Safety of PDD staff is vital because the employees working in the field have to work with live wires and other infrastructure, which is a risky affair. There is also a dire need to provide adequate training to the linemen and other staffers of the PDD before engaging them in field duties. This is vital because several incidents of electrocution and electric shocks to PDD staffers have been reported on a regular basis, with many among them losing their precious lives.
It is unfortunate that most of these field workers are daily wagers and not regular employees of the concerned department, thus relieving those in authority of responsibility regarding compensation, relief, etc. The issue is of paramount importance and concerned authorities should address it on priority.
In this context, another tragedy was reported from Jammu’s Janipur area, where a PDD daily wager died after he came in contact with a live wire while repairing a faulty power line near the SDO office. The deceased reportedly came in contact with a live wire and fell from the pole. He was shifted to GMC Jammu but succumbed during treatment.
It is really shocking that daily wagers are given assignments to work on poles without adequate safety equipment, that too when current is flowing through the conductors. Despite knowing that working with live wires is dangerous, the people sitting at the helm do not want to pay heed to this fact and are forcing staff to work in the field with bare minimum tools.
Looking at the present case, it could be said that the field worker was not wearing the necessary safety equipment, leading to electrocution and subsequent fall. If the authorities had provided proper safety tools, the worker would not have met such an unfortunate fate. PDD officers hold the responsibility to ensure that no staff member scales electric poles while current is flowing, and it should also be made compulsory for all staff members to wear adequate safety equipment so that chances of electrocution are minimized.
It is of utmost importance that PDD should make it a point to chalk out a plan to ensure that no field staff member overlooks safety rules. At times, ground workers show lethargy in using safety equipment, leading to unfortunate situations. It is the right time that PDD staff should learn the lesson and vow not to climb poles or electrical stations without wearing proper safety equipment, as there is nothing more important than human life.
