Mishaps: KSEB on a mission to ensure safety measures

[ntjobthirur]

Mishaps: KSEB on a mission to ensure safety measures
By Express News Service - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is waking up to the need for safety training for its staff and contract workers, with electrical mishaps claiming hundreds of lives, including that of members of the general public.

In all, 388 deaths were reported during an approximately two-year period between May 2011 and February 2013. This includes 335 members of the public, 27 KSEB staff and 26 contract workers. During this period, 875 electrical accidents were reported in all in connection with KSEB facilities such as power lines, according to the data submitted by Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed in the Assembly earlier this week.

As many as 240 mishaps involved KSEB staff. Twenty-seven employees died and 213 were injured. 137 of the accidents involved contract workers. Twenty six died and 111 were injured. But the majority of the accidents involved the general public- 498. As many as 335 deaths were reported and the injured numbered 163.

“An alarmed KSEB is in the process of framing guidelines for its staff and contract workers to make sure that safety measures are in place before a work is attempted,” KSEB safety commissioner Angus Sudley Cardoza said.

“Now the realisation has come, but several factors are involved in these accidents,” he said.

“We have also started conducting refresher courses for KSEB staff and contract workers. The safety gear is there, and we are emphasising that they use it while working,” he said.

“But the general public is a different story altogether,” KSEB officials said.

In many cases, sheer carelessness leads to electrocution. A large number of cases involved poles used to knock down fruits from trees coming into contact with overhead power lines.