The Johor DOSH has shut a waste water treatment plant in Pasir Gudang after workers collapsed from inhaling hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that leaked from one of the sump pits. — File picture by Farhan Najib
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Friday, 03 Oct 2025 7:43 PM MYT
JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 3 — 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 three victims were taken to the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI). However, two of them were confirmed dead before arriving at the hospital, while the other is reported to be in stable condition,” it said in a statement today.
According to DOSH, initial investigations found that the incident was believed to have been caused by the release of a toxic gas – hydrogen sulfide – in one of the WWTP’s sump pits.
The incident occurred while the victims were on duty on the 7 pm shift, before two of them were found lying unconscious in the WWTP area around 9.15 pm, and another collapsed with shortness of breath after trying to render help.
“Another worker nearby realised the gravity of the situation when witnessing the three workers lying unconscious and duly alerted the factory management for urgent action,” it added.
Following the incident, DOSH issued two prohibition notices and three improvement notices related to the factory’s WWTP work activities, along with an order to close the entire accident site at the factory until the investigation is complete.
“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. — Bernama