Fall of crane trolley - death of person under

As per news paper report, A civil engineer died due to fall of crane trolley from top. The wire rope snapped leading to fall of trolley. It appears warning sign boards were not there to prevent movement of persons.

The offence was registered by police under Indian Penal Code Section 304 (causing death due to negligence) against the project engineer and safety supervisor.
Such incidents can be prevented by barricading the area under loads being lifted, placing caution boards and ensuring supervision.

Explosion in detonator factory during disposing of rejected detonators from explosives

In an explosion in one of the largest explosives exporting factory, during separation of rejected detonators from explosives by cutting wires, a mechanical cutter fell down on the explosives below causing the blast leading loss of two lives and injuring 13 others with some of them receiving severe burns.

One of the injured suffered hearing loss during the incident.

The site was visited by State Home Minister, Police and other officials.

Police registered case under various sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code) for negligent act and others leading to personal harm and initiated the probe.

As per reports, the persons doing the job were retired employees as contract workers having experience.

There were also reports of demanding for shifting of the factory from residential premises.

There were some fatal incidents earlier also in the last 10-15 years.

To avoid such incidents, possibility of  automation of removal of rejected detonators needs to be explored.

As the cutter fell down below on explosives during the job, and it is likely that such slippages can happen, suitable path for shifting of material below as soon detonator is separated from the explosive material for every explosive or collecting the explosive material under water or any other medium has to be seen.

Governments have to ensure that industrial areas are well separated from residential areas. There should a sort of no habitat zone between industries and residential areas. It is natural that wherever development is there, the surroundings will see growth of residential areas with a view to gain from real estate price increase. 

Definitely, large industrial complexes would have been set up far away from residential areas at that time. Earlier remote places would have become part of the present cities due to growth. Shifting of industries also will be costly and who will foot this cost. 

Hence, a policy as suggested above is required with marked zones and no-man zones.

Acid leak injuries

Two persons were trying to arrest leak of acid drops from the pipe. In the process, acid drops fell in the eyes and face of one person who was seriously injured in the incident and the other person suffered minor injuries.
It is reported that the police are investigating the case under Section 338 and 285 registered against the company.

For arresting acid leak and similar jobs, one should carryout of job hazard analysis; isolate acid supply; clean the pipe with water or other suitable medium; obtain safety work permit; wear personal protective equipment like, postmortem hand gloves, chemical goggles, face shield, apron and shoes; provide proper access; do the work under supervision. It is not clear whether the above safety measures are followed or not during the work.

The concerned Section of Indian Penal Code is as below.

Indian Penal Code 1860:
338. Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.-- Whoever causes grievous hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or the personal safety of others, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. Of wrongful restraint and wrongful confinement

About Bhopal accident

There was an article on Bhopal accident comparing it with that of BP oil spill. The article can be read at this LINK. The author noted about the poor response of our industry leaders to the injustice met by the victims in comparison with the active involvement of industries at USA against BP. There are many persons in responsible positions in various companies who can come under the Sec 300 of IPC and may not be knowing that they are committing such blunders.
It is essential that top management of all industries should be informed about their responsibilities under various statutes when permissions / licences are issued by concerned government authorities. e-mail is the best service available which can be utilized by regulatory agencies to send e-mails from time to time to these leaders of the organizations.
What I feel is that most of the management representatives do not know about minimum safety procedures to be ensured in their organizations under various statutes and punishment / penalties for violators. Once this is known, definitely violations will come down as nobody likes to trouble himself of attending criminal proceedings against him.