Throughout our industry working from
height is a hazard that has resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities.
Following the fatal accident one morning
during the week of September 6, 2020, the employees of the company, in shock,
decided to stop work.
A 37-year-old man, an employee of an aluminium extrusion company,
located in the North Africa was killed yesterday morning after a close fall ten
meters, according to information gathered from other workers at the
plant.
The victim was working at height at the oven at the time of the
tragic accident. She is part of a team that was brought in by the Chinese
investor from another unit in the west of the country two days ago, according
to employees.
The same sources say that the 37-year-old employee, who died,
was not wearing any protective equipment, which is mandatory for this kind of
task. The body of the victim was deposited by the Civil Protection at the
morgue of the 20 kilometers away in the provincial capital.
Following this fatal accident, the employees of the company
decided to stop work. They all left the company.
Thus, several workers denounce the poor working conditions in
this company which specializes in the production of aluminum building materials
and equipment.
“We work without any protective equipment. The employer
gave us nothing. We have neither safety shoes nor work clothes, let alone masks
to protect us from the risks of the dust that is generated inside the factory.
Workers are exposed to all dangers, ”says one employee. Several
accidents have taken place in this factory recently. Several cases of
fainting have been recorded in recent months, especially among women who work
there in large numbers.
Workers have been evacuated to the city's polyclinic for
discomfort caused by the strong smells of chemicals used in the production of
aluminum equipment, employees testified. This factory is also singled out
by the inhabitants of the town for pollution.
Protest actions have been carried out recently to demand the
closing of the oven from which poisonous smoke escapes and which is spreading
throughout the town.
We offer our sincere condolences to the
deceased worker’s family, friends, and coworkers.
We do not know why the worker was not wearing
a safety harness prior to and while working from height. This incident could
have been prevented or minimized if the worker was properly wearing and using a
safety harness. We pray that the local government will enforce the he safety
standards that the governmental safety organization has put forth.
On our travels we have toured some
aluminium plants where safety was not important to the owner(s). We have heard
of the frustration from the plant management, shift foremen, etc. that they
receive no support from the owners in terms of safety. We offer whatever
support we can give. We then challenge the plant management, foremen, etc. to
change the safety environment. Commonly, the response will be “how can we do
it?” We respond, “It doesn’t matter, but if you do not change the safety environment
going forward every incident, every injury, every fatality will be your responsibility.”
We have found that when you look in the eye and tell a manager(s) that they are
personally and morally responsible for the next injury or fatality is either
goes well or really bad. We tell them to act. We offer the tact of using
preventing production stoppages to install safety measures. They are other ways
of installing safety measures to counter the owner’s lack of safety focus.
Lastly, we acknowledge how crazy our comments
above may seem. If they do, then you are at a plant, with a company that cares
about safety. Sadly, not all plants, nor all companies are like that.
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