IITK Director's letter to Nonstudents 19/12/2012

---------------------------- Original Message -------------------
Subject: [nonstudents] Death of construction worker
From:    "DIRECTOR" <director@iitk.ac.in>
Date:    Wed, December 19, 2012 4:03 pm
To:      nonstudents@lists.iitk.ac.in
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Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

Director's Office

Dear Colleagues,

IIT Kanpur is held in high esteem the world over for decades of its
distinguished contributions to engineering education and research. Thus, more than an embarrassment, two accidental deaths in quick succession in construction sites of IIT Kanpur are actually a matter of shame and utmost concern. Hence, I feel obliged to apprise you of the steps taken by the Institute authorities’ consequent upon the recent unfortunate incidents of accidental death of Shri Ram Saran Rai, a construction worker, on 21.11.12 at a construction site within IIT Kanpur. Let me admit that I received many emails and enquiries following this fateful event. Since, it was impossible for me to attend and reply to every single mail instantly, I decided to comprehend the whole situation first and then address to you all through this communication primarily to convey that I am deeply shocked, extremely disturbed and honestly determined to put my best efforts to prevent recurrence of such accidents within the Institute premise. When the earlier incident of accidental death occurred on 18.10.12, I was yet to join the Institute. Yet I conveyed to some
concerned individual that I would make every effort to prevent such accident. The construction work resumed on 06.11.12 following the usual enquiry procedure and acceptance of the report by the IIT Kanpur administration as per rules. I took over as Director on 07.11.12 and immediately got busy with pending administrative jobs and urgent academic matters, and assumed that construction companies would ensure safety related guideline and strictures.

I was in Kolkata on some official assignment on the date (21.11.12), the current accident took place. I returned to Kanpur the very next day.  Let me chronicle the sequence of events from the very beginning.

1)  Shri Ram Saran Rai, an unskilled employee engaged by M/s Ramky Infrastructure Limited died at about 0900 hours on 21.11.12 at the construction site of new Research Associate Hostel Extension Building of IIT Kanpur. Shri Rai apparently died due to an accidental fall from the roof or higher floors while working.

2) Shri Rai was immediately transferred to L.L.R. Hospital by institute ambulance and was declared ‘brought dead’ by the Hospital. The dead body was sent for Post Mortem by local police authorities.

3) The accident was reported to the Kalyanpur police station, Employee’s Compensation Commissioner and Regional Labor Commissioner (Central) within 24 hours.

4)The Institute authority suspended the work on 21.11.12 and constituted One-Man Enquiry Committee’ with an Ex-Additional Director General, CPWD, New Delhi to ascertain the circumstances under which the sad incident occurred and also to recommend measures to avoid its recurrence in future. This enquiry was in addition to the statutory investigations undertaken by the Police in the cases of accidental / unnatural deaths.

5) I, myself, visited the site of accident along with Dy. Director and
other officials on 22.11.12 (as I was out of Station on 21.11.12). The Enquiry Committee visited the site and held enquiry at IIT Kanpur during November 24-26, 2012. The committee interviewed and interrogated a large number of workers, IIT Kanpur staff, Company representatives and Members of local authorities, besides meeting myself on 24.11.12.

6) The Post Mortem report was sent by the medical authority to the local police on 28.11.12. Subsequently, a copy of this report was obtained by our officials.

7) The Enquiry Committee report received on 10.12.12 is now being examined for deciding about the possible reasons for this accident and the measures to be undertaken before construction activities at the site can be resumed.

8) Meanwhile the Contractor was asked to cooperate in the enquiry committee and be prepared to arrange for adequate compensation for the family of the deceased as per the directions of the Employee’s Compensation Commissioner.  Significantly, no amount of compensation is directly paid to the victim’s family, instead as per the law the compensation is required to be deposited with the Employee’s Compensation Commissioner, from where it is disbursed to the victim’s family after complying with due procedures as per law.

9) The Employee’s Compensation Commissioner has directed for depositing the compensation amount on 27.11.12 giving one month’s time. The Contractor has accordingly been asked to take immediate action about the payment.

10) It is expected that the construction company would pay the compensation as directed by the Employee’s Compensation Commissioner shortly. In addition, IIT Kanpur will reimburse the entire cost of her travel and stay at IIT Kanpur along with her family members.

Registering our anguish and concern is not enough. In order to prevent recurrence of any such unfortunate accidents in future, the Institute is seriously contemplating of the following measures:

1) Commission an independent agency with well-established credential in construction business for survey and inspection of our civil construction sites and projects in order to advise about appropriate safety measures to be enforced in all future construction activities.

2) Frame exhaustive safety norms as per the above directive and make such guidelines as part of the contract with strict provisions for penalty including cancellation of contract in all future construction related contracts. It shall be our endeavor to take similar measures in all ongoing and future construction activities.

3) Appoint a safety and security officer for IIT Kanpur to directly report to the Director. This officer would have the authority to inspect, advise and intervene in all matters related to safety and security in the Institute including civil construction, chemical and fire hazard, biological/toxic material handling and disposal, etc.

4) Appoint Professors-in-Charge for planning, vetting and advising the authority in the all Jobs and Contract concerning civil  construction/maintenance, electrical maintenance & air conditioning and will also oversee compliance of safety norms.

5) As per safety guidelines, each construction company will be asked to file safety compliance report on regular basis to the concerned officials of the Institute, failing which the necessary penalty may be imposed.

Let me add, though accidents cannot be totally ruled out despite the best possible intentions and measures, it is our duty to accord highest priority to safety norms and implement every single guideline with utmost sincerity to keep our conscience clear. While no amount of argument, analysis or philosophy can bring back a life already lost, negligence leading to death can never be condoned under any circumstances. Hence, let us remain vigilant and committed to ensure that an unfortunate incident such as death of Sri Ram Saran Rai does not occur in future. Construction is unavoidable to allow the Institute to grow and realize its mandate and dream; however, safety and security cannot be compromised.

With kind regards,

Sincerely,

(Indranil Manna)
Director,
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur – 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ph. Office: +91-512-2597258 / 2590763
Ph. Res: +91-512-259-8810/ 259-8820
Fax: +91-512-2590260/259-7790