Port Worker Crushed to Death at Container Terminal in Jakarta

Port of Jakarta. Photo: By Creativa Images / Shutterstock

An Indonesian port worker was killed on the job overnight after being crushed by a container at the International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) facility in Jakarta, the International Transport Workers’ Federation confirmed Thursday.

Local unions say a 40-year-old man was fatally crushed at about 22.10 local time when a refrigerated container was dropped onto his truck, crushing the cabin and killing the driver. This is the second workplace fatality at the Port of Jakarta in three weeks.

The ITF last month launched a global report into ICTSI which showed a pattern of severe safety deficiencies across the Philippine-based company’s network of terminals.

The report particularly highlighted the lack of adequate systems to separate people and machinery, and a failure to safely manage the risks of suspended loads, along with a number of other issues.

“Every worker deserves to come home safely at the end of their shift and our thoughts go out to this man’s family, friends and co-workers,” said ITF President, Paddy Crumlin.

“While we cannot pre-empt the findings of an official inquiry, ICTSI has a demonstrably poor record when it comes to safety in the workplace, said Crumlin. “This incident raises serious questions about ICTSI’s traffic management systems and specifically whether they had adequately separated moving vehicles from suspended loads.

“Given their checkered history, we also need a thorough investigation into whether poor maintenance and equipment failure have played a role in this tragic death of a worker. Extreme fatigue will also need to be investigated. Like many workers at ICTSI, this man was employed by an outsource labour supply company called Persada.

“Low-paid outsource workers at ICTSI terminals are paid poverty wages and frequently work massive hours just to make ends meet. The the link between high rates of outsourcing and bad safety outcomes is well documented,” Crumlin said.