As there is an abundance of highly combustible material – cloth, cartons, polythene, etc – in garment factories, they pose a significant fire risk.
After the recent Savar tragedy, people are more conscious of the risks of working in factories, and the fear of a major fire incident in RMG factories has risen.
The nation has already experienced countless fires and building/bridge collapses which it was unable to handle adequately, including the most recent fire at a garments factory in Mirpur that killed eight people. These recent disasters are wake-up calls for us to prepare and equip ourselves to effectively handle such oft-repeated disasters.
As fires are the most frequent disasters of the RMG sector and result in the irreplaceable loss of human lives and useful material, it is these disasters which require the immediate attention of the nation.
As the former executive director in the RMG sector, I have firsthand experience of the shortcomings of factories’ self-established firefighting teams.
The RMG factories’ firefighting teams consist of an attacking team, supporting team, rescue team and first-aid team. These teams consist mainly of factory workers, and very few of them have actually been trained by the national Fire Brigade.
In reality, the suitability of these firefighting teams during a crisis is questionable. In fact, there have been many fires in the RMG factories that went from small, easily manageable fires to full-fledged disasters due to the incompetent handling by these teams.
Although regular briefings and monthly mock exercises are carried out by the RMG factories, their firefighting teams remain ineffective.
Systemic problems
Here are a few reasons why even if these teams are adequately equipped with firefighting gear, they remain incompetent at managing fires:
The members of the firefighting teams are gathered from existing employees. These people remain focused on their fields of work, and so are unable to concentrate on their additional firefighting duties. Not only do these people lack the adequate training to handle fires, but their primary occupations prevent them from acting promptly when a fire occurs. Members of the firefighting team are sometimes absent from work due to illness, holiday or vacation; thus, teams are weakened when fewer members are available. The workers very often migrate to new workplaces. Newcomers are added to the firefighting teams but require time to orient themselves to the factory’s settings and their additional duties as firefighters. When there is a fire, members must be excused from work to join to the firefighting team, reorganise and act on the crisis accordingly. This shifting of duties is time-consuming and allows the fire to spread beyond control.Recommendations
I would like to make the following recommendations to the BGMEA and the RMG sector, as a whole:
The factories should form a completely separate and dedicated firefighting organisation along with their self-established firefighting teams, all of whom would be trained by the fire brigade. Members will be fully equipped and will carry out their duties in three shifts around the clock: from 8am-4pm, 4pm-12am and 12am-8am. They will continuously do rounds of the factories’ floors and fire risk areas. An Industrial Fire Service organised should be introduced like the Industrial Police. The RMG factories will hire members for their firefighting organisation from these Industrial Fire Services, and this organisation will effectively handle fires in coordination with the Fire Brigade, including their availability. The completely separate and dedicated firefighters/electricians will have thorough knowledge of each area of the factories and will be able to locate fires by monitoring through CCTV camera systems round the clock. Disciplinary action may be taken if anyone violates the fire and safety rules established by the organisation. Every week, a fire drills should be carried out, and awareness of and preparedness for fires must be checked at all levels. Regular and continuous training on fire, safety and disaster management should be conducted in order to keep everyone prepared. Highly populated factories should have their own fire trucks and firefighting teams to handle fires on the spot. The factory should be equipped with both modern fixed and portable fire systems, which are extremely effective in preventing damage and loss of life. A professional and experienced general manager or head for the fire and safety department should be employed. Priority should be given to ex-fire brigade and ex-navy employees, who are well trained and do everyday exercises on board ships and bases with sophisticated equipment, breathing apparatus, etc. RMG factories must ensure all firefighting gear, like fearnought suits, gloves, fire boots, etc, are readily available. Regular seminars should be arranged centrally by the BGMEA where the lapses found in previous cases should be highlighted and their remedies discussed. A committee should be formed by the BGMEA of professionals from the civil defence, armed forces, etc to perform factory inspections throughout the year to determine preparedness of each factory on fire, safety and disaster management. All inquiry reports of the committee are to be analysed, and the best recommendations of the committee are to be forwarded to all RMG factories for implementation.Fires are common phenomena of the RMG sector and require serious, immediate attention. A major fire can be handled effectively if a separate and dedicated firefighting organisation is established by the RMG sector. RMG factories can avoid damage to a certain extent if fire exercises are seriously and regularly practiced, the longer the delay, the more people’s lives remain at risk. Motivation of staff and workers through different lectures/briefings will increase their awareness of fire risks and other disasters.
Prevention is better than cure.
Only when the RMG sector acts on this motto will it be possible to save human lives and material from the ravages of fire. Training, awareness, preparedness and a well-trained, dedicated firefighting organisation are vital in fighting fires confidently so as to avoid unwanted disasters.
There are no other alternatives. The sooner the RMG sector realises this, the better.
Commander SM Ilias,BN(retd) is a former navy officer, trained locally and internationally on fire and safety.
