After fire tragedy,AFK cautions workers: safety comes first

The directives have been circulated among all the sections of the factory,especially among workers involved in the sensitive task.

When contacted,Singh confirmed that he has stepped up the implementation of safety measures. “I have urged the workers to place safety as top agenda. They should take all care to ensure that no accident takes place. Yes,I have also told them that they should not make haste in completing their work,” he said.

Singh said he has asked the department heads to ensure the workers carry out their respective tasks strictly as per the rulebook.

Singh,who has cancelled the traditional New Year bash,said he was deeply pained by the death of the worker. He said such an accident has never happened in his long career. “He was like my child. He was just 30 years old. All these young employees respect me like a father figure,” he said. Singh said he visited the residence of the deceased employee and consoled his relatives.

“We will provide job to one of the relatives of the deceased employee. The family has to take a call on this,” he said. Labour welfare officer S Bhople said the AFK general managers cuts the cake on December 31 every year,but this year there would no cake-cutting as a mark of respect for Mule.

At the Safety Committee meeting held after the mishap,workers union representatives too stressed the safety aspect. Shashi Nair,secretary of the All India Defence Employees Union,said,“The accident has baffled one and all. The experts have not been able to find the exact cause. There is actually no clue as to what actually happened at that particular moment. Mule was a trained employee.”

Nair said since no reason has been found,they have urged the management to strictly implement safety norms. “Workers have been told to adopt caution. We will support any such move to tighten safety measures,” he said.

Ablaze,Mule rushed to tank,averted tragedy

Pune: Tejas Mule had suffered 90 per cent burns while working in L3 section on December 3. He was about to proceed for lunch when the accident took place around 12 noon. Showing presence of mind,Mule,whose clothes were by then on fire,had rushed to a nearby water tank to douse the fire. AFK officials said had he rushed towards the ammunition lying in the section,it would have led to a a major tragedy. He was first admitted to a private hospital in the city and then taken to National Burns Centre. He passed away on December 8. The workers union has described him as a hero, a martyr who saved many lives by showing presense of mind even while he was himself in danger.