Probe Ordered Into Poisonous Gas Leakage at Gerdau India Steel Facility

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): An expert committee has begun investigation into the gas leakage incident at Gerdau India steel plant at Tadipatri in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, which had led to death of six people.

The committee comprises of officials from Police, State Industries Department and Disaster Management officials. Apart from ascertaining the cause of the accident, the expert committee will also look into possibilities of lapses in security measures at the steel plant facility. According to preliminary assumptions, welding gas leakage has been identified as the cause of the mishap.

The company spokesperson stated that the root cause of the accident is still under investigation. He noted that the company follows strict procedures at the plant. It needs to be seen whether there were any behavioral issues. Normally it takes a day or two to find the root cause of such accidents. The company has ordered a private investigation into the incident, he added. Meantime, the operations at the plant have been suspended until the completion of extensive safety inspection.

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The gas leakage took place Thursday in the furnace wing of the plant, while testing was being done after maintenance work in the unit. Eight workers collapsed after inhaling the gas. The affected employees were rushed to nearby hospitals. Two workers died on the spot, while four others died in the hospital. All the six victims were contract employees. The company has assured all possible help to the families of the victims. Additionally, condition of five employees is reported to be critical.

It must be noted that the site has reported accidents before also. In 2016, one employee had died following major burns.

Gerdau’s Tadipatri steel plant in Southern India is the company’s first steel plant in Asia and has installed capacity to produce up to 300,000 tons of special steel per year.