Worker in sewer sans safety gear
Video shows workers inside a manhole without any safety equipment. It is seen how of the four contract workers, a worker is in the manhole.
Chennai: In yet another major violation of safety guidelines from Supreme Court for manhole and sewer workers, a video has emerged exposing Chennai metro water not providing safety apparatus to its workers despite fatal sewer deaths in the past.
The video shows workers inside a manhole without any safety equipment. It is seen how of the four contract workers, a worker is in the manhole. The video clearly shows the worker taking a shower next to the jet rodding truck and rubbing himself vigorously after coming out of the manhole.
This brings to light, yet again, the agency’s prolonged apathy towards contract workers. An intern with an NGO shot the video on road near Koyambedu Sewerage Treatment plant on February 15 night.
“Metrowater workers are not allowed to enter manholes. There is absolutely no need, as all Metrowater depots and divisions have de-silting, super sucker and jet rodding machines. If at all there is an emergency, under proper supervision and using safety equipment like helmets, workers can enter manholes,” said a senior engineer with Metrowater.
When the Area engineer of Koyambedu was contacted, he said: “We have given strict instructions to the labour force as well as contractors about the ban on workers entering manholes or septic tanks. The labour force can be suspended, and the contract with the contractor can be terminated in this case. I will conduct an inquiry in this case.”
“There should be an awareness against such activities. Year after year, workers entering manholes die of poisonous gases, but there is a lack of action in such cases. Officials and contractors should be booked for such erring activities,” said A Narayanan, of ChangeIndia centre, who has been advocating abolition of manual scavenging.