Old equipment, outdated pressure valves, and rusted pipelines are some of the simple errors that can lead to major fire accidents in industries and residential areas. More often, major tragedies are caused due to lack of oversight and poor maintenance and repair of equipment. Hence, officials should take up a critical study of industrial safety appliances, said P.Bose, Senior Additional Director, Industrial Safety and Health, Board of Construction Workers, Tamil Nadu.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day training programme on ‘Fire prevention and protection’ organised by the National Safety Council, Mumbai and Tamil Nadu Chapters and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health here on Friday, Mr.Bose underlined the safety norms to be followed by petroleum and chemical industries.
Explaining the causes of various industrial accidents that took place across the country in the past three decades, Mr.Bose said that poorly maintained equipment, such as valves, and sudden shutdown of refrigeration equipment or non-cooling of the chemicals had led to various major and minor fire accidents. “What could have been doused within three minutes with proper safety gadgets have turned into huge industrial disasters due to the lack of proper equipment,” he said.
He advised the officials to critically evaluate their safety equipment in a regular basis. Old equipment should be periodically replaced by new ones. The efficiency of safety appliances should be periodically checked. A comprehensive study on disaster management and proper upkeep of off-site emergency plants would go a long way in averting accidents, he said.
A.A.Raichur, technical advisor, National Safety Council, Mumbai, said the council focussed on small and medium industries.
School students were also being educated on safety norms through mock drills on fire safety and contingency response measures.
R.A.Krishnakumar, Executive Director, Dalmia Cements (Bharath), who inaugurated the training, hoped the interactive sessions for two days would help safety officials exchange ideas and share suggestions. B.Alagesan, Additional Director, Industrial Safety and Health, and chairman, Tiruchi sub-committee of the council, administered a pledge on ‘Elimination of Child Labour’ and launched a signature campaign.
A. Ravi, Joint Director, Industrial Safety and Health, and vice-chairman, Tiruchi sub-committee, said that about 100 employees from various industries in and around Tiruchi, and officials from Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Thanjavur participated in the training.
A series of sessions on various topics, including fire emergency plan and mock drill on fire-fighting, would be held on Saturday.
