Industrial hazards a worry in Orissa

Due to the present government's friendly policy towards rapid industrialization for growth oriented development, small and medium size industries are now mushrooming in Orissa. However because of misguided industralisation, safety measures concerning the  labour class have been ignored. There has been an increasing fatal accidents and mishaps in the State due to inadequate safety measures. According to the available information, the number of fatal accidents has been increasing every year. From 20 fatal accidents recorded in 2001, the number has reached to 100 within a decade.

As prescribed in the Orissa Factories (Control of Major Accidents Hazard) Rules, 2001  (September 1997) specifies that officers must inspect factories at least once a year and take compulsory appraisal of the safety rules and procedures. Similarly, factories with hazardous processes and dangerous operations must be inspected four times a year by the field staff.

Unfortunately this rule has never been implemented regularly. Neither the official, nor the industries management care for the rule. The accidents have risen over the years. In 2002, fatal accidents on industrial premises stood 34 only to rise thereafter. In the next three years, as the drive of industrialization picked pace, the fatalities had more than doubled. In 2008, the number of fatal accidents was 81 and the next two years saw the number going past to 100 in 2009 and 102 in 2010.

Interestingly, a majority of the mishaps has occurred due to fall from height and vehicular accidents. Of the 37 deaths reported in 2005, seven workers died after falling from a height while another seven died in vehicular mishaps. In 2006, fall from height claimed as many as 23 lives.

A test check by CAG had reported the loopholes in the past. During 2006-08, check in the offices of Rayagada, Rourkela and Sambalpur revealed a shortfall in inspections ranging between seven and 18 per cent. The CAG had then appointed that out of 3,276 inspections required to be conducted during 2006-08 to locate dangerous operations in the State, only 993 inspections had been conducted, registering a 70 per cent shortfall. Trend continues. By third week of May, as many as 18 deaths have been recorded on the industrial premises of the State.