At least 333 workers were killed in workplace accidents across the country in last six months, according to a survey report - unveiled on Thursday.
The survey, conducted by Safety and Rights Society (SRS) - an NGO overseeing workplace compliance, showed that the deaths occurred in 241 workplace accidents - including the devastating fire at the BM container terminal in Sitakunda.
SRS prepared the survey report by analysing 26 daily newspapers, of which 15 are national and 11 are local newspapers, from January 01 to June 30 of 2022.
In the same period of 2021, some 306 workers were killed in 220 workplace accidents across the country, according to a press release - issued by SRS.
The survey showed that the highest number of fatalities occurred in transport sector, as 138 transport workers were killed in road crashes.
The service sector is in the second place with 100 deaths, followed by 48 deaths in construction sector, 26 in manufacturing, and 21 in agriculture.
The SRS analysis showed that road accident is the top cause of workplace accident-related deaths, as 153 workers have died of such accidents.
Besides, fire incidents caused death to 57 workers, 25 died of electrocution, 23 being crushed under falling machinery or heavy objects, 19 falling from heights, 15 from thunder strikes, 15 from explosions, nine from building collapse, nine from suffocation, and eight workers died of drowning.
Commenting on the report, SRS executive director Sekender Ali Mina said the authorities concerned should increase surveillance in regulating the transport sector to reduce accidents.
Referring to the fire incident at Sitakunda container terminal that claimed at least 47 lives, he said one of the major reasons of such catastrophe is negligence in inspection by the government authorities.
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