Boiler, cylinder blasts raise safety concerns

Official says compliance with building rules would help save lives

FAISALABAD: At least 17 incidents of cylinder or boiler explosions in Faisalabad during the past year and a half have raised concerns about implementation of building safety rules in the city.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer (DEO) Ehtesham Wahla told The Express Tribune that in 2,060 fire incidents during the period, 103 people suffered burn injuries and dozens of them were disabled. The death toll due to the fires was 20, while six cases of fire had been reported due to cylinder explosion.

The official said citizens had been continuously facing loss of life and property because of such accidents.

He said the reason behind increasing incidents of cylinder and boiler explosions appeared to be lack of proper implementation of the building safety codes. He said compliance with the rules would not only help save lives but also reduce environmental pollution and improve the safety of workers.

Work hazard: Eight workers injured in boiler blast 

During 2019, 1,671 fire incidents had been reported in which 76 people sustained injuries and nine people lost their lives. According to the DEO, the fires caused a loss of Rs491 million, while Rescue 1122 and fire brigade personnel saved goods worth about Rs8 billion from destruction.

There are 27 fire vehicles in Faisalabad, of which, 13 are with the Rescue 1122 and 14 with fire brigade.

As many as 401 workers were fully trained to cope with accidents, including fire.

In all these incidents, Rescue 1122, fire brigade and civil defence personnel worked to minimise the loss of life and property.

Earlier this year, eight people were killed when a boiler exploded at a factory on Sargodha Road.

Punjab government also formed a committee to probe into an oil refinery fire near Sudhar on May 8.

The additional deputy commissioner was the convener of the committee, while its members included a labour director, the industries DO, a police representative and an official of Rescue 1122.

In addition to examining the legal status of the factory under the relevant rules and regulations, the committee was asked to identify the causes of the fire and those responsible, recommend financial assistance to the victims and propose safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

District administration, civil defence and police personnel also inspect gas filling stations and factory boilers.

Work hazards: Three workers killed in boiler explosion

However, six more people did last week when the boiler of an oil depot exploded in Thikriwala area.

Some local people alleged that some officials of the departments concerned were complicit in allowing factories, mills and gas filling stations to operate without precautionary measures.

As a result, there were several fires and boiler explosions which led to loss of lives and property. Financial losses could be avoided if district administration officials and government officials pay attention to and address this issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2020.