A CRANE operator was crushed to death yesterday afternoon when a 12m long container fell onto his crane.

Mr Yahaman Yahaya, 48, was operating the machine at Eng Kong Containers Agency - a warehouse and container service operator - at Tuas South Street 5 when the accident happened at about 12.30pm.

His colleagues told The Sunday Times that the crane operator had just lifted a few containers, and was writing in a notebook, when the top-most container toppled over.

'There may have been some misjudgment or human error because the containers were stacked high and the sun could have shone into his eyes,' said a colleague who declined to be named.

He added that Mr Yahaman suffered internal bleeding and fractured his back. There were also scars on his face and blood in his ears.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it extricated Mr Yahaman using another crane and a hydraulic spreader.

'The victim suffered crush injuries and was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene,' said an SCDF spokesman.

A Manpower Ministry spokesman said it has ordered Eng Kong Containers Agency to stop all loading and unloading work while it investigates the accident and reviews the company's work procedures.

More than 20 family members and friends arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon, including Mr Yahaman's elder brother, Mr Arpah Yahaya.

He said Mr Yahaman lived in Johor Baru with his wife and six children and commuted to work daily.

Friends said Mr Yahaman had been working for the company for over 20 years. They also described him as a calm and steady man who always practised safety at work.

His employer could not be reached.

The police are investigating the case as an unnatural death.