Industrial Accidents in India: Causes, Safety Failures and Prevention Measures

Industrial accidents are often misidentified as random incidents, but they are actually a predictable series of ignored warnings. 

Recent tragedies, such as worker deaths in septic tanks in Surat and a fatal blast at the Vizag Steel Plant, highlight systemic safety failures.

Key Idea

“Accidents are not accidents; they are a series of ignored warnings.”

• Industrial disasters are often predictable and occur due to:
  • Poor safety practices
  • Lack of monitoring and inspections
  • Ignoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

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Example: Septic Tank Deaths

Reasons

• Deaths occur due to exposure to toxic gases such as:
  • Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S)
  • Methane

Common Pattern

• One worker enters the septic tank and does not return.
• Other workers enter to rescue the person without safety measures.
• This leads to multiple deaths.

Existing Safety Rules (SOPs)

Standard Operating Procedures

• Mechanical cleaning of tanks before human entry.
• Use of protective breathing equipment.
• Use of safety ropes and proper safety gear.

Problem

• Despite safety guidelines, SOPs are frequently ignored, leading to preventable deaths.

Manual Scavenging Issue

Law

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

Despite the Ban

• Sewer and septic tank deaths continue due to:
  • Social stigma attached to sanitation work.
  • Caste-based occupational hierarchy.
  • Economic compulsion forcing workers into hazardous jobs.

NAMASTE Scheme (2023)

National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem

Objective

• Replace manual cleaning practices with mechanised sanitation systems.
• Ensure safer sanitation work by reducing human entry into hazardous spaces.

Industrial Factory Accidents

Example: Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Accident

Reasons

• Financial stress leading to reduced spending on safety measures and maintenance.
• Reduced maintenance budgets affecting preventive maintenance of machinery.
• Old and outdated equipment increasing the risk of industrial failures.
• Increased dependence on contract workers without adequate safety preparation.

Problems with Contract Workers

• Lack of proper safety training and technical skills.
• Lower accountability compared to permanent employees.
• Immediate deployment without sufficient preparation or safety orientation, increasing workplace risks

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Way Forward

• Implement Occupational Safety Code, 2020: Ensure effective implementation of workplace safety standards and strengthen mechanisms for preventing industrial accidents.
• Zero Human Entry in Confined Spaces: Human entry should be avoided in hazardous confined spaces such as:
  • Sewers
  • Mines
  • Tanks
• Strengthen Implementation of Manual Scavenging Laws: Strict enforcement of laws is required to eliminate manual scavenging and ensure safe sanitation practices.
• Increase Employer Accountability: Responsibility should not be limited only to contractors.
  • Principal employers must also be held accountable for ensuring worker safety and compliance with safety norms.
• Change the Safety Mindset: Industries need to shift from “Cost over Safety” approach to “Safety over Cost” approach, where protection of workers becomes the primary priority.
• Constitutional Angle: Industrial deaths and unsafe working conditions violate Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty, which includes the Right to Life with Dignity.
  • Forcing workers to enter hazardous workplaces without proper safety equipment, training, or protection due to economic compulsion undermines their dignity, security, and fundamental right to a safe life.

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