Tragic Fire at Coimbatore Bank: How Could This Have Been Prevented?

Major fire broke out at Axis Bank, located near Lakshmi Mills, Coimbatore. Sources say four are dead, including three female employees, and several are injured. There was no emergency exit, so several people were trapped inside. While two women were injured when they jumped from the second floor, two fire force personnel sustained injuries after they fell when the water-pipe hose got entangled in their legs, officials said.

Fire Incident Details

The fire broke out early morning at 10 AM on the third floor. It was reportedly caused by a short circuit in an air-conditioner duct. Ten to twelve fire tenders, including some from the Army and Navy, were used, and the fire was doused after two hours to bring down the flames. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

News from the Hindu Newspaper is attached. Let's pray for the souls of the deceased.

Thanks for sharing the info. Our Fire Department seems like our 'police department in Indian cinema movies'—they arrive exactly after the incident and say, "No fire exit," and so on. I'm not only blaming them. Actually, it's a communication problem between the public and the government.

In Chennai, I have visited many complexes and malls. I noticed that they do not meet requirements even though they hold certificates for all clearances. For example, they have emergency exits, but they are not maintained properly. They store materials in front of doors, have expired extinguishers, and no escape route maps posted. But the good thing is that nowadays, it's changing faster than we expect.

I am not interested in posting funny comments about our FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAM. I blame the management alone. It seems you have reported the news published in the newspaper.

The majority of buildings in India don't have EMERGENCY EXITS and other FIRE FIGHTING DEVICES.

Responsibilities of Management

1) It is the responsibility of the management to provide a SAFE & HEALTHY WORKPLACE for employees.

1.1) This includes EMERGENCY EXITS, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS (fire category-based), FIRE HOSES, FIRE ALARMS, FIRST AID, and FIRE SAFETY TRAINED PERSONNEL.

Implementation of Emergency Response Plan

2) An EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN must be IMPLEMENTED STRICTLY to avoid any incidents that may cause harm or take the lives of the people involved.

Training for Employees

3) Employees must be trained on SAFE WORKING STRATEGIES to face/combat such untoward incidents and help themselves avoid potential hazards.

Safety Officer Requirement

4) For every 30 EMPLOYEES, ONE SAFETY OFFICER must be provided who must carry out routine checks (building/equipment inspection) and ensure RISKS are either ELIMINATED or REDUCED to the MAXIMUM.

Our life is precious. If we don't take care of it, who will?

With profound regards.

Thank you for your response. I am not familiar with the laws in the countries you mentioned, so I will refrain from commenting on them. However, based on my understanding, increasing the number of safety professionals may not be the solution to reduce such incidents. Safety is the responsibility of Line Management. Anyone carrying out a task, whether a Supervisor, Manager, or Top Executive, holds this responsibility. When this aspect is emphasized, things will improve. In India, we cannot rely solely on voluntary efforts when it comes to safety. Some companies recognize the importance of safety and take action. However, for the majority, there is a need for law enforcement agencies to be more proactive in India to bring about change in the current situation.

Thank you for your participation. Please continue to share your knowledge with us by engaging in the ongoing discussions.

Regards

I do agree with you. As said earlier, when it comes to safety, every employee is responsible for executing the job safely. When the infrastructure doesn't meet safety standards, it's difficult for employees to safeguard themselves from hazards and reduce risk levels.

NEAR MISS (Mis-happenings)

With regards to near misses, it is up to the employees how they behave, react, or respond to a particular situation, even if the environment and workplace are safe.

In India, there is no value for life; hence, safety has no meaning or value and is not given preference. Whereas, in the majority of developed countries, it is "No Safety, No Work." This reflects how we Indians are habitual of executing any task without applying logic and common sense.

With profound regards

I agree with Dilip. But, as per my understanding, increasing the number of safety professionals is not the solution to bring down such mishaps. Safety is a line management responsibility. The individual undertaking any job, whether a supervisor, manager, or top executive, holds the responsibility. When this perspective is embraced, things will change. A voluntary movement for safety is challenging to expect in India. Some companies recognize the importance and begin focusing on safety. However, for the majority, law enforcement agencies need to become more active in India to bring about change in the situation.

As a trainer, I frequently encounter issues in industries. Organizers often inquire if it is sufficient for security/maintenance personnel to attend the class. In my classes, I aim to have maximum participation from all departments, including office staff and women.

During my free training sessions, I emphasize that it is the responsibility of everyone to have basic training or at least basic awareness of fire safety. I also stress that in the event of an emergency, one cannot be certain of the presence of trained personnel, but everyone should know how to protect themselves from accidents.

Upon completion of the training, I encourage women to participate in live fire extinguishing drills. I am proud to say that many women initially hesitated but eventually extinguished the fires effectively.

Let me share a real-life example from 10 years ago. We organized a training session at a pharmaceutical research lab where most participants were newly hired female graduates with a BSc. The very next day, a fire incident occurred at their workplace. To everyone's surprise, the majority of the women reacted promptly with small 1 kg ABC fire extinguishers and successfully contained the fire. This story highlights that with basic training or awareness, individuals can respond effectively to emergencies, potentially saving lives at no additional cost.

Regards,
Moorthy OVSN

The Root Cause of Safety Compromises

The very basic root cause of all this is man's greediness. Greed is the mother of all miseries. Builders offer bribes to compromise on safety standards or the quality of construction (as in Mumbai). Fire-escape and emergency stairs are blocked (as in Carlton Towers, in Bangalore). Even Fire Service Officials are bribed to provide certificates despite the shortfall in safety standards. The victim, once again, is the same human being. Human greed leads to human casualties everywhere.

Thanks for sharing the information. Please share CAPA, such as:

1. Need for ERP Plan to be implemented strictly.
2. Top management's intention about safety first.
3. Good housekeeping.
4. Basic fire-fighting training for all.
5. Use of fire-resistant material during the construction of the building.
6. Use of a timer (time lock) for the air conditioner.