manishanand83
72

Dear All,
I am personally very shocked and feel very sad by this unfortunate event. My deep condolences to all those families who lost their dear ones and I also pray for the speedy recovery of injured ones.
Thanks & Regards.

From India, Mumbai
dipil
713

Dear Manish Anand

Really sad news... Sixteen people were killed in this incident... While go through net came through the below shocking facts regarding VSP... I think the management of VSP surely think of going into a Process Safety Audit and take precautionary measures accordingly... Let's Pray for the soul of deceased employees...

Source : Net

"This is the third fire accident in less than two months and the fourth this year.

Two workers engaged by a private company were burnt alive in a blast in the recently commissioned blast furnace-III May 1.

In another fire mishap May 22, a conveyor belt carrying raw material to a new blast furnace completely melted, stalling the production and causing property loss of about Rs.1 crore. There were no casualties.

The blast furnace-III was erected as part of a plan to expand plant capacity to 6.3 million tonnes.

Steel Plant Employees' Union general secretary D. Adinarayana blamed negligence on the part of the management for frequent accidents in the plant.

From India
saiconsult
1899

It is really sad to know of this incident.My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. B.Saikumar HR & Labour Law advisor Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
hansa vyas
198

Very sad indeed.

VISAKHAPATNAM: In the worst-ever accident in the history of Viskhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), 16 workers, including some officers, were burnt alive following a huge explosion in the recently commissioned oxygen plant in the steel melting shop III unit on Wednesday night. About 20 workers were injured. The explosion occurred when the officials were conducting a trial run of the oxygen plant. Most of those killed on Wednesday night were contract workers.

At the time of the accident, 31 workers, including DGM-level rank officers, were in the shift. Sources say that the death toll is likely to go up as nobody knows as to how many workers stayed close to the oxygen plant at the time of the mishap. After the massive blast, a huge fire raged across the plant. All the workers and officials present in the oxygen plant were charred to death. The oxygen plant was completely gutted as huge flames swept through the unit. The injured suffered 80-90% burns. The Seven Hills Hospital was filled with the cries of the injured workers screaming in agony.

Gajuwaka MLA Venkataramaiah confirmed to TOI that 16 workers had died in the mishap. The steel plant management were not available for comment even a couple of hours after the accident. Trade union leaders allege that maintenance works in the plant have been neglected for well over a year.

The new SMS III wing, which was constructed as part of the expansion works of the plant, was commissioned recently. The trade unions and the workers were searching for the bodies at the accident spot while fire fighters were trying to control the fire. Raju, an eye witness, said 10 bodies have been taken out from the charred remains of the gutted plant. "We have never heard of such a tragedy in VSP history," Shankar, a worker, who escaped the fire, said.

In the process of steel making, the hot metal is released from the blast furnace (BF), which is then sent to the mixer in the SMS wing to convert the hot metal into blooms. Each SMS wing has an oxygen house or plant. On Wednesday night, the oxygen plant exploded when pressure increased in the pipeline. The machinery in the newly-built SMS wing was erected by a German company, which has not provided expertise or any proper instructional methods to the steel plant, union leader Adinarayana alleged. "There is no supervision of safety or quality in the expansion works," he alleged.

Over the last four years, work has been on to increase the capacity of the plant. The last accident took place a month ago in which two workers were killed. In fact, this was fourth accident in the last four months.



Regards,

Hansa

From India, Udaipur
businesspartner
2

My deepest condolence.

Vizag Steel (VSP/ RINL-VSP) is a state owned performer in Steel Industry.

Recent news indicates that large expansion plans were in place with N.S Rao assuming charge of Director of Projects- RINL-VSP.

Whether state owned or private firm employee, people's lives cost is equivalent and invaluable (read of great value!!). It has been reported that similar 4 accidents occurred in this year, and all fire related (one of which claimed 2 contract employees life!!). Considering that VSP is a top organisation with HR awards, Green Ops award and houses the Large Blower in India, I expect a very high level of Health & Safety measures in place and not mere distribution of mosquito nets.

Indian agencies in general are poor in their implementation of Health & Safety procedures and take them as means to extract more money from the investors than seriously thinking on the consequence/ incidence. I agree India has a population of 1 billion + population, but that doesn't mean that I would forgive loosing my brother from my family due to erroneous system. Act of omission, negligence should be investigated and brought to book, severely punished without which this incidence would attain apathy very soon.

ref:

VIZAG STEEL

From India, Mumbai
dipil
713

If anybody could get accident investiagtion report of this incident do share with us... Let’s learn from the root causes and try our best to prevent recurrence in our own places...
From India
businesspartner
2

I had been to a Large state run cement factory long back as a part of my school days project.
We students were given basic masks to protect against Fly Ash. The state of the mask showed the lackadaisical approach of the authorities on Health & Safety. A group of students including myself took up the assignment of surveying the matter amongst employees that day, to expose major lack of HS measures, and gross manipulations in the employee provisions records and the result had got us special remarks in school. (I should say that the employees didn't prefer wearing the masks stating discomfiture while working)
The report was further forwarded to Labour Officer. Some days later we got threatening calls to our home land line phone. For our 'safety', the school dropped the case.
Such cases go grossly unreported. At least in this case something should be done before another Bhopal Breakout......
I support Dilip, Manish and Hansa. I would revert back on any leads further....

From India, Mumbai
sanjeevi3011
1

My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families.
Shocking to every one. But after some days we forget everything and do the same thing on compromise on safety norms. We must learn the lessons from our mistakes and experience. we should not think that "Nothing will happen to us".
Sanjeevi

From India, Bangalore
PTRC
46

Very shocking. This reminds me of explosion and fire at Dudhsagar Dairy in Mehsana, Gujarat in September, 2011 killing 12- majority whom were Managers- who came together during lunch in cold room where LPG was leaking and repair was going on.They came up to see the progress of work and asked some one to arrange for portable fan. As soon as the fan was switched on it exploded killing all present.
Such incidences indicate the real situation at ground of OHS in India. No amount of condolences can bring back the lost lives and every minute workers keep dyeing at workplace of accidents and diseases.
Thank you all for the post-comments-news

From India, Coimbatore
sssmani
My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. It is sad to see, that this incident is verymuch down played in the media.
From India, Pune
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