MARGAO
United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) President Dr Jorson Fernandes has lamented that safety guardians have been playing with innocent lives by giving a calculated go-by to prompt and strict implementation of rules and regulations coupled with the absence of periodical checks by the authorities.
Referring to the ammonia gas leak at Cuncolim Industrial Estate from M/s Quality Foods which resulted in one death of a worker not connected with the factory on October 9 last, Jorson said the Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers which investigated the accident, rightly pointed out that the liquid ammonia gas leakage was due to the fact that float valve of the Ammonia gas vessel had cracked.
“This was an easy and fast diagnosis. No big deal. What is however very intriguing and a laughing matter is the department’s description under “action taken” by listing three factors, including conducting thorough testing and examination of all pressure vessels and plant through recognised, competent person as required under Rule 68; conduct or review Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) study for all routine and non-routine activities being carried out in the factory premises from the competent person. And provide water sprinklers/water-curtain like mayura curtain or jumbo curtain system surrounding all ammonia vessels and also the periphery of the refrigeration plant,” he said.
The UGDP President said the Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers has stated the obvious from the rule book, which even any student is capable of doing. “It has been a copy and paste job. It cleverly suppressed the vital piece of information - whether if at all, these checks were carried out in the past, and if so when and by whom,” he added.
Dr Jorson explained that the person who died following the ammonia gas leakage was not an employee of the relevant factory M/s Quality Foods. The deceased, belonging to another factory, lived in a place adjacent to the ammonia gas tank in the premises of M/s Taparia Tools Ltd and he died due to the obvious inhalation of the ammonia gas. “This brings into question the role of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) which goes to prove that there is no system of checks and no inter-departmental coordination”, he said.
He added: “It is a matter of shame that the Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers woke up only now, that too after the accident which claimed one innocent life. And, what is worse is that the department is now asking for compliance with the relevant rules.”
