: 1 worker killed, 16 hurt (Update)

MALACCA: The much anticipated grand opening of the largest AEON Jusco mall in the country here in Jalan Legenda in Bachang this Dec 17 is likely to be postponed following a fatal gas explosion that killed a 25-year-old supervisor while injuring 16 others on Monday.

The explosion was said to have happened at the food court section located on ground floor of the three-storey complex just before 1pm when workers and tenants were busy making final preparation for the opening.

The force of the blast blew a 2m hole in the building’s sidewall while showering glass and debris over a 25m radius before starting a small fire.

Firemen from the Kubu fire and rescue station, who arrived on the scene six minutes after receiving a distress call at 12.59pm, immediately put out a small fire and found two injured victims lying outside the building.

A search and rescue operation was mounted for other victims when it was learned that there were several others missing or trapped under the rubble.

Five victims were later pulled out alive from the rubble while another, Tiau See Peing, 25, a supervisor from Batu Pahat with Old Town White Coffee was found dead with a fatal neck wound cause by flying debris.

State Fire Departments operations deputy director R. Ezhumalai said the blast is believed to have been caused by a leak when workers were testing the gas meters from the centralised Liquid Petroleum Gas system.

“We believe that the explosion was due to a gas leak as victims mentioned the smell of gas shortly before the blast.

“Although there was a small fire, the injuries and damage were caused by the blast and flying debris,” he said when met at the scene here.

Initial investigations, he added, indicated the blast originated from a leak in the gas system near the food court next to the Food & Tea restaurant.

“We are still investigating to determine the exact location of the blast or what may have caused it,” he said, adding that several other victims were earlier rushed to the hospital for treatment.

At press time, seven victims were reported to have suffered serious injuries while three are said to be in critical condition at the Malacca Hospital. Six other victims received outpatient treatment.

Meanwhile, state human resources committee chairman Datuk Yaakub Md Amin said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health has been directed to investigate the blast.

Investigations will focus on whether the contractors had followed safety measures.

“Action will be taken against them if they had not done so, resulting in the explosion,” he said.

He added that it was fortunate that the blast happened before the opening of the shopping complex when there were fewer people around.

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CHEN PELF YEEN


Dipetik dari Star Online 14 Disember 2009