Union Stages Solidarity Action for Victims of Smelter Furnace Explosions, Demands Improved OHS Standards, National Workers Union

SPN News, Bahodopi, June 23, 2024.

The National Workers’ Union (SPN) of Morowali Regency in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province held a solidarity action titled “1000 Candles” to remember the victims of the smelter furnace explosions at PT. Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) in the PT. Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) industrial estate. This action was an expression of grief and condolences, as well as support for the victims and their families.

The event, held in front of the PT. ITSS office on Thursday night (06/20/24), was attended by SPN Morowali and the Morowali Industrial Workers’ Union (SPIM). In addition to offering prayers for the victims, the event also voiced demands for the company to improve Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

Recurring Tragedy Resulting in Burn Injuries

The explosion of the smelter furnace in the Ferrosilicon Department of PT. ITSS occurred again on June 13, 2024, around 10:00 p.m. As a result, two workers named Jekmaryono and Yudarlan sustained burn injuries and had to receive intensive care. This incident marks the second explosion within five months at PT. ITSS.

Previously, on December 24, 2023, an explosion at the nickel smelter furnace of PT. ITSS also resulted in 59 victims, with 21 fatalities (13 Indonesian workers and 8 foreign workers from China), and the rest sustaining injuries.

Demand for Improved OHS Standards

La Ode Muhamad Kasman, the chairman of SPN PT. ITSS, urged the management of PT. ITSS and PT. IMIP to fully implement the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) properly and to establish clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This is aimed at preventing the recurrence of workplace accidents and protecting the workers.

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“We will continue to urge the implementation of proper OHS standards, because the reoccurrence of smelter explosions in the same department shows that the company has not made significant improvements to prevent work accidents and protect workers,” stressed Kasman.

It is hoped that the SPN Morowali solidarity action can encourage all stakeholders to take serious steps to improve Occupational Health and Safety standards in the work environment so similar tragedies do not happen again.

This article is based on https://spn.or.id/morowali-geger-spn-gelar-aksi-solidaritas-korban-ledakan-tungku-smelter-tuntut-k3-diperketat/

In related news:

• https://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1935811/kecelakaan-kerja-berulang-di-smelter-nikel-tak-ada-efek-jera-bagi-perusahaan
• https://www.industriall-union.org/indonesian-unions-demand-investigation-of-itss-furnace-explosion
• https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hundreds-indonesian-nickel-workers-rally-press-safety-demand-2023-12-27/