Ship-breaking yards can
operate without the risk of personal injury lawsuits or workers’ health claims,
but unfortunately, such is not the case. Protective equipment is sometimes
absent or inadequate. The sandy beaches cannot sufficiently support the heavy
equipment, which is thus prone to collapse. Many are injured from explosions
when flammable gas is not removed from fuel tanks. In Bangladesh, a local
watchdog group claims that one worker dies a week and one is injured per a day
on average. The problem is caused by negligence from national governments,
shipyard operators and former ship owners disregarding standard international
safety rules and precautions.
In Gadani ship-breaking
yard, arguably the world’s second largest ship-breaking yard, another tragic
accident occurred when a worker lost his life due to the lack of health and
safety measures and facilities. Muhammad Shakir, 20, was killed as a heavy metal
sheet fell on him during dismantling of a decommissioned vessel in Gadani. The
victim hailed from Rahim Yar Khan in southern Punjab and worked as a helper at
the yard. This is the seventh death in Gadani since last year’s November oil
tanker tragedy that killed over 20 workers, jolted the authorities and drew
their attention towards the risky nature of work at the ship-breaking yard.
This incident comes days
after the representatives of the Ship Breaking Workers’ Union of Gadani and the
National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) extended an ultimatum that in case
workers of the ship-breaking yard are not given their due rights by August 1st,
they shall launch a movement that could culminate in a strike. Their demand
included the requisite health and safety measures among other things. According
to Nasir Mansoor, deputy secretary general of the NTUF, the government has done
nothing to remedy the situation since last year’s tragedy. It is important for
the government to take necessary measures and safety precautions for workers of
an industry that has been giving millions in taxes.
Source: the express tribune.
02 July 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment