Incidence of factory accidents higher in India

Kolkata, Nov 28 (UNI) Lack of awareness among factory workers have led to higher incidence of accidents in factories in India, Mr P K Banerjee, Chief Inspector of factories, Directorate of factories, West Bengal, said today.

The incidence of accidents stood at 60-65 per 1000 factory workers as against 32-35 per 1000 workers in the UK and 20-21 per 1000 workers in the US, Mr Banerjee said in an interactive session with CII members here.

The total number of reported accidents were 3.5 to 4 lakh every year, he said.

The total number of reported accidents include 800 fatal accidents every year, the official said.

In West Bengal, the reported accident rate stood at 20,000-30,000 every year, while the number of fatal accidents was at 55-60 per year, Mr Banerjee added.

Mr Banerjee asked that awareness campaigns should be intensified to make the factory workers aware of the priviledges available under Factories Act 1948.

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