How could PSME have save the lives of 72 workers in Valenzuela Fire?


Photos Credit: Philstar.com /Ernie Penaredondo
The death of 72 workers in a Valenzuela Footwear Factory has once again highlight the importance of implementing a sound safety program in the workplace. The tragedy could have easily been prevented from happening.
Amidst the report we are reading and hearing from the media, we could easily know that a lot is lacking in terms of knowledge and in implementation of safety codes and safety practices.
From the news, the fire is caused by a welder who weld near flammable materials. What did he do before doing the welding works that could have prevented the fire. Is he a certified welder? Was he trained in fire safety? Does the factory has safety officer or even engineers with safety training who supervised the welder?
Does the factory has a working fire detection, fire suppression and fire alarm system?
What has the local government and the Bureau of Fire did that should have prevented this tragedy?
Is the footwear factory implementing a safety program? Do they (management and workers) have the knowledge and the right attitude that will prevent fires?
These entities have a lot of soul searching to do. But we, Mechanical Engineers, have too.
Fire Protection is one of the major fields of engineering where a lot of our colleagues in PSME are practicing. We have members who are well-known in the industry as designer, consultants, practitioners, safety officers, business leaders.
There is no other profession that is in the best position to have save the lives of these people other than Mechanical Engineering. We know fire better than anyone else. Firemen cannot design buildings that are safe from fire. We claim fire protection as part of our engineering practice. Thus, we as Mechanical Engineers, have obligations to do to help prevent this kind of tragedy from happening.
So, the question now is "How could PSME have saved the lives of 72 workers in the Valenzuela fire?" What should we have done? We have the knowledge to lead the nation away from this kind of tragedy. Let's lead.
Submit here your comments and suggestions.
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/RGR