A Heartbreaking Incident

On Monday, a tragic explosion occurred at a pharmaceutical plant in Telangana. This incident resulted in the loss of 40 lives. Most of the victims were migrant workers from various states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.

What Caused the Explosion?

A unit at the plant, owned by Sigachi Industries, overheated. This led to a massive blast and subsequent fire. The safety alarms and temperature control systems failed to function properly. The aftermath left behind a scene of devastation with hot black debris scattered around.

Could This Tragedy Have Been Prevented?

Absolutely, if the authorities had heeded the warning signs.

• The plant lacked a no-objection certificate from the fire department. This certificate is crucial to ensure the plant has adequate firefighting systems.
• The plant was devoid of basic safety measures. It had no fire alarms, automatic shutdown mechanisms, or even a proper evacuation plan.
• Workers had raised concerns about the poor condition of the machinery. Unfortunately, their complaints were ignored.

A Broader Issue

This tragedy highlights a significant problem with regulatory oversight and corporate accountability. However, Sigachi is not an isolated case.

Just a day after the Telangana incident, eight workers lost their lives in an explosion in Tamil Nadu. This was the eighth such accident in the district this year alone.

Workplace Safety in India: A Closer Look

According to data from IndustriAll, a global union of workers, 400 people died last year in 240 accidents across India’s manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors. Most of these accidents occurred in pharmaceutical and chemical units.

The government’s own data is alarming. At least 6,500 employees died on duty at factories, ports, mines, and construction sites in the previous five years.

Instances of Negligence

• In October, a blast at Amudan Chemicals in Maharashtra killed 13 people. The explosion was due to heat buildup caused by the lack of alarms and cooling systems.
• A fire in a chemical plant in Pune killed 17 workers in June 2021. The plant was operating without a no-objection certificate or even a license under the Factories Act.

Widespread Safety Issues

It’s not just industrial plants that are affected. Even hospitals often operate with inadequate fire safety equipment. In Maharashtra, 90% of government hospitals audited in 2021-22 were functioning without no-objection certificates.

The enforcement of India’s fire safety rules is weak. It is often compromised by corruption, bureaucratic delays, and the absence of surprise inspections.

The Need for Improved Oversight

Ashutosh Bhattacharya, regional secretary of IndustriALL (South Asia), emphasizes that labour inspectors must regularly inspect units to assess their safety measures. However, such inspections are not conducted frequently enough.

“There is a shortage of labour inspectors,” Bhattacharya stated. He also noted that industries employing untrained workers pose another safety hazard.

Bhattacharya is concerned that the government may further dilute legal provisions. The new labour code states that a labour inspector must inform a unit well in advance before an inspection. This gives units ample time to cover up their lapses.

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