Cracker unit blast: panel suggests training workers, strengthening regulatory bodies
Despite there being adequate guidelines and safety norms, at least three to four accidents were happening every year, the committee observed
A joint committee, formed by the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal to probe the Virudhunagar cracker unit blast which claimed 10 lives in February, has suggested mandating certi cation for workers handling hazardous tasks.
After site inspections and reviews, the committee, comprising M. Sivakumar, Revenue Divisional Ocer, Sattur; H.D. Varalaxmi, Regional Director, Central Pollution Control Board; M. Vijayalakshmi, Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board; and E. Arockia Lenin, Scientist D, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, observed that despite there being adequate guidelines and safety norms from the Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), at least three to four accidents were happening every year.
Ten people died in the cracker unit blast in Virudhunagar in February.
Stating that repeated accidents in reworks units indicated the lack of an implementation and monitoring mechanism, the committee recommended a slew of administrative and technical measures, including strict vigilance of recracker sheds, permanent closure of sheds found guilty of safety breaches, heavy nes on violators, and increased automation to avoid physical handling of dangerous chemicals.
The committee suggested that workers engaged in hazardous operations such as mixing and lling of chemicals must be certi
ed after training, and only those with certi cations should be employed.
Regular monitoring
The panel also said that the existing workforce of regulatory authorities such as PESO and the Directorate Of Industrial Safety & Health be strengthened by the Central and
State governments, respectively, to have regular monitoring and ensure better compliance.
The services of an accredited pyro professional must be sought to assess the adequateness of buildings and other structures for safe operations against frictions, impact and static electricity, and of safe process ±ow in mixing and handling of pyro chemicals, the panel said.
Manufacturers and recracker unit licensees must submit a compliance report once in six months, or on a quarterly basis, and it must be uploaded to the website of the respective regulatory agencies, it said.