THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Bokaro, Oct 31: In yet another shocking workplace accident at the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a 45-year-old contract worker, Debashish Roy, lost both hands early Thursday morning after getting trapped in machinery at the Blast Furnace-4 unit. The incident has reignited questions over safety failures and poor oversight at one of India’s largest steel manufacturing facilities, operated by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
Hands Crushed in Mudgun Machine During Morning Shift
The accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when Roy, employed by HN Refractory, a contractor firm under BSL, was filling clay into a Mudgun machine—equipment used to seal the tap hole of a blast furnace. According to eyewitnesses, his hands got trapped inside the machine during the process, causing catastrophic injuries.
Co-workers immediately rushed to his aid, wrapping his bleeding arms in cloth before taking him to Bokaro General Hospital (BGH). Doctors at BGH confirmed that one wrist was completely severed and three fingers were crushed on the other hand. Owing to the severity of his condition, Roy was later shifted to Apollo Hospital, Kolkata for specialized treatment.
Roy, a resident of Railway Temple Colony in Balidih, had been working as a semi-skilled labourer at the plant for several years.
BSL Management Orders Probe; Factory Inspector Yet to Respond
The Bokaro Steel Plant management has constituted an internal inquiry committee to determine the cause of the accident and assess lapses in safety procedures.
However, workers and unions have criticized the Factory Inspectorate and Labour Department for their inaction despite repeated accidents at the plant.
“Every time there’s an accident, an internal probe is announced and forgotten. Nothing changes on the ground,” said a senior union member from the Bokaro Steel Workers’ Association, demanding an independent safety audit and accountability from both BSL and contractor companies.
Pattern of Negligence: A String of Accidents in Recent Months
Thursday’s incident marks the fifth major accident at BSL since June 2025, exposing what workers describe as a “systemic collapse of safety practices.”
Recent accidents include:
September 2025: Three contract workers were killed in a Steel Melting Shop (SMS-1) explosion triggered by a gas leak. Two others sustained severe burns.
August 2025: Two electricians were injured following an electrical flash during maintenance work near the Power House section.
July 2025: A mechanical fitter suffered multiple fractures when a crane hook snapped, dropping a metal slab in the Blast Furnace zone.
June 2025: One contractual worker died and two were injured when a steam pipeline burst in the Sinter Plant area.
In each case, the management promised safety reviews and corrective measures. However, labour unions allege that contract workers continue to be deployed in high-risk areas without adequate training or safety gear.
Unions Slam Poor Safety Culture and Demand Accountability
Labour representatives say that most accidents involve contractual labourers—who make up nearly 60% of BSL’s workforce—and that they are routinely denied proper safety briefings, insurance coverage, and emergency response systems.
“These are preventable tragedies. The management talks about zero accidents, but inside the plant, even basic safety gear like gloves, helmets, and face shields are missing,” said a union spokesperson.
Unions have also demanded that the Jharkhand Labour Department and District Administration conduct a joint inspection of the plant’s safety infrastructure and publish findings publicly.
Safety Audits Only on Paper, Say Experts
Industrial safety experts have noted that many public-sector steel units, including BSL, rely on contract outsourcing, where safety accountability often becomes blurred between the principal employer (BSL) and private contractors.
Despite BSL’s ISO-certified safety systems, ground-level implementation remains weak, particularly during maintenance shifts and night operations. Experts warn that repeated machinery accidents in the Blast Furnace and SMS sections indicate serious procedural gaps.
BSL’s Reputation at Stake
The Bokaro Steel Plant, established in the 1960s as one of India’s flagship steel projects, is a crucial production unit under SAIL. It contributes millions of tonnes of steel annually and employs thousands of permanent and contractual workers.
However, the recent spate of accidents has drawn public criticism and sparked outrage on social media, with demands for stronger enforcement of occupational safety laws, compensation for victims, and accountability from negligent officials.
Time for Action, Not Promises
As Debashish Roy battles for his life in a Kolkata hospital, workers across BSL say the accident is a tragic reminder that “safety in the plant exists only on paper.”
With five major accidents in four months, questions loom large over whether management apathy and government inaction are allowing preventable tragedies to continue at one of India’s largest steel plants.
