BHUBANESWAR: Rising incidence of fatal accidents and mishaps in the State is a pointer to heavy price that industrialisation extracts. The industrial premises of Orissa have become increasingly unsafe for the workers, thanks to inadequate safety measures and enforcement. Latest information available reveals that the number of fatal accidents has surged much like the wave of industrialisation in the State. From 20 fatal accidents recorded in 2001, the number has jumped past 100 about 10 years later. The Orissa Factories (Control of Major Accident Hazard) Rules, 2001 and instructions (September 1997) stipulates that officers must inspect factories at least once a year and enforce the safety rules and procedures. Similarly, factories with hazardous processes and dangerous operations must be inspected four times a year by the field staff. Not many have paid heed to the rules though. The accidents have risen over the years. In 2002, fatal accidents on industrial premises stood at 34 only to rise thereafter. In the next three years, as the drive of industrialisation picked pace, the fatalities had more than doubled. In 2008, the number of fatal accidents was 81 and the next two years saw the number going past 100 - 122 in 2009 and 102 in 2010. Interestingly, a majority of the mishaps has occurred due to fall from height and vehicular accidents. Of the 37 deaths reported in 2005, seven workers died after falling from a height while another seven died in vehicular mishaps. In 2006, fall from height claimed as many as 23 lives. The Directorate of Factories and Boilers clamped prohibitory orders by stopping operation in the mishap-prone areas of the factories and asking the units to augment their training and safety mechanism but the numbers continued to be high. In 2009, 23 workers died after falling from height while another 22 died the next year. A test check by CAG had reported the loopholes in the past. During 2006-08, check in the offices of Rayagada, Rourkela and Sambalpur revealed a shortfall in inspections ranging between seven and 18 per cent. The CAG had then pointed that out of 3,276 inspections required to be conducted during 2006-08 to locate dangerous operations in the State, only 993 inspections had been conducted, registering a 70 per cent shortfall. This year, the trend continued. By May third week, as many as 18 deaths have been recorded on the industrial premises of the State.
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