3 workers injured in Baddi unit blast

Three workers suffered severe burns due to a blast in Wipro Enterprises at Jharmajri in the Barotiwala Industrial Area yesterday. Their fellow workers today stopped work and raised slogans at the factory gate to protest against the alleged indifference of the management.

Narrating the incident, Sunil Thakur, an injured youth, said, “Some workers were emptying a 50-kg sack of casting into a vessel while preparing a batch of shaving cream yesterday. As they failed to empty the sack in the first attempt, I tried to chip in. However, suddenly another worker lifted the sack and put the contents abruptly into the vessel, triggering a blast.”

He alleged that the workers were not being given basic safety equipment like gloves and when asked they were told that the stock of gloves had been exhausted.

“An experienced employee is supposed to supervise hazardous work, but all new workers have been assigned the task,” he lamented.

The workers alleged the trainee youths, who were not aware of safety measures to be adopted while undertaking such work, were injured in the mishap. Another employee, Rajiv, suffered a severe burn injury as sulphur entered his eye and he was rushed to the local ESIC Hospital. The workers claimed that another trainee had also sustained injuries in the accident.

Rajiv alleged that they were made to undertake hazardous work at Wipro’s manufacturing plant without safety equipment. He suffered severe inflammation as the acid got into his eye in the absence of safety equipment like a face shield and gloves.

Harbans Rana, general secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Federation, who lodged a complaint with the Barotiwala police today, accused the company management of negligence. He said all safety parameters should be adopted by the management to ensure the worker safety. He alleged that such incidents had occurred in the past too, but precious little had been done to improve the safety of the workers.

“An experienced employee is supposed to supervise hazardous work, but here all new workers have been entrusted the job. The workers faced exploitation in the company,” he alleged.

Even as the workers protested outside the unit, the police feigned ignorance about the incident. A team of Barotiwala police, however, visited the spot on receipt of a complaint from Harbans Rana.

In a statement, Wipro Enterprises highlighted its focus on safety and well-being of the workers. Terming the incident as unfortunate, the release stated that the operator of the said section was rushed to the local ESIC hospital and later to the PGI in Chandigarh where his medical care was being overseen. A thorough probe would be conducted into the mishap and further action would be taken to address the safety issues.

Focus is on worker safety: firm

In a statement, Wipro Enterprises highlighted its focus on safety and well-being of the workers. Terming the incident as unfortunate, the release stated that the operator of the said section was rushed to the local ESIC hospital and later to the PGI in Chandigarh, where his medical care was being overseen.