A probe by the industrial health and safety department into the fire at a hazardous waste-handling unit in Pithampur has revealed critical safety lapses. The unit lacked a functional sprinkler or hydrant system and did not have trained fire-response staff, officials said on Wednesday.
Fire Spread to Neighbouring Units
The blaze, which erupted late Tuesday night in the plastic recycling shed of a Sector 3 unit, spread to four adjacent factories, causing damage estimated at 10–15 percent. A suspected spark from an LED light ignited accumulated plastic scrap, and with highly combustible material stored in bulk and no effective fire control system, the flames quickly escalated.
Prohibitory Orders Issued
On April 22, the industrial health and safety department issued prohibitory orders under Section 40(2) of the Factories Act, 1948, directing the company to immediately halt all manufacturing processes, machinery use, and any work posing an imminent threat to worker safety or health.
Rajesh Yadav, factory inspector and in-charge deputy director of industrial health and safety in Dhar, stated, "No hydrant system or sprinkler arrangement as per fire safety norms was installed in the plastic recycling shed where the fire broke, and the factory did not have trained fire-response staff as mandated. These arrangements could have prevented the fire from spreading and causing such damage."
Inadequate Response
Workers attempted to douse the flames using available extinguishers, but without a hydrant or sprinkler network, the response proved inadequate, and the fire intensified for several hours.
Violations Found
The order noted that the unit violated key fire safety norms. Under Rule 72(11) of the MP Factory Rules 1962, no hydrant system or sprinkler arrangement was in place, and the hydrant system had not been installed as per prescribed norms. Furthermore, under Rule 107, Schedule 11 Part 3 (8) (1) (a), no trained fire-fighting team had been appointed in the factory. These lapses posed a serious risk to worker safety and contributed to the scale of the incident.
