Johor bahru: The Johor Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has ordered an internal investigation into the death of a tower crane operator at an apartment construction project at Jalan Seri Austin 4, here on Friday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Johor DOSH has instructed the company involved to submit an internal investigation report to the department. Further investigations will be conducted to identify the cause of the incident. Initial investigations revealed that a tower crane operator was found unconscious in the tower crane cabin. The incident came to light when the signalman attempted to contact the victim, who was atop the tower crane to commence work, but received no response.

Firefighters brought the victim down, and Sultan Ismail Hospital medical personnel confirmed the death at about 1.15 pm. The statement uploaded on the Johor DOSH Facebook page indicated that the tower crane was in a free-standing condition at an estimated height of 20 metres. The exact cause of death remains unconfirmed pending autopsy results.

Legal action will be pursued against the responsible party if any violations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and its regulations are discovered. The act stipulates a maximum punishment for employers of a fine up to RM500,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both if convicted.

Earlier reports indicated that the tower crane operator, identified as Muhamad Aliff Ishak, 33, died while working on a crane at Residensi Puncak Austin, Jalan Seri Austin 4, on Friday morning. The victim was reported to have fallen unconscious atop the crane tower, which was about 45 metres high.