Workers employed by the automotive parts industry and other businesses that use power press systems continue to bear the brunt of this issue since Haryana’s labor department lacks a framework in place to monitor the quality control of power presses. Information indicates that 116 laborers have experienced severe injuries, including limb loss, in industrial mishaps while operating a power press equipment between 2015 and this date. This came to the fore in response to a query by Congress MLA from NIT, Neeraj Sharma, during the first sitting of the winter session of the Haryana assembly. Sharma had asked the government if there was any mechanism in the labour department to check the quality of machinery installed by private entrepreneurs on the premises or if there were any guidelines or inspection systems to check the quality of machines.
Responding to a query, Anoop Dhanak, minister of state (MoS) for labour, said the labour welfare department of the state did not have any such mechanism. Dhanak said that quality control and inspection of machinery is the responsibility of entrepreneurs or owners or occupants of the industrial unit. He said that the unit owner is supposed to get everything examined once a year. “It is provided that each power press shall be provided with a safety guard enclosing all sides of the tool and dye, to preclude the possibility of workers’ hand or fingers reaching the tool and dye area, which is a dangerous zone. It is the responsibility of the occupier of the factory to provide safety guard on each power press that can be a sensor guard, mechanical guard and interlock guard. During the inspection of a factory, if the inspecting officer finds that such safety guard is not provided on any power press, then action is taken as per provision of the Factories Act, 1948,’’ said Dhanak.
Sharma restated his commitment to pursuing the matter on behalf of laborers. “Many industrial workers make up our constituency, and they bear the brunt of the injustices. We will push for strict legislation because of this, he declared.
