Amaravati, Oct 3 (KNN) With an aim to avert accidents in industrial units, the Andhra Pradesh government has issued fresh safety guidelines.

Addressing about the new safety rules, Madireddy Pratap, Director General of AP Disaster Response and Fire Services (DRFS), said the new guidelines issued under the AP Fire Service Act, 1999, would go a long way in preventing accidental leakage of toxic gases and dangerous chemicals in factories.

Periodic mock drills and community awareness programmes are some of the preventive measures that are now being mandated for industrial units, a report in Indian Express stated.

Under Section 14(1) of the Act, all companies and industries, including ports, which store or process any toxic, hazardous or explosive chemicals are required to disclose that information every three months.

That will enable the first responders that is the police, fire services and health personnel to conduct joint mock drills and also create awareness among the local communities on the likely hazards and possible preventive measures, according to the DG.

Pratap further warned that any violation of the minimum safety provisions will attract prosecution not only under the AP Fire Service Act but also under the Indian Penal Code.

A spate of accidents over the last few years, in which many lives were lost, exposed the lack of preparedness and adequate safety norms in industrial units with preventive mechanisms found wanting.

Various official committees that probed into these accidents have established the omissions on part of the managements and insufficient infrastructure to handle such major accidents.  (KNN Bureau)