RINL Workers Cite Safety Lapses Behind Steel Plant Explosions
The employees alleged that staff shortages have affected supervision of this process and that critical procedures are sometimes rushed
Visakhapatnam: Some experienced hands at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) say poor-quality raw materials, inadequate maintenance and chronic staff shortages contributed to the twin explosions on June 8.
The accident took place at Steel Melting Shop-1, where molten steel exploded, followed by a second explosion at Steel Melting Shop-2 about 20 minutes later. Employees with more than 15 years of experience at the plant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident was the culmination of long-standing safety concerns.
The employees said explosions involving molten steel had occurred intermittently over the past three to four years but had not drawn public attention as they did not result in fatalities. “This has been happening for years, but only now are people paying attention because workers died,” said one employee.
According to them, the process involves handling molten steel in 150-tonne buckets. They said bubbles can form when raw materials are added to molten metal and, if not properly released, may trigger explosions. A procedure known as “super-rinsing” or degassing, in which oxygen is injected into the molten metal to remove trapped gases, is intended to prevent such incidents.
The employees alleged that staff shortages have affected supervision of this process and that critical procedures are sometimes rushed. One employee compared the process to stirring boiling milk to prevent it from overflowing when ingredients are added. “We've been short-staffed, so supervision of this delicate procedure has been limited.”
They also felt routine maintenance suffered. According to them, machinery that should undergo inspections every six months has not been checked regularly and that equipment such as ladles and buckets has not received the required assessment. They further alleged that staff shortages have weakened quality control of raw materials used in steel production.
They said staffing levels have declined steadily over the years, with teams that once comprised 20 to 22 employees now operating with around 16. "Workers on leave were called in on the day of the accident to fill manpower gaps and that one such employee was among those who died."
The employees said the first explosion occurred at SMS-1 at around 4 pm, damaging an SPC vehicle, and that the second explosion took place about 20 minutes later at SMS-2. “Had management acted swiftly after the first incident, the second explosion could have been prevented,” one of them stated.
They said employees have been instructed not to disclose details of incidents within the plant and warned of disciplinary action if they speak publicly.
These statements could not be independently verified. No official response from the plant management was available.
