UNSAFE AT WORK

FOCUS LABOUR RIGHTS

- Ajit Ranade

Let’s look at three recent events which symbolise workers’ plight due to lack of safety at the workplace.

On 30 June, in Telangana’s worst industrial mishap, 46 people died, eight are still in hospital and another eight are still missing, some possibly charred beyond recognition. This human tragedy in an industrial area was caused by the explosion of a reactor in a chemical plant, heard several kilometres away. To call it an accident absolves the management of the neglect of proper maintenance, or not adhering to safety protocols. In the same Sangareddy district alone, 25 workers died within a four month period in 2024. The cases of injuries or near fatal cases, which have not been reported can only be guessed. But Sangareddy is just an illustrative case, not an isolated one, across the country.