Safety Norms Sidelined As Infar Unit Dispute Continues

The continuing feud in Infar Indias factory near Calcutta airport has raised the vital issue as to how a chemical unit can remain shut due to an industrial dispute when unmonitored toxic and explosive materials inside the factory premises threaten to cause a major accident with wide repercussions.

However, the Infar management managed to convince the judiciary for a regular inspection of the materials inside the factory.

The district executive magistrate passed an order yesterday sanctioning the inspection.

The sessions judge at Barasat had asked the management to seek a clearer mandate from the magistrate on the above issue.

The sessions judge impugned the operations of Section 144 CrPC as ordered earlier by the executive magistrate, following a petition by the workers union of the Ganganagar factory. The workers blocked the management staff from entering the factory premises and alleged that the management was trying to retrench workers.

 

Behind the industrial disputes and the resultant legal battles lies the basic issue of safety measures for the sensitive chemical unit at Ganganagar.

The factory premises is scattered with gas cylinders of ammonia, hydrogen and other hazardous chemicals which require regular checking.

As the maintenance staff are not allowed inside the factory, temperature control measures have been not been adhered to. Some of the hazardous chemicals have to be maintained at minus eight degree centigrade.

If this is not done, they might heat up and leak causing explosions.

This spectre is haunting the Infar management.

The management has already informed the airport police station regarding the safety measures. The denial of entry to the maintenance staff by the agitating workers further confounded the problem.

With the magistrates order in hand, the maintenance staff will enter the factory premises today.

Gas cylinders apart, the cooling system is also likely to pose a threat as it has remained unattended for quite a long period.

The factorys water supply network, emergency power supply arrangement, fire alarm system are all attuned to the need for immediate action in the event of failure of the safety equipment.

The staff will enter the factory with police protection to ensure foolproof compliance with the safety checklist of the company.

Even the tower lights inside the factory premises have not complied with the safety requirements set by the airport authorities.