Handle, store inflammables rightly: ILO

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says the Sitakunda incident illustrates the urgent need to ensure proper handling and storage of chemicals, training for staff at awareness and operational levels, and effective crowd control during emergencies.
On Monday, the ILO expressed its condolence at the tragic loss of lives of at least 49 people, including nine firefighters, at a fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda on Saturday.
The incident underscores the need for an effective industrial and enterprise safety framework and enforcement and training system to ensure a structured approach to mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery to all hazards, it says in a statement.
"This will require improved collaboration and partnership between government departments, employer and worker representatives, and civil society."
According to the ILO, tackling this problem calls for action in a number of areas, including a review of regulations and enforcement in the transport and logistics sector.
It also recommends paying adequate compensation and income support to injured and disabled workers and families of workers who lost lives in work-related accidents.
"Recently, the government, employer and worker representatives have agreed to roll out a modern, comprehensive Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in Bangladesh starting from the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, with the possibility of extension to other sectors. Such a system includes accident prevention, immediate and long-term compensation, and rehabilitation to return to work."
Proper monitoring of industries by the government to ensure that industrial and accidental risks are properly understood, addressed and prevented is essential to improving safe working conditions in Bangladesh.
The ILO and the broader UN system in Bangladesh hope that this tragic accident will drive all parties involved to apply renewed vigour in addressing safety deficits in the workplace across the country.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com