Firms should adhere to safety norms: Collector

Visakhapatnam: District Collector Praveen Kumar asked the officials to see that the industries adhered to safety norms so that accidents can be prevented.

Addressing the District Industries Crisis Management meeting at his office, the Collector suggested efforts should be made to pass this year as zero accident year and told the officials to organise training programmes for the workers on industrial safety in all the factories in addition to preparing onsite and offsite emergency plans.

He also said all the factories should coduct mock drills periodically to get acquainted with implementation of safety measures.

“Safety measures not only prevent loss of life, but also property,” the Collector said and added that by achieving zero rate of accidents, the factories can get A grade.

Joint chief inspector of factories K Chandrasekhara Varma said the district has 1,664 factories which include petroleum, petro-chemical, fertilisers, pesticides, steel, power, pharma, bio-diesel, agro-products, garments, engineering and ship building employing 1,50, 386 people.

There were seven major accidents last year in different factories. Special teams have been visiting all the factories to assess the implementation of safety measures.

Factories have been graded after safety audit and 96 factories have been divided into five categories. Mock drills are being conducted in association with various agencies of the government, the inspector told the Collector.

Officers of factories department, police and representatives of various industries were present in the meeting.