7 September, 2022A contract worker died and four others sustained serious injuries after a gas leak at Aarey Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Maharashtra's Palghar district on 4 September.
The gas leak, which caused nausea, headaches, and dizziness, happened early in the morning, as the workers were ending the night shift.
Management has committed to pay the family of the deceased worker a compensation of 0.6 million INR (US$7513).
Sanjyot Vadhavkar, general secretary of IndustriALL’s affiliate, Chemical Mazdoor Federation of India (CMFI), says:
“It is outrageous that a worker died due to serious lapses in workplace safety. Doling out compensation to workers’ kins is not in any way a solution to workplace safety violations that are rampant in the country.”
India’s manufacturing industry is marred by occupational health and safety hazards that take their toll on workers, sometimes with a deadly outcome. According to data collated by IndustriALL, in the first half of 2022, at least 78 industrial and mine accidents have been reported, killing at least 199 workers and injuring more than 348.
Apoorva Kaiwar, IndustriALL regional secretary, says:
“Employers need to take the losses of lives of workers seriously. Workers don’t go to work to die, and it is the responsibility of management to ensure that they don’t. IndustriALL calls on employers and government to improve safety for workers in India on an urgent basis”