What separates an accident from a crime is the intention behind the action. A motor vehicle accident can be an accident as even the most responsible and kind people can make mistakes. On the other hand, crime isn’t even discussable as harming a person in an ill will has no place in our community. However, sometimes accidents can also arise out of someone else’s recklessness and selfishness. Although it is not considered a crime, ignoring to value others’ safety cannot be tolerated. This is a situation that appears regularly in workplaces. It goes without saying, some employers disregard their workers’ safety.
The most disastrous accidents and the conclusions
In the last century, the world has witnessed how deadly work accidents can be. In 1984, India, the worst ever industrial disaster occurred and affected hundreds of thousands of people. The incident concluded in 10 thousand fatalities. The reason was toxic gas leakage. However, the fact behind the incident was actually unmaintained manufactory. Many experts even reported that the factory and the equipment used inside was outdated, the workplace was overcrowded and there were almost no measures of safety. Today in the Bhopal area, toxication is still present in the soil.
From a legal perspective, starting a business with insufficient technology and outdated equipment is a breach of duty. With no doubt, it is a fact that is being accepted universally. Throughout the work, every single worker should be equipped with the correct equipment and protective gears which suit the current standards. In the Bhopal Tragedy, many workers sustained permanent and critical injuries. The majority of the first-hand survivors of the incident passed away during the treatment. However, there could be significant hope if these workers were equipped with industry-grade equipment. With today’s technology, the work equipment can even resist the worst conditions.
Over a thousand miners were killed by the toxic dust that was noticed prior to the incident
Probably the worst and the most foreseeable mining incident of history occurred in France. The incident ended up with 1.100 fatalities and the reason was the coal dust that was present for over a week. Although the incident occurred a century ago, there is much concrete evidence demonstrating the heart-wrenching fact. The fact is that the dust has been in the workplace for over a week, it was reported by the workers and almost nobody took action to solve the problem.
As mentioned before, the incident arose a century ago. However, some employers are still acting with similar behaviour. Although the conclusions are less fatal, there are many workplace accidents where the workers reported the hazard to the employer but the request was rejected by the employer. This situation demonstrates that if the risk is obvious, sooner or later, an accident will arise. Therefore, taking immediate action is crucial.
In the USA, 1911, a fire in a shirt factory gave the start signal of the American Worker Rights Movement
Along with adults and illegal immigrants, many children aged between ten years old to fifteen years old died in the shirt factory disaster. Additionally, many workers sustained permanent and severe injuries after the incident. What makes the incident a special one for workers all around the world is the Worker Rights Movement started right after the accident. Although the main cause of the fire is unknown, the incident could end with no fatalities if necessary actions were taken. The fact is, there were no emergency exits in the building. The factory was operating in a multilevel building in New York. Normally, these accidents are easily preventable by managing a successful emergency plan. However, in the factory, there were no emergency measures.
Similar accidents can occur at any time if your employers are selfish or negligent. If you ever wonder what your rights are in a similar situation, make sure to check a detailed workers compensation guide to understand your entitlements.
