Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) Under Fire After Fresh Workplace Accident
Bokaro: Two workers sustained burn injuries on Tuesday afternoon after an electrical flash accident rocked the Steel Melting Shop (SMS-1) of Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. while maintenance work was underway on an electrical panel in the area repair shop. A sudden flash from the panel caused injuries to BSL employee Devrath Yadav and contract worker Shakti Pad Vauri. Both were immediately rushed to Bokaro General Hospital (BGH) and are undergoing treatment.
Soon after the incident, senior plant officials reached the site to take stock of the situation. Preliminary reports suggest the flash occurred during routine maintenance, though the exact cause is still being investigated. The management has assured that all necessary medical aid is being provided and safety measures are being reviewed to prevent future mishaps.
String of Accidents Raises Safety Concerns at BSL
This latest incident adds to a series of alarming accidents at BSL in recent months, raising serious questions about workplace safety at one of India’s largest steel plants.
Earlier this month, a contract worker, Prem Chand Oraon (38), was critically injured when a sheet cutter fell on his leg at the Cold Rolling Mill (CRM) unit around 4 a.m. His toes and four fingers were severed in the accident.
In September, a crane rope snapped at the Steel Melting Shop-II (SMS-2), spilling molten metal and triggering a massive fire. Three contract workers — Brijesh Mahatha, Praveen, and Om Prakash — suffered severe burns. Despite efforts, two of them later succumbed to their injuries.
And in June, five workers sustained burn injuries after hot metal spilled unexpectedly in SMS-II, causing panic and chaos on the shop floor. The injured — Nandkishore, Ruplal Gorai, Anand Mandal, Samar Kumar, and Chhotelal Manjhi — were treated at BGH after being initially stabilized at the plant’s medical unit.
Plant Safety Under Scrutiny
With four serious mishaps reported within five months, workers’ unions and safety advocates are demanding stricter enforcement of safety protocols and better protective measures for contract laborers, who are often the worst affected.
While the BSL management maintains that all industrial safety norms are being followed, the recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive safety audit and stricter supervision across plant operations.
