JOHOR BAHRU — Two operators died while another is still receiving treatment at a hospital after inhaling toxic gas during an incident at a scheduled waste management and treatment plant in the Pasir Gudang Industrial Estate, here on Tuesday (Sept 30).

The Johor Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) said that an investigation is underway to identify the cause of the accident involving three operators assigned to operate the Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at the premises.

“The department views every accident that occurs in the workplace seriously and advises employers to be more vigilant of the safety and health aspects in the factory,” he said.

Employers are also advised to conduct a risk assessment for each job activity and take control measures.

On Sept 30, the Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) conducted an operation following a chemical odour pollution incident at a factory on Jalan Platinum here, which involved three victims.

According to a statement from the Johor Fire and Rescue Department operations centre, an emergency call was received at 11.11 pm before a team from the Pasir Gudang Fire and Rescue Station (BBP), together with the Larkin BBP HAZMAT unit three kilometres away, was deployed and arrived at the location at 11.16 pm.

However, it said that detailed information about the victims was not forthcoming because the survivor had been taken by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) for treatment before the fire department personnel arrived at the scene.