KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB) started an internal investigation pertaining to the forklift incident at its premises in Sandakan on Tuesday (June 14).

       The investigation is to identify the cause and hopefully prevent similar accidents from happening while giving their cooperation to ongoing probes by the authorities, said the company's Customer Relations Department in a statement.

       The company expressed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased and to the logistics community in Sandakan for their loss.

       “SPSB is extending its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation and as policy, the company will conduct its own internal investigation to avoid the recurrence of such incidents,” the statement read.

       “SPSB is committed to ensuring compliance among port users to protect the safety of employees, port users and external parties during port operations,” the statement wrote.

       Earlier, the statement said that Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB) regretfully informed that a transport worker contracted by a consignor was involved in a tragic work-related accident at Sandakan Port on the morning of June 14, 2022.

       “Emergency protocols were immediately activated from the moment the incident had transpired and on–duty port officers promptly responded to the scene,” the statement read.

       It said that SPSB’s Health, Safety and Environment team was dispatched to assist in investigative efforts alongside the authorities and affected parties.

       It said that SPSB understood that the incident occurred at the Sandakan Port wharf after the completion of a dry bulk transfer operation involving a forklift operated by the transporter and a portable conveyor owned by the consignor.

       “Neither SPSB’s machinery nor manpower were involved in the transfer process. It is common practice in the industry for consignors or shippers to appoint a logistics provider to handle the distribution and transfer of cargoes and manage the process independent from the port,” the statement added.

       In this incident, a 60-year-old victim identified as Said Hassan was killed after he was crushed by the forklift he was operating at around 5.30am.