Dattatreya for proper training to sewage workers

Said his ministry would soon issue circulars to state governments regarding this

Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Sunday said his ministry would soon issue circulars to state governments on the need to provide sewage workers with safety equipments like oximeter and proper training.

"This (death of four persons) incident is very painful and sad. The workers entering manholes are not given proper training resulting in such mishaps. Lack of proper working conditions and safety are the reasons for their death ... My department will inquire into the matter," the Union minister of state for labour and employment, told reporters here.

Four persons, including three sanitary workers, were on Saturday found dead in a manhole in Ayyappa society in Madhapur area here with the civic officials suspecting that the toxic gases inside caused their deaths.

The minister stressed on the need for taking up precautionary measures and giving training to sewage labourers working across the country under municipal corporations and municipalities, by providing them with oximeters.

Circulars will be soon sent to all state governments on improving working conditions of sewage workers by providing them with safety equipments like oximeters and proper training, Dattatreya said.

The minister said he would speak to Telangana Minister for Home and Labour Nayini Narasimha Reddy and Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development K Taraka Rama Rao about the incident.