RMG factory owners allegedly said the global retailers’ platforms, Accord and Alliance, are allegedly asking them to procure safety equipment from a certain company and conduct detailed engineering assessment by certain farms.
According to Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the allegations came from the factory owners that installed fire doors and needed to carry out the Detailed Engineering Assessment (DEA).
“We are receiving several allegations from the factory owners every day over fire door installation and DEA,” BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
He claimed that fire doors are wrongly being installed at the factory entrances as no such door is seen installed at the entry points of factories across the world.
According to BGMEA, over 100 factories have installed fire-rated door as per the requirement of the global buyers, but most factory owners allege that the doors at the entry points are developing technical problems due to their frequent use.
In regard to the doors, Azim said Accord or Alliance will not approve any audit report if there is any shutter or collapsible gate at the factory entrance.
On the other hand refuting the allegations, Alliance Managing Director M Rabin said: “We did not ask any factory owner to procure safety equipment from any particular company nor did we recommend name of any farms to conduct DEA.”
Asked about the allegation that Accord and Alliance perused RMG owners to buy only UL certified doors, he said it is a false allegation.
“We will accept doors certified by UL, Intertek, SM Global, BS Standard and EU Standard.”
Rabin added that they replied to BGMEA about the allegation in black and white. The fire doors prevent smoke from spreading and thus pave the way for emergency exit in case of fire.
The Alliance MD also denied the allegation about the DEA by certain farms. He said: “We have received 10 DEAs conducted by chosen firms of the factory owners.”
In answer to the BGMEA query of the Accord requirement for fire doors in all factory exits, the Accord said the fire door requirements in its standard are consistent with requirements throughout the world.
It is not an only an Accord requirement, the BNBC, NTC Guidelines and Alliance all require the same thing, said the European buyers platform.
But seeking anonymity, a factory owner said: “The Accord and Alliance have business plans behind their recommendations for a certain firm and for procurement of safety equipment.”
He added that Alliance welcomes the products when certified by the UL.
Another factory owner alleged that the European retailers’ platform, Accord, procrastinates while approving remediation plan and it does not also mention the reason when it rejects the plan.
He urged the government to look into the matter whether Accord is indirectly assisting a business group to cash in on the situation.
The safety issues are prone to ushering in a big market of safety equipment for global suppliers as Bangladesh is the second largest RMG producers with a huge potential.
According to an estimate of BGMEA, RMG sector needs to spend over Tk2,410 crore for importing fire equipment – sprinklers and fire-rated doors – to comply with fire safety conditions set by the Accord and Alliance.
Replying to a query, Brad Loewen, chief safety inspector of Accord, said they have approved many DEAs.
“We do require that the structural engineering firms are approved by the Accord. This is not indirect, it is a requirement of our standard.”
He said: “Accord published a list of suppliers of fire protection equipment and the list includes all suppliers that we are aware of. We are very clear that none of them is endorsed by the Accord.”
Earlier, Accord asked factory owners to get prior approval before installing safety equipment.
It also provided a list of 55 companies to source fire equipment with a note that the list is neither an endorsement nor an approval by the Accord.
The issue of fire, electrical and building safety came under the spotlight last year following the collapse of Rana Plaza that killed over 1,100 workers and the Tazreen Fashions fire.
Since the catastrophe, Accord and Alliance had been committed to improving safety standard, including fire, electrical and structural safeties in the apparel sector.
The duo completed inspection, suggested Detailed Engineering Assessment, setting up of fire doors, sprinkler systems and auto-hydrant to ensure workplace safety for the RMG workers.