Central Sulawesi Manpower And Transmigration Office-Kemnaker Joint Investigation Cause Of Smelter Tungku In Morowali Explodes

Illustration of the explosion. (Unsplash-Sergi Viladesau)

SULTENG - The Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans) of Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) deployed an investigation team that caused a severe explosion at the PT. Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) smelter in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) area, Sunday, December 24. "We have deployed a team to find out the cause of this incident," said Head of the Central Sulawesi Manpower and Transmigration Service (Disnakertrans) Arnol Firdaus Bandu in Palu, Tuesday, December 26, confiscated by Antara.

He explained that currently the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) team has joined his side to conduct joint investigations in the industrial area. "While witnesses and victims cannot be fully questioned because they are experiencing trauma and are still in medical treatment. Of course we are doing this work professionally," he said.

According to him, the environmental aspect is not enough to only look at the internal conditions of industrial estates in IMIP, the external environment is also part of investigative steps.

"Environmental aspects regarding infrastructure and spatial planning are also a concern whether adequate and comfortable for workers or not, as well as whether existing infrastructure is comparable to investment value or not," he said. The investigation is carried out comprehensively, including management of the implementation of technical aspects of safety, health of environmental work (K3LH), because aspects can affect accidents.

"During the investigation process, industrial activities at the work accident site were temporarily suspended to facilitate the detailed investigation process," he said.

The explosion of a smelter stove belonging to PT ITSS in the Morowali Regency industrial area on Sunday (24/12) left 13 people dead, consisting of 4 foreign workers (TKA) from China and 9 Indonesian workers (TKI), while 39 people who were injured in the incident have received intensive care.

In addition, as many as 29 victims suffered serious injuries, 12 victims suffered moderate injuries, and five victims suffered minor injuries.

Head of the Media Relations Division of the Indonesian Region Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) Dedy Kurniawan said the management of PT IMIP had covered all costs of care and treatment for victims after the accident, as well as compensation for the families of the victims.

According to Dedy, the No. 41 on the burning 2nd floor, was initially still closed for maintenance operations.

When the stove was not operating and was in the process of being repaired, there were rest of the lag or terak in the stove that came out, then came into contact with flammable items at the location.

The walls of the stove then collapsed and the remaining iron leaks flowed out causing a fire. As a result, workers at the location suffered injuries to the death toll.