Hyundai Plant maybe in trouble as 4 people die due to asphyxiation

snaronikar · 8th December 2007, 22:49

Just heard from Times Now news channel 4 people were killed due to asphyxiation in Hyundai Plant at Sriperumpudur. Hyuandai maintains that the people were from Thermax. The plant was maintained by Thermax people. Their VP (Admin) informs that the workers were not from Hyundai plant..but Thermax's. No safety precautions were taken by Thermax people. Both the companies announce 2 lac each to the deceased. What a pity that simply the lives were lost as safety precautions were not adheared.

Any idea will the company be in trouble due to this ?

Mods did not know where to post this thread. If not relevent to this section, pls move to relevent section.

CrAzY dRiVeR · 8th December 2007, 22:57

Whats the connection between Thermax and Hyundai?

snaronikar · 8th December 2007, 23:05

Thermax are manufacturers of Boilers (a huge ones) used for generating steam and the same steam is used in turbines to generate power connecting to an alternator. I believe Hyundai might have intalled the boilers in their plant maintained by Thermax (on contract) and this mishap might have happened (accidentaly tough).

esteem_lover · 8th December 2007, 23:18

Thermax is a boiler manufacturing company & i fear that both these great companies simply flouted some basic safety regulations which resulted in this mishap. More on this when i receive first hand info. But the saddest part is that both these cash rich companies have offered a pittance for the life of their workers, even the govt does a lot better.

dadu · 9th December 2007, 11:44

Thermax was given the contract to clean waste residual paint tank, the workers went inside the tank to clean but fainted, the others also died trying to save the initial ones.

It is also alleged that they were wearing protective masks but still could not get away.

Both Hyundai & Thermax have announced 2 lakhs each for the family of victims.

As usual its still under investigation on what had exactly happenned.

1self · 9th December 2007, 11:57

If they died after entering the tank, it is obvious that no safety checks were carried out. The atmosphere in the tank did not support life (lack of oxygen or presence of poisionous gases from paint residue). wearing masks is simply not enough, one has to wear SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) when going inside tanks with untested atmosphere.

Sheer negligence...NOTHING else.

I mean what is the use of ISO certification when simple safety check & checklists cannot be followed. Sombody ought to be imprisioned for this.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 9th December 2007, 13:27

I think 2 lakh is what the law (Workmen's compensation Act) mandates the employer to pay.
By paying the amount prescribed by law, they have (1) discharged the obligation cast on them law (of course the minimum they can and ought to do) (2) avoided litigation by family of the deceased workmen. (3) Put on a halo around themselves (can say that they paid within x minutes of an accident - a great PR initiative).

raul · 9th December 2007, 19:30

This is an accident but like several things here with lax implementation totally preventable had basic safety regulations been followed. The companies are not going to do the right thing and own up any responsibility but rather spin this as the fault of the engineers who should have known better.

The unsaid things are whether they had the necessary training, the equipment provided, regulations set down which were followed to the tee and whether safety personnel were around to guide them. This will be left unsaid.

2 lakhs is a disgrace, an insult for their work for these companies and their families. We really need stronger laws and implementation here and more respect for human life, dignity and labor.

Ship breaking workers in Ahmedabad, the latest Tehelka has a heart breaking story about sewage cleaners in our cities and n number of instances in our country where people have to work in inhuman and dangerous conditions and we really can't call ourselves civilized while all this goes on.

snaronikar · 9th December 2007, 19:51

I totally agree with you raul. There is no importance to human lives. Its a shame to both the companies. If this had happened in western counteries, these companies would be sued worth millions of dollars. Unfortuantely this is India and yahaan sub kuch chalta hai...

10th December 2007, 00:08

Such incidents happen everyday all over India, most barely make news in regional newspapers. Life is abundant and often cheap in this country, so less incentive to set and maintain safety procedures.

Just visit some multi story contruction site. Same story.

raul · 15th December 2007, 16:09

This story has been killed. So much for free press.

filcord · 15th December 2007, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by raul

This story has been killed. So much for free press.

Let's keep it alive.
ISO certification is meaningless if they have such lax safety standards.
These are technically qualified people, working for modern, large corporations, not someone cleaning a sewage tank in a village. What explanation has been given by Thermax?

raul · 15th December 2007, 19:51

None so far, probably will be keeping quiet and hope the whole issue goes away. And knowing how easily our press is 'managed' it probably will.

8th December 2007, 22:49	#1
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	Hyundai Plant maybe in trouble as 4 people die due to asphyxiation Just heard from Times Now news channel 4 people were killed due to asphyxiation in Hyundai Plant at Sriperumpudur. Hyuandai maintains that the people were from Thermax. The plant was maintained by Thermax people. Their VP (Admin) informs that the workers were not from Hyundai plant..but Thermax's. No safety precautions were taken by Thermax people. Both the companies announce 2 lac each to the deceased. What a pity that simply the lives were lost as safety precautions were not adheared. Any idea will the company be in trouble due to this ? Mods did not know where to post this thread. If not relevent to this section, pls move to relevent section.
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8th December 2007, 22:57	#2
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,181 Thanked: 73,505 Times View My Garage	Whats the connection between Thermax and Hyundai?
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8th December 2007, 23:05	#3
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	Thermax are manufacturers of Boilers (a huge ones) used for generating steam and the same steam is used in turbines to generate power connecting to an alternator. I believe Hyundai might have intalled the boilers in their plant maintained by Thermax (on contract) and this mishap might have happened (accidentaly tough).
	() Thanks

8th December 2007, 23:18	#4
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	Thermax is a boiler manufacturing company & i fear that both these great companies simply flouted some basic safety regulations which resulted in this mishap. More on this when i receive first hand info. But the saddest part is that both these cash rich companies have offered a pittance for the life of their workers, even the govt does a lot better.
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 11:44	#5
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Thermax was given the contract to clean waste residual paint tank, the workers went inside the tank to clean but fainted, the others also died trying to save the initial ones. It is also alleged that they were wearing protective masks but still could not get away. Both Hyundai & Thermax have announced 2 lakhs each for the family of victims. As usual its still under investigation on what had exactly happenned.
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 11:57	#6
1self BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 629 Thanked: 330 Times View My Garage	If they died after entering the tank, it is obvious that no safety checks were carried out. The atmosphere in the tank did not support life (lack of oxygen or presence of poisionous gases from paint residue). wearing masks is simply not enough, one has to wear SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) when going inside tanks with untested atmosphere. Sheer negligence...NOTHING else. I mean what is the use of ISO certification when simple safety check & checklists cannot be followed. Sombody ought to be imprisioned for this. Last edited by 1self : 9th December 2007 at 12:02.
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 13:27	#7
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	I think 2 lakh is what the law (Workmen's compensation Act) mandates the employer to pay. By paying the amount prescribed by law, they have (1) discharged the obligation cast on them law (of course the minimum they can and ought to do) (2) avoided litigation by family of the deceased workmen. (3) Put on a halo around themselves (can say that they paid within x minutes of an accident - a great PR initiative).
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 19:30	#8
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 372 Times	This is an accident but like several things here with lax implementation totally preventable had basic safety regulations been followed. The companies are not going to do the right thing and own up any responsibility but rather spin this as the fault of the engineers who should have known better. The unsaid things are whether they had the necessary training, the equipment provided, regulations set down which were followed to the tee and whether safety personnel were around to guide them. This will be left unsaid. 2 lakhs is a disgrace, an insult for their work for these companies and their families. We really need stronger laws and implementation here and more respect for human life, dignity and labor. Ship breaking workers in Ahmedabad, the latest Tehelka has a heart breaking story about sewage cleaners in our cities and n number of instances in our country where people have to work in inhuman and dangerous conditions and we really can't call ourselves civilized while all this goes on. Last edited by raul : 9th December 2007 at 19:32.
	() Thanks

9th December 2007, 19:51	#9
snaronikar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 2,845 Thanked: 29 Times View My Garage	I totally agree with you raul. There is no importance to human lives. Its a shame to both the companies. If this had happened in western counteries, these companies would be sued worth millions of dollars. Unfortuantely this is India and yahaan sub kuch chalta hai...
	() Thanks

10th December 2007, 00:08	#10
SuperSyn Posts: n/a	Such incidents happen everyday all over India, most barely make news in regional newspapers. Life is abundant and often cheap in this country, so less incentive to set and maintain safety procedures. Just visit some multi story contruction site. Same story.
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 16:09	#11
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 372 Times	This story has been killed. So much for free press.
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 19:51	#13
raul BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pune Posts: 920 Thanked: 372 Times	None so far, probably will be keeping quiet and hope the whole issue goes away. And knowing how easily our press is 'managed' it probably will. Last edited by raul : 15th December 2007 at 19:54.
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