Call to tighten factory inspection norms following boiler blast at Edayar

Initial examinations by the Department of Factories and Boilers indicate that the boiler that burst was an unauthorised installation; official says there has been a decrease in the number of inspections since the introduction of K-CIS

The boiler blast in an animal fat extraction unit in the Edayar industrial area near Kochi on October 5 (Saturday) night has sparked demands for a stringent inspection regime to monitor factory establishments and ensure the safety of installations.

Initial examinations by the Department of Factories and Boilers indicated that the boiler that burst was an unauthorised installation. It is a non-IBR boiler, which falls outside Indian Boiler Regulation norms and is often installed by factory operators to cut costs

Departmental sources said that the boiler might have been installed after inspections were carried out in the unit, which was commissioned in 2022. They also indicated that no inspections appeared to have taken place in the Edayar factory since 2022.

Director of Factories and Boilers P. Pramod said that the number of site inspections had decreased from the level prior to the introduction of the Kerala Centralised Inspection Scheme (K-CIS).

Inspections are conducted at factory sites based on a computer-generated list of factories to be inspected each month. K-CIS was introduced to carry out all inspections on a single platform. The initiative replaces the manual scheduling of inspections to simplify business regulations and enhance transparency and accountability.

Sources in the department claimed that reducing frequent inspections could lead to accidents like the one in Edayar. They added that even when inspections occur, follow-up actions were not taken to ensure compliance.

Hibi Eden, MP, said in a statement here that all safety measures taken should be re-examined. He alleged that the circumstances under which the Edayar factory was allowed to operate without safety measures should also be investigated.

He said that the company where the blast occurred on Saturday night was issued a show-cause notice in early September this year, but there had been no follow-up action from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board.

He added that efforts to increase investment and generate employment opportunities should go hand in hand with strict oversight of the safety measures adopted by new units.

The Kerala State Small Industries Association said that the association, representing thousands of units in the State, has always advocated for the safety of workers and the surrounding environment while supporting the government in implementing norms governing operational safety.

Published - October 06, 2024 07:50 pm IST