Kochi: The explosion on a ship under repair at Cochin Shipyard that killed five people on February 13 was due to lapses by the shipyard in carrying out proper safety checks, according to a report submitted by the factories and boilers department.
The report, prepared after examining safety procedures at the accident site, will be submitted to the labor department secretary on Tuesday.
On Monday, the inquiry team took the statements of representatives of trade unions. Even on Monday, the shipyard failed to present documents on the safety procedures followed before workers were deployed at the site. It has been found that a leak in acetylene gas, which is used for welding and cutting, caused the explosion.
The shipyard had claimed that it had conducted the 'gas free’ permit to ensure that there was no gas leak or any other safety issue at the work site two hours before the explosion.
But, since the shipyard could not present documents even after a week, its claims have fallen flat.
The explosion took place on ONGC’s ‘Sagar Bhushan’ dry-docked inside the shipyard for repairs on February 13, killing five workers and injuring eight.
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