Drastic drop in rate of mishaps at hazardous industries

Incident rates down from 2.6 to 1.4 per thousand workers in 2012-13; while national average is 11 per thousand workers, Goa’s figure is lowest
SHWETA KAMAT
shweta@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Even as the industrial scenario in the State remained dismal in 2011-12 with almost 40 industrial units shutting shop, there has been a silver lining with the rate of accidents in the hazardous industries dropping drastically.
In Goa there are 250 hazardous units of which 17 are identified as major hazardous units under Factories Act 1948. In 2010-11, around 706 industries were registered. 
The rate of accidents in the hazardous industries has dropped drastically with the incident rates in the factories going down from 2.6 per thousand workers to 1.4 in the fiscal year 2012-13, which is much lower than the national rate of 11.
Statistics suggest that in last three years there have been 15 accidents in the factories claiming the lives of 26 workers, which include seven deaths in 2012-13. The Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers (IFB) claims that the maximum number of deaths and accidents has occurred in steel industries, where large numbers of workers are migrants.
Statistics also reveal that the number of injuries is more among males (95 per cent) rather than females (five per cent). Data reveals that nearly 85 per cent of workers engaged in 700-odd industries are non-Goans. The reasons, however, were not specified.
Speaking to Herald, Inspectorate of Factories and Boiler IFB chief S M Paranjape said that since 2010 the incident rates in the factories has gone down from 2.6 per thousand workers to 1.4 in 2012-13.
“The incident rate in factories of Goa is the lowest in the entire country. The national rate is 11 per thousand workers,” he said.  “The incident rate in 2000 was 5 to 6 per thousand workers, which remained more or less constant till 2006,” Paranjape said.
The sudden decline in the number of accidents was only after the massive explosion that took place in Global Ispat Ltd at Cuncolim in 2009 killing four workers and injuring 51 that made IFB more cautious.
The chief said that of the total number of accidents, the majority occur in the steel industries. “Somehow, we have not been able to control the accidents here, basically because the workers engaged here are migrants, who are workaholic,” he said. 
The Inspectorate has issued a warning note to all the factories and industrial units in the State, especially the steel manufacturing units, that it will take stern action against them if they were found neglecting safety measures at the work place.    
Paranjape said the Inspectorate along with Green Triangle Society (GTS), a joint venture of industries and State Government, has been active for decades in motivating workers at the industries on safety practices.
The training programmes of the Inspectorate includes basic safety programmes, electrical safety, environmental and safety legislations in India, hazardous waste management, fire safety, boiler safety, accident causes-prevention-control, industrial hygiene and many others.
The department since 2007 has trained over 6,000 workers, including            contract staff.