Put workers' safety first

A photo published in The Daily Star on September 24 depicts how unaware our workers are about their own safety. In the photo, a man is seen working on the power lines standing on a transformer, completely oblivious to the risks of accidents that might happen anytime and least bothered to put on his safety gear lying idly on the ground. Such practices are commonplace in the country because workers are neither made aware of their own safety nor are they provided with proper training and equipment. Also, there is a lack of oversight of the authorities concerned. 

According to Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE), at least 1,242 workers were killed across the country in 2017 due to lack of occupational safety in the workplace. Some of the reasons behind the workers' deaths and injuries were electrocution, fire, falling off rooftops, boiler and cylinder explosions, etc. Thus it is clear that most of these accidents could be avoided if better working conditions could be ensured and the workers provided with proper safety gear and equipment.

Moreover, when a staff member from a government agency (as is the case here) violates the rules by not wearing safety gear, the person and the agency involved must be held accountable and punished. Since we do not hold them accountable for these violations, such risky practices go on. This daily has regularly been publishing photos of hazardous working conditions that our workers are exposed to in order to create awareness among the workers and the authorities concerned. But sadly, we do not see any improvement of the situation. Workers' safety must come first.