Safety audit finds 17 companies below 50% compliant

Visakhapatnam: The safety audit conducted by the factories department following the major fire at Biomax in April this year has revealed that 17 of the 92 companies audited in the district have less than 50% compliance in implementing safety norms.
Only 31 companies have been accorded 'A' grade with safety compliance of more than 85%. According to official data, 16 companies with compliance between 70% and 85% have received grade 'B', whereas 28 companies have received grade 'C' with compliance between 50% and 70%.
About a dozen companies have received 'D' grade with compliance between 35% and 50%. Five companies have been ranked the lowest 'E' with a compliance rate of less than 35%.
The factories department's report said, "In response to the major accident in Biomax, VSEZ, Duvvada on April 26, the government of AP ordered for a special drive on safety audit by constituting teams. The district collector had constituted five teams and the audit was conducted from May 2 to 26 covering 92 factories. The observations made by the teams were consolidated by joint chief inspector of factories, Visakhapatnam, and communicated to respective managements for compliance."
A senior official said already one round of meeting was held with the managements of 92 factories. They have been directed to improve the conditions on their premises. "We have decided to provide a template for guidance. Safety professionals have given us the template and we will circulate it to the industries later this week."
He said, "We will choose one company as a model, so that others can follow it and comply with the safety norms. Our aim is not to issue notices to companies, but to make them comply with the rules. We will ask them to come up with an action plan on safety compliance."