The Industrial Safety and Health Department has directed all seafood processing units to relocate labor quarters to safe locations from the processing units immediately. The order comes in the wake of the NH3 leak tragedy that left 18 workers dead, as their accommodation was in close proximity to the factory’s Engineroom. Following the incident, the state formed a high-level committee to inspect safety standards at seafood processing factories handling NH3.
The joint directors at the regional levels had served notices to the factories, prohibiting the stay of laborers on the plant premises, stating it is unsafe to human life as per Section 40(1) of the Factories Act, 1948.
According to a notice served on a leading frozen foods factory, the employer shall, within three days, shift the workers’ accommodation to a residential area situated far from the factory premises and at a safe distance from the ammonia refrigeration installation. The factories shall submit a compliance report with documentary evidence to the Joint Director of Industrial Safety and Health, the notice said. Besides, the inspection committee serves a 28-page questionnaire on the safety of workers, hygiene, risk management, machinery, and other features.
A senior official said that an aerial separation distance of 300 m (980′) – 500 m (1,600′) may provide a level of safety. However, the actual safe distance should be established based on a detailed hazard identification and quantitative risk assessment.
Tamil Nadu has over 45 seafood processing factories, with 30 in Thoothukudi district, employing over 10,000 workers. Over 60% of the workers are migrant labourers and the majority are women. The industry fetches over `6,000 crore annually to the state exchequer.