Kochi: Factories and boilers director P. Pramod has sought action against the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for “failing to comply” with the mandatory safety procedures. He forwarded to the government on Tuesday the inquiry report into the February 13 blast on an oil rig inside its drydock containing the recommendation by a five-member probe team. “They found the CSL authorities had violated the Factories Act and Rules. A safety check needs to be carried out without fail to detect the presence of gas daily before allowing workers to the ship or area of repair. Our inquiry found the authorities failed to carry out hot work permit,” Mr Pramod told DC.
A hot work permit provides a step-by-step checklist for hot work fire safety and serves as a reminder to contractors of their fire prevention responsibilities before, during, and after any such work is conducted. During the mishap on February 13, the workers were engaged in cutting and welding of steel plates inside the potable water tank at the double bottom half of the ship dry-docked inside the shipyard. “A report was submitted by evening recommending action against the CSL authorities. Further legal action will be taken based on the direction of the government,” he said.
As per the probe report, the leakage of acetylene gas started on the night before the day of the incident when workers forgot to close the valve carrying the welding gas. However, it could not be detected before the repair works started the next morning. One of the workers reported the smell of the gas emanating forcing the senior fireman rush to the potable water tank where the welding works were going on. However, the blast happened within minutes, killing five persons and injuring seven.
