Nine garment factories penalised -forlack of adequate safety equipment
News From Bangladesh
Monday April 17 2014 10:21:28 AM BDT
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) during the last 15 days of its crash programme fined nine garment factories for not having adequate fire safety equipment, reports UNB.
The ‘D category’ factories were fined Tk 10,000 each and asked to comply with the safety measures.
Under the crash programme, the BGMEA inspection teams visited 536 industrial units and asked some factories to arrange double exit and some others to expand the stairways to ensure smooth exit in case of any emergency.
When contacted, BGMEA vice-president (finance) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury Arun told UNB that the inspection teams found the gate of four factories closed during their visit last week.
He said the teams visited 324 factories in the first week and 212 others in the second week of the ongoing crash programme. “The teams instructed the factories concerned to keep their gates open during working hours and fined those who are lacking in adequate equipment for extinguishing fire,†he said.
Arun said the authorities of the factories having narrow stairs have been asked to widen the exit within next 15 days. “If they did not do so, we’ll stop the operation of the factories,†he warned.
Earlier, on April 1, the BGMEA launched the special awareness building campaign on how to face devastating fire and equip some 4,200 garment factories across the country with the latest fire extinguishing techniques.
Stung by the Chittagong KTS garment factory fire, the BGMEA launched the crash programme to disseminate information on extinguishing fire and ensure safe evacuation in case of any fire incident.
The BGMEA is directly monitoring and supervising the programme through its safety and labour cell.
A total of 21 additional staff were appointed on temporary basis to assist the existing BGMEA workforce to successfully conduct the entire crash programme.
A retired principal of fire service academy and some other retired fire brigade personnel were also appointed.
Ten fire safety teams are working in Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur and Narayanganj while two others in Chittagong.
Under the programme, mock fire drill with evacuation is also being practiced and adequate fire safety equipment ensured at the factories.
Practical lesson is being given by setting mock fire and asking the workers to get out of the factory in a disciplined manner, Arun said, describing the safety measures.
“Stampede caused by panic is the main reason behind deaths, rather than the fire itself,†BGMEA vice-president Arun said adding that the owners concerned are also simultaneously being imparted training.
The BGMEA executive said they have already appointed a retired principal of fire service academy and some other retired fire brigade personnel to strengthen the safety teams.
Arun said the special programme would continue in full swing for next three months. “We may extend the time for another three months if we fail to cover all the factories during the stipulated timeframe,†he said.
