KARACHI, Sept 19: Speakers at a 3-day seminar on Thursday expressed concern over the sharp increase in fatal incidents at major industrial concerns in the country, and stressed the need for creating awareness among the masses, industrialists, skilled and semi-skilled workers about occupational health and safety aspects.

The seminar on “Occupational Health, Safety, Environment and Fire Control” was organized by the Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), in which experts from a number of government and private organizations are participating.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar, technical experts deplored the death of 10 industrial workers in Rawalpindi, besides a number of fatal incidents in various industries in Karachi during the last few weeks, and termed it a lacuna

in safety precautions and disaster management planning by the authorities.

The Vice President, International Federation of Engineering Organizations, Engr Chaudhary Mohammad Rasheed condemned WAPDA for blaming the deceased workers of Rawalpindi, who died in a fatal accident while working at an under-construction building, saying that both the Rawalpindi Development Authority and WAPDA should not have allowed the construction of the building.

He was of the view that the safety and security of human beings working at industries and other projects should be given top most priority, and if a worker loses his life due to lack of safety measures on the part of the management, criminal proceedings should be initiated against it.

Citing various incidents in which electrical engineers and linesmen lost their lives, he said awareness should be created among skilled as well as semi-skilled workers as sometimes, they face fatal accidents because of over-confidence in various dangerous situations.

Terming smoking as a major cause of disastrous fire incidents, he said ‘no smoking’ signs should be displayed at every prominent place in industries in bold letters, and negligence should be discouraged by the management of industrial concerns.

He called upon IEP and other major industrial units in the country to give the matter of occupational safety serious consideration, and to work jointly to arrange an international conference in order to learn from engineers working in developed countries.

“Nothing would be changed unless we come up with solid recommendations and suggestions”, he said, urging the government to prepare and promulgate laws for industrial workers’ safety and security.

Delivering his welcome address, Chairman IEP Karachi Centre Engr Khalid R. Quraishi termed the seminar organized by IEP as a mini-parliament, where issues are debated and their solutions are worked out.

“Naturally, we do not have (the) powers to legislate, but we do have a voice in quarters concerned, and we are glad it is not falling on deaf ears”, he said, adding that engineering bodies and organizations should pressurize (the) government for promulgating “Engineering Services Ordinance 2002”.

Regretting the non-recognition of many unsung heroes amongst fire fighters and bomb disposal squads, he said the services of many of these people were neither publicly recognized, nor were they given any monetary awards.

Rear Admiral M.I Arshad said that the main objective behind organizing this seminar should be to create awareness with regard to the importance of occupational health, safety, environment and fire control, and to focus attention on the problems of safe working, a healthy and clean environment, and above all, accident prevention.

He said that during 1981-1990, in Sindh alone, about 17,832 accidents were reported, of which, 348 proved fatal while 2,534 persons sustained serious injuries. During this period, the amount of compensation paid to the affected persons was about Rs92 million.

Engr Anwar-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Vice Chairman Mechanical IEP, briefed participants about codes, laws and precautionary measures in practice from ancient times, and said that unfortunately, in Karachi in 2002, some 27 industrial workers lost their lives.

Secretary IEP Karachi Engr I.H Siddiqui and C.L Nankani, Chairman Organizing Committee also spoke.

Over 23 experts, engineers and scientists will present their papers on occupational health, safety, environment and fire control, whereas more than 100 government and private industrial organizations are participating in the 3-day seminar.—PPI