The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued updated guidelines for restarting industries and factories in India.
The highlighted point, according to NDMA, is to consider the first week as a trial run for the industries. This is to protect the workers from the pandemic and prevent further spread. The guideline also mentioned that the industries should not aim for high production anytime soon.
Due to the lockdown, which resulted in the closure of many industries, it is essential to factor in the possibility of a few operators not following the standing operating procedures.
This would result in residual chemicals, especially in companies that manufacture pipelines, valves, and other products. The same can be applied for storage facilities, including chemicals and other flammable materials.
An essential reason for issuing the revised guidelines is the Visakhapatnam incident. Here, 11 people lost their lives, and more than a thousand people were injured. The cause behind this was a major gas leak at a factory. The factory didn’t account for the chemical factors which posed high risks.
Essential guidelines for the restarting of industries:
- After restarting the company, the first week must be considered as a trial run. If the first week is a success and no casualties seen, the industry is allowed to continue.
- To minimize the potential damages and risks, the employees must be aware of the working of machines. If it starts to give out the strange smell and abnormal sound, the employees must immediately report it to their respective seniors.
- During the pandemic, lockout and tag-out procedures must be in place.
- Before restarting the industries, a general inspection of all the types of machinery must be conducted.
- If an industry has any difficulties in managing backward linkages that may risk potential damage, it should approach the local district administration for assistance.
These are the essential and highlighted guidelines. Other guidelines related to the storage of materials and manufacturing processes also issued.
