475 workers killed in workplace accidents in 6 months: Safety and Rights Society

A total of 475 workers were killed in 420 accidents at various workplaces across the country in the last six months (January to June 2024), the Safety and Rights Society (SRS) said in a report today (1 July).

In the same period in 2023, a total of 389 workers were killed in 287 accidents, according to the organisation's survey based on news published in various newspapers.

Analysing the workplace accident data, the non-profit organisation found that tragically, the transport sector witnessed the highest number of worker fatalities. 

Of the total, 250 were killed in the transport sector, 74 in service establishments (such as workshops, gas, electricity supply establishments, etc), 66 in the agricultural sector, 52 in the construction sector, and 33 in factories and other manufacturing institutes. 

TBS Illustration

Reviewing the causes of death, it was observed that 310 people, including 250 transport workers, were killed in road accidents on the way to and from the workplace; 52 were electrocuted; 51 were killed by lightning; 23 workers died after falling from buildings; 15 were hit or crushed by heavy objects; 8 were exposed to chemicals or toxic gases in septic tanks or water tanks; 6 people drowned; 3 died in fires and explosions; 1 died from a girder collapse; and 6 died from other causes.

The survey identified uncontrolled transport systems, disregard for law enforcement, reckless driving, and poor driving skills as the major causes of transport accidents in the past six months.

Based on the survey, electrical accidents were attributed to connecting electric lines without proper safety measures, operating motors with wet hands, working under overhead power lines, and lifting iron rods near electric cables running alongside buildings. 

Additionally, some accidents were caused by the failure to use personal protective equipment.

Sekender Ali Mina, executive director of the organisation, said the rise in worker fatalities due to workplace accidents is unacceptable. He underscored that Bangladesh's production and employment heavily rely on the informal sector, where labour laws are largely unenforced, making it difficult to control workplace accidents. 

Mina stressed the need for increased supervision by relevant authorities to mitigate these incidents, particularly in the transport, services, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing sectors.