Factory workers at Mbalala industrial park have asked the government to introduce severe penalties for factory owners neglecting safety of workers.
The call comes after the recent industrial accident at Hong Hai Wood limited, an associate company of Tian Tang Group at Mbalala Industrial Park which claimed the life of a machine operator, Felix Arindu.
Arindu was pulled by a belt and crushed by the machine leading to his instant death.
The tragedy came a few months after another accident at Riley Packaging Factory, the manufacturers of corrugated products resulted into an instant death of Godfrey Egesa who was hit by a strong roll of raw materials used in making boxes. The roll fell off an improper forklift.
Despite such tragic happenings, the factory managements remained unbothered about the safety of workers which has promptd them to start demanding penalties against factory owners neglecting safety standards.
One of the factory workers at Hong Hai Wood who preferred not to reveal his identity noted that the situation requires the government’s intervention, setup of substantial fines for employers or face imprisonment for negligence.
“The government should adopt the practice of prohibiting businesses from continuing operations until they comply with safety standards. Here at Hong Hai Wood, not even government inspectors have ever stepped here. They only stop at offices and are facilitated to go back.”
Another worker noted that the government should consider establishing a special department at state house responsible for investigating industrial accidents at industrial parks; follow up compensation of workers as it is on corrupt officers since the current labour authorities have failed on their mandate.
Our insiders from the two mentioned factories of Hong Hai wood and Riley Packaging confirm that nothing has been done to turn around the working environment but government inspectorate have remained silent.
“Despite receiving fatal accidents, the factory management remains unbothered on safety, leaving the lives of workers at stake. Not even simple gears such as masks, gumboots, and gloves are provided” He noted.
Hong Hai Wood was officially opened in 2014 and commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni.
For those who may not know the dangers of machines used in woodworking especially when operated without proper safeguards. Workers can suffer laceration, amputation, severed fingers, and blindness and in situations where machines are more faulty workers can meet instant death.
Wood dust and the chemicals used in finishing are hazardous and can cause workers at the industry to suffer from skin and respiratory diseases.
For Riley packaging factory’s case, corrugated boxes racing through the production lines releases a symphony of dust, fumes and adhesives, with prolonged exposure, the contamination can wreak havoc on human lungs leading respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and even fatal conditions like silicosis.
Our effort to have explanations about the future safety plans at factories implicated has not yet yielded as their responsible spokespersons have chosen to remain silent about the matter.
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