Waste-handling unit in Pithampur had no sprinklers, trained fire crew: Probe

Indore: The hazardous waste-handling unit in Pithampur did not have a functional sprinkler or hydrant system and lacked trained fire-response staff, industrial health and safety department found during its probe into the fire that occurred at the unit on Tuesday.The blaze had also spread to four neighbouring units which suffered damage in the range of 10–15 percent, officials said.The fire broke out late in the night in the plastic recycling shed of Sector 3 unit after a suspected spark from an LED light fell on accumulated plastic scrap. With highly combustible material stored in bulk and no effective fire control system in place, the flames spread rapidly to adjoining units before being brought under control.Following the incident, the industrial health and safety department on April 22 issued prohibitory orders to the company under Section 40(2) of the Factories Act, 1948, directing it to immediately halt all manufacturing processes, machinery use and any work posing an imminent threat to worker safety or health."No hydrant system or sprinkler arrangement as per fire safety norms was installed in the plastic recycling shed where the fire broke and the factory did not have trained fire-response staff as mandated. These arrangements could have prevented the fire from spreading and causing such damage," said Rajesh Yadav, factory inspector and in-charge deputy director, industrial health and safety, Dhar.Officials said that the workers attempted to douse the flames using available extinguishers but without a hydrant or sprinkler network, the response proved inadequate and the fire intensified for several hours.The order stated that the unit was in violation of key fire safety norms. "As per MP Factory Rules 1962, Rule 72(11), no hydrant system or sprinkler arrangement was in place, and the hydrant system had not been installed as per prescribed norms," it said.It further stated, "Under Rule 107, Schedule 11 Part 3 (8) (1) (a), no trained fire-fighting team had been appointed in the factory," adding that these lapses posed a serious risk to worker safety and contributed to the scale of the incident.