Rewari blast: NSC is requested to conduct an industrial safety audit

The district administrative authorities have urged the National Safety Council of India (NSC) Director General to form a committee for a thorough investigation into the dust collection explosion at M/s Lifelong Auto Private Limited in Dharuhera town, which resulted in the deaths of sixteen workers and the injuries of twenty-three others on March 16.

This was revealed in a report that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rahul Hooda turned in to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday. The district officials were instructed to submit a response in this respect by the NGT, which was investigating the subject suo motu based on media reports.

The NSC has acknowledged receipt of the email request to do a comprehensive safety audit of the company’s facilities, however, it has indicated that expenses for professional fees, lodging/boarding, and expert travel would be incurred. For information and future steps, it has been approved and sent to the Assistant Director, Industrial Safety and Health Officer, Rewari, as well as the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Rewari,” the response said.

The DC went on to state that district authorities jointly constituted a committee to investigate the reason for the March 17 event. The committee’s assessment indicated that the explosion was likely caused by a spark from metal polishing or short circuit, since there was a significant amount of fine metal dust in the dust collectors. The audit also noted a number of additional infractions.

The NGT also requested information from the Assistant Director (Safety and Health), the Regional Officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the Fire Officer of Rewari, and the number of fatal cases and injured workers, along with periodic inspection reports and any compensation given to the affected workers.

Assistant Director (Safety and Health) Rewari responded, stating that sixteen of the 39 workers who were hurt in the event died, four of them were still being treated at PGIMS, Rohtak, and 19 of them were released from the hospital after receiving treatment. The whole expense of the wounded workers’ medical care is being covered by the company’s management.