KOCHI: The probe conducted by a four-member team of officers of the Department of Factories and Boilers has found serious lapses on the part of Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) in ensuring safety measures at workplace, that resulted in an explosion on board ONGC’s drill ship Sagar Bhushan. As many as five labourers had died in the February 13 accident, that also left several seriously injured.
“It was found in the inquiry that certain provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 had been violated on the day of the accident. As per rules, a safety officer should have examined the place of work and certified the area was safe to carry out the work.
The Factories and Boilers team could not find a document proving that this procedure was followed. There is also nothing to prove that confined workspace permit was issued. This permit is issued only after a responsible officer of the respective organisation inspects the area. Lack of documents proving this procedure indicates there was serious lapse on the part of the CSL management,’’ Factories and Boilers director P Pramod told ‘Express.’
The Factories and Boilers director also said the findings of the report endorsed the primary observation that leak of acetylene gas caused the accident. “Acetylne leak and its subsequent burning has been confirmed,’’ he said.The report will be submitted to the government on Tuesday.