Lok Sabha Question No. 2974 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Accidents at Steel Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: BODH SINGH BHAGAT, TAMRADHWAJ SAHU

## ACCIDENTS AT STEEL PLANTS

2974.  SHRI BODHSINGH BHAGAT: SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the public sector Steel plants including Bhilai Steel plant of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) where accidents have taken place during each of the last three years and the current year, plant-wise;

(b) the  details  of  the  investigation  carried  out  in  the  said  accidents  along  with remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether any decision has been taken to change the old gas pipe lines in these plants and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether  the  safety  department  is  providing  gas  masks  with  portable  gas monitors to the labourers deployed in potential gas reserve field and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a) A  statement  showing  details  of  accidents  which  occurred  in  different  public sector steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) during the requisite period is annexed . The accidents at these plants  have  occurred  due  to  reasons  such  as  fall  from  height,  gas  poisoning, electrocution, burn injury, fire/explosion etc.

(b) All  fatal  accidents  are  investigated  by  Plant  level  enquiry  committee  which ascertains  the  causes  of  such  accidents  and  suggests  measures  for  preventing recurrence. In serious accident cases, High Level Inquiry is ordered by the Ministry in addition to the Plant Level Inquiry and the Inquiry ordered by the State Government / Local Authorities. The recommendations of the Inquiry Committee are implemented, monitored  and  reviewed  at  appropriate  levels  in  Plants  /  units  for  their  timely compliance.

Both SAIL and RINL have taken a number of measures to avoid occurrence of accidents. These measures, inter-alia, include adherence to maintenance schedule, thrust  on  systematic  approach  to  safety  management,  strict  adherence  to  safety procedures,  regular  inspection,  mandatory  training  and  special  training  on  safety awareness, conduct of safety audit, enforcing use of personal protection equipments and proper implementation of emergency plan prepared as per the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 etc.

(c) The health of gas pipe lines is closely monitored for maintenance in healthy condition  through  regular  inspection  and  preventive  maintenance,  periodic  Nondestructive tests (NDT) etc. As part of preventive maintenance and also taking the NDT into account, section of gas pipe line is planned / changed in a phased manner by following proper safety protocol.

(d) Gas  masks  and  adequate  portable  gas  monitors  are  provided  to  the  work persons deployed in potential gas reserve field as per standard protocol.

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## Annexure

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  A  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2974 FOR ANSWER ON 20.03.2017 TABLED BY SHRI  BODHSINGH  BHAGAT  AND  SHRI  TAMRADHWAJ  SAHU  REGARDING ACCIDENTS AT STEEL PLANTS.

Statement showing details of accidents which occurred in different public sector steel plants  and  units  of  the  Steel  Authority  of  India  Limited  (SAIL)  and  Rashtriya  Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) during the last three years and the current year (plant-wise).

| Plants / Units                                | Fatal Accidents (Fatality)              | Fatal Accidents (Fatality)              | Fatal Accidents (Fatality)              | Fatal Accidents (Fatality)              | Other reportable accidents (excluding fatal accidents)   | Other reportable accidents (excluding fatal accidents)   | Other reportable accidents (excluding fatal accidents)   | Other reportable accidents (excluding fatal accidents)   |
|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| Period                                        | 2014                                    | 2015                                    | 2016                                    | 2017 (till 3.3.2017)                    | 2014                                                     | 2015                                                     | 2016                                                     | 2017 (till Feb.2017)                                     |
| STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL)       | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL) | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL) | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL) | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL) | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL)                  | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL)                  | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL)                  | STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED (SAIL)                  |
| Bhilai Steel Plant (Chhattisgarh)             | 8                                       | 3                                       | 3                                       | 0                                       | 11                                                       | 13                                                       | 3                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Durgapur Steel Plant (West Bengal)            | 4                                       | 5                                       | 1                                       | 0                                       | 2                                                        | 2                                                        | 0                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Rourkela Steel Plant (Odisha)                 | 2                                       | 6                                       | 2                                       | 1                                       | 1                                                        | 2                                                        | 3                                                        | 2                                                        |
| Bokaro Steel Plant (Jharkhand)                | 2                                       | 1                                       | 2                                       | 0                                       | 8                                                        | 7                                                        | 3                                                        | 0                                                        |
| IISCO Steel Plant (West Bengal)               | 8                                       | 0                                       | 1                                       | 1                                       | 29                                                       | 8                                                        | 1                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Alloy Steel Plant (West Bengal)               | 0                                       | 1                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 3                                                        | 0                                                        | 0                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Salem Steel Plant (Tamil Nadu)                | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 5                                                        | 1                                                        | 1                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant (Karnataka) | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 1                                                        | 3                                                        | 3                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Chandrapur Ferro Alloys Plant (Maharashtra)   | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 2                                                        | 2                                                        | 2                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Stock yard                                    | 2                                       | 1                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                                        | 1                                                        | 1                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Raw Material Division (Mines) (Odisha)        | 1                                       | 2                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 3                                                        | 2                                                        | 1                                                        | 1                                                        |
| Bhilai Mines(Chhattisgarh)                    | 0                                       | 1                                       | 1                                       | 0                                       | 10                                                       | 7                                                        | 10                                                       | 0                                                        |
| Collieries (Jharkhand)                        | 0                                       | 0                                       | 1                                       | 0                                       | 1                                                        | 1                                                        | 2                                                        | 0                                                        |
| SAIL Refractory Unit (Chhattisgarh)           | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 0                                       | 10                                                       | 4                                                        | 1                                                        | 0                                                        |
| Total (SAIL)                                  | 27                                      | 20                                      | 11                                      | 2                                       | 86                                                       | 53                                                       | 31                                                       | 3                                                        |
| Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.                    | 05                                      | 04                                      | 06                                      | 0                                       | 14                                                       | 13                                                       | 10                                                       | 0                                                        |
| GRAND TOTAL                                   | 32                                      | 24                                      | 17                                      | 2                                       | 100                                                      | 66                                                       | 41                                                       | 3                                                        |

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