The explosion in a factory in New Karachi Industrial Area is a tragic incident which must be investigated. Industrial accidents are highly common in Pakistan but are also pushed aside due to weak investigation and enforcement of safety standards.
At least ten workers lost their lives and thirty others were injured in the incident. But it was quickly mired in controversy after police were unable to ascertain the cause of the explosion and launched an inquiry. Factory owners often do not want the case to be investigated to avoid accountability while life of workers remains at risk, most of whom are underpaid and work in dangerous conditions.
Unsafe working conditions are the biggest cause of accidents often associated with defective tools, equipment, machines and materials. Factories have no safety standards, faulty layout, inadequate lighting, ventilation, location and safety devices. There are psychological reasons such as working overtime, fatigue, tiredness, and frustration. Workers are untrained and can also be responsible for accidents which leads to frequent industrial accidents.
The owner of the factory has claimed receiving life threats and being targeted like the Baldia Town incident, which was a criminal act and the worst industrial disaster in the nation’s history. This could also be a ploy to escape accountability for safety violations. He claims there was no broiler in his factory but rather the presence of ammonia gas which is inflammable but the factory has evidence of arson.
Ammonia is highly toxic irritant gas and most people can be exposed by breathing gas and vapours. It is dangerous when it enters the body and can cause death by suffocation. Many of these factories in Karachi are located in densely-populated areas which puts the lives of residents at risk. The government should ensure that residential houses are not allowed in industrial areas while all factories in non-commercial localities should be shut down.
The government should ensure that health and safety standards at factories are strictly enforced. We should not wait for the next disaster but rather take action against all violators. The world has seen some of the worst industrial accidents from the Bhopal gas leak to Chernobyl nuclear disaster merely on lack of safety precautions. This incident can be an eye opener before it is too late.
