CHENNAI: The Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) has issued notices to 61 factories for safety violations found during a one-month-long special inspection drive following the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tiruvallur district in June that claimed 18 lives. The Labour Department has also formed a panel to study the impact of relocating workers’ accommodation to areas outside the factories.
As part of the drive in August, 21 teams headed by joint directors inspected 342 factories across Tamil Nadu — including seafood processing units, dairy plants and other food processing industries — that use ammonia for food processing. The inspections focused on ammonia storage systems, emergency response plans, fire safety equipment, ventilation, workers’ protective equipment, and maintenance of safety records. The teams also checked licences, periodic testing of pressure vessels and safety training to workers handling hazardous chemicals.
Officials said as many as 61 factories were found to have violated safety provisions under the Factories Act, 1948, and the Tamil Nadu Factories Rules, 1950. One of the major violations found was the accommodation of workers inside factory premises where ammonia is used. Under the existing safety norms, workers should not be housed inside such factories, and their accommodation should be at least 300 metres away. Notices were subsequently issued to the units, directing them to rectify the violations within the prescribed time.
Officials said most of the factories rectified the violations after receiving the notices, while a few had sought additional time to comply. However, food processing units, particularly seafood processing units, have raised concerns over shifting workers’ accommodation outside the factory premises. They said maintaining hygiene was important as the products processed in these units are meant for consumption and many of them are exported to other countries.
The industry has told the department that workers staying outside may pose difficulties for the units in ensuring hygiene practices and the quality and safety of food products.
Following the concerns, the Labour Department formed a committee to examine the issue. The committee is headed by an Assistant Director of the Labour Department and includes officials from DISH, Fire and Rescue Services Department and TNPCB, besides experts from Anna University, representatives of industries including Chemplast and Coromandel, and representatives from CLRI.
Representatives of the industry and workers will also be consulted. The committee will study the safety and hygiene concerns raised by the units and examine the advantages and difficulties of the existing accommodation requirement. It is expected to submit its recommendations within a month, based on which the Labour Department decide on the further course of action.
