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Lack of monitoring from the regulators, builders' greed for money, and absence of proper awareness of the stakeholders are the main reasons for the accidents in the construction sector of Bangladesh that employs 3.5 million people, said experts on Saturday.
Addressing a dialogue on 'improving safety in construction sector,' organised by LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited (LHBL), they suggested strict monitoring and proper compensation for the victims of such accidents to ensure safety in construction sector.
Architect Professor Dr Nizamuddin was the main speaker at the dialogue presided over by LHBL CEO and MD Rajesh K Surana. Mohiuddin Babar, adviser to CEO of LHBL, moderated the dialogue. Mohammad Arif Bhuiyan made a presentation on the measures taken by LHBL to ensure work safety.
It is an irony that though Bangladesh is one of the largest exporters of hand gloves in the world, the women workers who are employed to break bricks into brick chips here, do not use hand gloves for safety, Professor Nizam pointed out.
He said that the number of workers in the construction sector rose to 3.5 million in 2017 from 2.6 million in 2010.
To maximise profit, builders in Bangladesh often attach least importance to safety measures at the work places, he noted.
He also said that the regulatory agencies and law enforcers can be managed easily in Bangladesh which encourages the entrepreneurs not to take proper measures for ensuring work safety.
He also recommended safety insurance for workers so that fatalities in the construction sector can be prevented.
CEO of LHBL Rajesh K Surana said he dedicates 20 per cent of their work time for work safety issues.
"We in LHBL feel leadership is very important in ensuring work safety and that is why the safety department directly reports to me," he said.
"We are in the business of making money, not in the business of killing people," but unfortunately every year many people are dying in this sector due to unsafe construction practices , unsafe safety practices, Mr Surana said.
He expressed his company's firm willingness to address the challenges in introducing practices for work safety in countries like Bangladesh, India or other poor countries in South Asia, Africa or Latin America.
LHBL Marketing Director M Asif Bhuiyan said with the rise in the workers' number in the construction sector, the safety issue is becoming more important than the past as when a worker becomes the victim of any safety-related accident, his or her family would have to bear the brunt.
Among others, representatives from various companies and organisations including Shanta Properties, HSBC, CRP, also took part in the discussion.