Labour Union Demands Government Action After Fatal Workplace Accident at Nickel Smelter in Southeast Sulawesi
KENDARI – Grief has once again struck the nickel smelter industrial zone in Morosi District, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. A fatal workplace accident at the PT Obsidian Stainless Steel (OSS) site has drawn sharp criticism from the Indonesian Prosperous Labour Union (SBSI) Kendari branch.
According to SBSI Kendari chairman Iswanto Sugiarto, the string of workplace accidents frequently occurring at PT OSS and PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (VDNI) is allegedly caused by the companies' poor implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (K3) standards.
"K3 is the fundamental foundation of any company. This incident concerns us deeply because of the lack of K3 implementation there, which is why such things can happen — and the victims are members of the community," Iswanto said on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Iswanto described the latest accident as the most severe incident yet, given that it resulted in a fatality. Preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused by brake failure on an operational vehicle.
"If we are talking about an accident caused by brake failure, then the company has not been implementing Ministerial Regulation Number 11 of 2023 on Occupational Health and Safety, specifically regarding periodic vehicle inspections before operation, resulting in a fatal accident," he stressed.
In response, Iswanto stated that his organisation would promptly visit the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Transmigration and Manpower Office (Disnakertrans). They intend to press the government to conduct a thorough inspection and take firm action regarding K3 compliance at PT OSS and PT VDNI.
"In the near future, we will certainly visit the Disnakertrans office to demand immediate firm action on this K3 issue. If this continues to be ignored, there will be ever more incidents that will harm workers, so we need decisive steps from the government to resolve this matter," he said.
Iswanto expressed hope that firm government action would resolve the occupational health and safety issues in the nickel industrial zone, thereby reducing or minimising the rate of workplace accidents at companies within the nickel industrial area.
According to SBSI Kendari chairman Iswanto Sugiarto, the string of workplace accidents frequently occurring at PT OSS and PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (VDNI) is allegedly caused by the companies' poor implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (K3) standards.
"K3 is the fundamental foundation of any company. This incident concerns us deeply because of the lack of K3 implementation there, which is why such things can happen — and the victims are members of the community," Iswanto said on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Iswanto described the latest accident as the most severe incident yet, given that it resulted in a fatality. Preliminary findings suggest the accident was caused by brake failure on an operational vehicle.
"If we are talking about an accident caused by brake failure, then the company has not been implementing Ministerial Regulation Number 11 of 2023 on Occupational Health and Safety, specifically regarding periodic vehicle inspections before operation, resulting in a fatal accident," he stressed.
In response, Iswanto stated that his organisation would promptly visit the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Transmigration and Manpower Office (Disnakertrans). They intend to press the government to conduct a thorough inspection and take firm action regarding K3 compliance at PT OSS and PT VDNI.
"In the near future, we will certainly visit the Disnakertrans office to demand immediate firm action on this K3 issue. If this continues to be ignored, there will be ever more incidents that will harm workers, so we need decisive steps from the government to resolve this matter," he said.
Iswanto expressed hope that firm government action would resolve the occupational health and safety issues in the nickel industrial zone, thereby reducing or minimising the rate of workplace accidents at companies within the nickel industrial area.