Accidental death at workplaces has increased by 48 percent this year. One thousand 432 people died in accidents at work till December 28, 2023 in the country, which was 967 last year.
The information has emerged in a survey of Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHI) Foundation.
This survey report was published at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unit (DRU) in Segunbagicha of the capital on Friday.
OSHI Foundation Vice Chairman Dr. SM Morshed presented the report. The survey was conducted on the basis of information received from the country's local and national newspapers, online and television news, spot reports from volunteers, trade unions and workers.
Dr. SM Morshed said that among the workers who met accidents this year, one thousand and 103 were working in the informal sector and 329 were working in the formal sector. Among them, maximum 637 people died in the transport sector, 220 people in the daily labour sector, 149 people in the construction sector, 146 people in the agricultural sector and 94 people in the manufacturing sector.
At least 502 people were seriously injured in the accident. Last year this number was 228. At the same time, from 2013 to December 28 of this year, 9 thousand 263 people were killed at work.
Dr. SM Morshed informed about the limitations and obstacles in the field of workplace safety.
These are lack of proper implementation of health and safety guidelines mentioned in Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 (Amended 2018) and Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, employment of drivers without special training has increased the number of accidents and casualties in the transport sector.
There is lack of proper initiative to implement national occupational health and safety policy, inadequate labour inspection system, inadequate boiler inspection system, inhumane treatment of domestic workers and reluctance to use personal protective equipment.
The foundation has made 10 recommendations to prevent accidental deaths at work.
The recommendations are to strengthen monitoring system for proper implementation of health and safety provisions mentioned in Labour Rules-2015; In other sectors like clothing, the formation of safety committees consisting of representatives of the employer-employee side; To include one-time Tk 10 lakh financial assistance to the families of workers died in workplace accidents and Tk 5 lakhs to injured workers and rehabilitation of workers in the Labour Law; Introduction of Employment Injury Scheme (EIS) in all sectors of industry; Creating an accurate database of official information on accidents at work; Inclusion of workers killed or injured in accidents at work in the public pension scheme and monthly contributions from the government; Taking over and modernizing the hospital established by the owner in the ship breaking yard area under government management; Ensuring workers appropriate personal protective equipment useat work; Orientation on National Occupational Health and Safety Policy, 2013 for industrial owners and managers; Launching Occupational Health and Safety Unit under the initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and increasing the number of specialized doctors for the treatment of occupational diseases under the initiative of the Ministry of Health.