Local media reported that 2 contract workers died reportedly after inhaling carbon monoxide that leaked at the coke oven unit of Steel Authority of India Limited’s IISCO Steel Plant in West Burdwan’s Burnpur on 2 June 2021. Sources at the central public sector unit said the gas had leaked after a glitch at battery 11. Three workers were doing cleaning jobs at the battery chamber shut for maintenance around 3.30pm when the incident occurred. All three had breathing problems and were rushed to the plant hospital with oxygen. Doctors declared two workers dead on arrival. The third was released after treatment. IISCO authorities have ordered a probe into the incident. However, the incident did not affect production at the plant. Trade union leaders have blamed steel plant authorities. INTUC affiliated Asansol Iron and Steel Workers’ Union’s General Secretary Mr Harjit Singh said “Workers don’t get minimum protection and forced to work in life-threatening situations. We demand permanent jobs for the kin of the deceased.” Mr Singh later confirmed that the IISCO management had promised to provide compensation, including a job to one family member of each of the deceased workers. The steel plant, which is now running with less than half the regular manpower in each shift following the ongoing restrictions put in place by the state government because of Covid-19, has around 4,750 permanent employees, including executives and around 8,000 contractor workers.
Local media reported that 2 contract workers died reportedly after inhaling carbon monoxide that leaked at the coke oven unit of Steel Authority of India Limited’s IISCO Steel Plant in West Burdwan’s Burnpur on 2 June 2021. Sources at the central public sector unit said the gas had leaked after a glitch at battery 11. Three workers were doing cleaning jobs at the battery chamber shut for maintenance around 3.30pm when the incident occurred. All three had breathing problems and were rushed to the plant hospital with oxygen. Doctors declared two workers dead on arrival. The third was released after treatment. IISCO authorities have ordered a probe into the incident. However, the incident did not affect production at the plant. Trade union leaders have blamed steel plant authorities. INTUC affiliated Asansol Iron and Steel Workers’ Union’s General Secretary Mr Harjit Singh said “Workers don’t get minimum protection and forced to work in life-threatening situations. We demand permanent jobs for the kin of the deceased.” Mr Singh later confirmed that the IISCO management had promised to provide compensation, including a job to one family member of each of the deceased workers. The steel plant, which is now running with less than half the regular manpower in each shift following the ongoing restrictions put in place by the state government because of Covid-19, has around 4,750 permanent employees, including executives and around 8,000 contractor workers.
