Dec 5, 2011

Fire incident in a chemical factory

In a chemical factory that makes drug intermediates, during chemical reaction, temperature increased uncontrollably leading to release of toxic gases. Two persons who tried to control the temperature and two more got injured in the incident.
It is reported that such incidents are common in small scale chemical factories, where safety standards and procedures are not followed. Contract labour with low wages are recruited who do not know how to operate the plant and even personal protective equipment are not provided. Though, nobody wants to damage their own property, the fact is that incidents do occur regularly and this indicates lack of proper training to the workers engaged on the job.

Factories engaged in any activity should have,

  1. approvals from concerned authorities
  2. selection of employees with requisite qualification and skills
  3. training program
  4. hazard identification and rectification procedures
  5. safe operating procedures
  6. dos and donts
  7. testing and calibration of gauges, monitors, equipment
  8. fire detection and control measures
  9. emergency procedures
  10. personal protective equipment for persons engaged on the work, etc