Nearly 300 workers died in past 3 years in industrial accidents in Chhattisgarh: govt.

Nearly 300 workers lost their lives while 248 suffered injuries in industrial accidents in Chhattisgarh over the past three years, the government told the State Assembly on Wednesday.

In response to a query by BJP legislator Ajay Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh Industry Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan replied that 296 workers had died in these accidents while another 248 workers suffered injuries.

Replying to another part of the same question, Mr. Dewangan said that as of January 31, Chhattisgarh has 7,324 functional government and private factories. Of these, he said, the State administration has identified 948 as ‘hazardous’ and 32 as ‘ultra-hazardous’.

“The classification of hazardous units follows the manufacturing processes specified in Schedule 1 of the Factories Act, 1948. Units are labelled ultra-hazardous based on the list of chemicals and storage limits defined under the Chhattisgarh Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Rules, 1999,” he said, adding that the Department of Industrial Health and Safety issued periodic guidelines to these establishments.

These directives cover the storage of oxygen cylinders and safety protocols for pellet plants and sponge iron units. They also include the safe use of lifts, hoists, and lifting tools and tackles, Mr. Dewangan said.

Safety SOPs

The Minister also said that workers in each factory should receive personal protective equipment (PPE), including helmets, safety shoes, gloves, masks, safety belts, glasses, and aprons. Facilities such as canteens, restrooms, dining areas, and clean drinking water are mandatory requirements for these units, he added.

On another sub-query regarding relief for victims, Mr. Dewangan confirmed that assistance was provided to the kin of the deceased and to injured workers.

He highlighted reports concerning the specific aid distributed and the subsequent legal action taken against erring establishments.

In one of the recent major industrial accidents, at least six workers were killed and five others injured in a blast at a steel plant in Chhattisgarh’s Balodabazar-Bhatapara district on January 22.

Surviving workers have complained of poor safety standards and rigorous working conditions in many such cases.