FIVE EXPLOSION VICTIMS DISCHARGED, DAILY GRAPHIC, TUE APRIL 26, 2011 (CENTER SPREAD)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo, Tema

Five victims of the explosion which occurred at the Western Steel and Forging Limited at the Kpone Industrial Area, Tema, last week have been discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment for burns suffered in the incident.
Messrs Richard Adu, Precious Kpormego, Robert Asmah, Ernest Addotei and another who is yet to be identified were treated for minor burns on their hands and other parts of the body at the Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema.
Five others, namely, Chandirka Bhagt, an Indian technician; Richard Nartey, Tetteh Ago, William Nuamah and Ebenezer Lamptey, all machine shop operators, are still on admission at the same hospital.
Two other employees, Messrs David Atsagli and Joseph Nortey, who were rushed to the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre and the Intensive Care Unit, respectively, of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in a second explosion at the Oxygen Plant at the factory on Good Friday, are said to be in stable condition.
The Tema Regional Police Command has since launched investigations into the incident.
The Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, told the Daily Graphic that although the company’s officials were yet to lodge an official complaint with the police, the command had visited the scenes of the incidents and were gathering further information on the disaster.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Mr Timothy Affum, for his part, said since no report had officially been made to his outfit, no decision had been taken on conducting any investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) and its affiliate body, the General Manufacturers Metal Workers Union (GEM), will today hold talks with the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare on the failure of the Factories Inspectorate Division of the ministry to undertake regular inspections to ensure that employers safeguard the safety of employees at all workplaces.