PRS 4552 Health and Safety within High-Risk Industries Critical Review of a High-Risk Industry Incident – Delhi factory fire Formative Assessment 19-05-2021 Abstract Fire is one of the most common human-caused risks, and it occurs as a result of insufficient or no preventative measures. In India, big-scale fires that result in a huge number of deaths and injuries are common, posing numerous emergency management issues. While disaster management has improved significantly in recent years, complete integration of government emergency management programmes at the provincial level is still a work in progress. The conclusions of a study of a factory fire in India that killed 43 persons are presented in this article. In the lack of a well-defined disaster management plan, the excellent provincial level handling of this fire was highly encouraging and gives advice for other disaster managers around the country. Hazard, vulnerability, and capacity are the three components of risk, according to the definition. We must minimise vulnerabilities and boost capacity if we are to lessen the risk of fire. As a result, implementing various programmes and strategies to improve community members’ coping capability will aid in minimising and lowering the effects of fire. Introduction Risks and hazards in cities are inextricably linked to urban land-use patterns and urban lifestyles. When it comes to urbanisation, it’s important to remember that even if a fire occurs on a small scale, the consequences might be significant. The increase in disaster risk is mostly determined by the metropolitan population, infrastructure, and way of life [1]. In poor countries, the amount of urban danger is higher. According to a study, more than two-thirds of the world’s population is anticipated to reside in cities by 2050 [2]. However, fire is one of the most dreaded curses of uncontrolled urbanisation since it can inflict massive destruction in a short period of time. In recent years, fire has been regarded as one of the most important man-made disasters in the world. It results in significant property, life, and settlement losses. It occurs often across the country but is most prevalent in metropolitan and semi-urban areas. High population density, unplanned urbanisation and industrialization, and non-compliance with construction codes are all risk factors for this tragedy [3]. In India, the number of fires is steadily growing. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, about 60 people die in India every day as a result of fire. In India, over 25,000 people die each year as a result of fires and other connected causes. Approximately 66 percent of those killed in fire accidents are women. Around 6% of all deaths reported due to natural and anthropogenic causes are caused by fire. Study Area On the morning of December 8, a fire broke out at a factory in India’s capital, New Delhi. At least 43 individuals have died, according to reports. When the fire broke out, many of the victims were sleeping in factory beds, relaxing in between shifts. An electrical short circuit, according to investigators, ignited the fire. People inhaling hazardous gases in the tight factory caused the majority of the deaths. The fire started in a busy neighbourhood known for its enormous wholesale marketplaces. Because the location is so small, fire vehicles were unable to reach the factory and were forced to spray water from a distance of 100 yards. Because zoning restrictions and safety rules are frequently disregarded in India, deadly fires are common. The structure was used as a factory without permission and lacked a fire permit. The research team also discovered that the building was filled with raw plastic material [4]. Inside this four- or five-story structure, manufacturing workers and labourers sleep. Because the incident occurred early in the morning, they were inside the factory at the time. In India, builders and occupants frequently disobey building codes and safety regulations. A fire at a Delhi cinema killed 59 people in 1997. In February of this year, a fire in a six-story hotel in the city killed 17 people after it started in an illegal rooftop kitchen. Methods Identify the factors that contributed to the fire, as well as the injuries and deaths that resulted.Determine the state of relief and rehabilitation measures taken. Analyse the impact of crisis management, relief, and rehabilitation activities.Determine the overall degree of satisfaction among impacted families with the situation’s management and reaction.Find out what different stakeholders think about the success of the response initiatives. Effects of ineffective Risk Management The factory building was on a busy street and, in retrospect, seemed tailor-made for a calamity. Also, the plan area was located in a residential area, and the structure lacked an appropriate fire licence, making its operation as a factory unlawful, according to the local fire chief. Factory’s 600-square-foot (56-square-meter) plot caught fire [5]. The fire was started by a short circuit, but it was exacerbated by the presence of plastic packaging pouches, bags, and other similar materials. Accessing the dark, poorly lit premises, according to fire officials, was extremely difficult. Because the fire broke out in one of the area’s many alleyways, tangled in electrical wire and too narrow for vehicles to reach, firefighters tackled it from a distance of 100 metres. The rescue operation was completed with the help of about 25 fire engines. Around 60 people were evacuated from the building, including casualties. Response and crisis management The actions of various responders, as well as the study of relief and rehabilitation measures, state safety measures to prevent this type of disaster, with an emphasis on crucial concerns in disaster management in a developing and densely populated country, and the rules, regulations, and disaster management system in the particular state, were all discussed with various stakeholders. In terms of response and post-disaster management, this fire tragedy was considered and assessed to have been well-managed. Collaboration between the local community and government made it a best practise for dealing with a man-made disaster. Corporate and Private sector participation The responses of corporate and private sector organisations bolstered the district administration’s efforts, according to all the stakeholders interviewed. The response included giving a huge number of vehicles for transporting the deceased to their villages for cremation, providing free telephone lines, and financing the treatment of injured persons in various hospitals. Investigation Within seven days, the state administration demanded an investigation and a report. [5] The origin of the fire is still unknown, and an investigation is underway. An electrical short circuit was the most likely reason, according to eyewitnesses and the early police inquiry. [6] After the fire started, a considerable amount of plastic kept on the premises caused smoke, according to a police official. The Delhi Police have filed a case against the factory’s two proprietors and have sent it to the Crime Branch for further investigation [7]. On the same day, the building’s owner and his manager were detained under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 285 (assault) (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) [8]. Recommendations Government should conduct investigation about the factories those running without having proper license. Adequate safety measures and fire prevention and fire emergency plan should implement by the factory. Government needs to verify all these things are clear and working in good way. Never store excess amount of production materials in site. Otherwise, these materials should store in a secure protected place. Never give permission to operate the factories near the residential or crowded area. Also, employee’s accommodation should provide in separate area from the factory. A legal safety policy, emergency plan and emergency fire plan always active in a running factory. Conclusion Despite major financial and resource constraints, India has achieved great progress in recent years in emergency preparedness and disaster management. While maintaining a multi-hazards strategy, more emphasis is being focused on preparedness and mitigation strategies, as well as a speedy and effective reaction. This catastrophe was one of the results of a pervasive problem of a cavalier attitude toward industrial safety, which resulted in the progressive deterioration of an already insufficient governmental industrial system and the expansion of private firms that were frequently overcrowded, housed in substandard structures, and were completely uncontrolled. The methods used to manage the emergency, help the impacted families, and avoid future accidents were deemed effective by the victims’ parents and other key stakeholders. Appropriate and timely disaster health care services, as well as gender sensitivity, were effectively addressed in India’s disaster response and management. The media and crowd control were handled with such care and efficiency that it serves as a useful case study for other catastrophe managers. However, the most difficult demand that was not fully provided was a proper system of delivering mental health and psychosocial care in afflicted communities, families, and children. Reference [1]Disaster risk reduction approaches in Bangladesh R. Shaw, F. Mallick, A. Islam (Eds.), Disaster Rrsk Reduction Approaches in Bangladesh, Springer Japan (2013), 10.1007/978-4-431-54252-0 Google Scholar [2] World Economic Forum The global risks Report 2018 World Economic Forum, vol. 14 (2013) Issue 1). https://doi.org/978-1-944835-15-6 Google Scholar [3] Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Bangladesh: Disaster Management Reference Handbook (2015) http://www.cfe-dmha.org Google Scholar [4] https://www.npr.org/2019/12/08/786066785/43-dead-in-extremely-horrific-fire-at- new-delhi-factory?t=1621432612745 [5] Chand, Sakshi (8 December 2019). “Delhi fire: 43 dead as fire engulfs factory building in Delhi’s Anaj Mandi area”. The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2019. [6] “Dozens dead in Delhi bag factory fire”. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019. [7] “Rescuers Seen In Video Cutting Through Wall Of Burning Building In Delhi”. NDTV. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019. [8] ^“Delhi fire tragedy: building owner and his manager arrested”. The Hindu. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
