A 39-year-old Taiwanese shipbuilding worker died after his neck was pinched while working at height. The Kaohsiung Labor Bureau ordered the work to be suspended.

A 39-year-old Taiwanese shipbuilding worker died yesterday morning when his neck was caught in the ship's tailshaft throttle cover while the work vehicle was being lifted while performing film tearing operations. (Provided by Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau)

Taiwan International Shipbuilding's Kaohsiung Plant yesterday (21st) at around 10 a.m., a worker surnamed Chen (39 years old) was pinched in the neck while working on a high-altitude work truck and died. The Labor Inspection Division of the Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau sent personnel to inspect the factory after receiving the report that day. Because the factory did not properly coordinate on-site operating procedures, the site was ordered to stop work. Employers who violate the Occupational Safety and Health Law can be fined up to NT$3 million, and the employer and related personnel will be brought to justice.

The Kaohsiung City Labor Bureau conducted a preliminary investigation into this work safety incident and determined that the employer failed to properly coordinate on-site operating procedures when the workers were engaged in film tearing operations on a high-altitude work vehicle. As a result, the worker surnamed Chen's neck was caught in the ship's tailshaft throttle cover when the work vehicle was raised, resulting in his death.

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The Labor Inspection Department immediately ordered the site to stop work. The employer violated Article 6, Paragraph 1, Paragraph 1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Law. The employer may be fined up to 3 million yuan and transferred to the District Prosecutor's Office to investigate the criminal liability of the employer and related personnel. At the same time, a dedicated person is assigned to assist the families of workers affected by the disaster with relevant comfort matters and ensure the rights and interests of occupational accident compensation.

The Labor Bureau calls on all institutions that use aerial work vehicles for operations to formulate an operation plan including operation methods in advance based on the conditions of the workplace, the type and capacity of the aerial work vehicles, etc., so that the operating workers are well informed, and a dedicated person should be designated to direct and supervise the workers to carry out the operations according to the plan.