In the wake of a serious ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing factory in Tamil Nadu that affected around 67 workers — including several from Odisha — the state’s Directorate of Factories and Boilers has swung into action.
The department has directed immediate, comprehensive safety inspections of all marine food processing units operating across Odisha to prevent a similar tragedy.
The directive was issued following the June 21 incident at St. Peter and Paul Seafood Export Company in Tamil Nadu, where ammonia gas leaked from the plant’s refrigeration system.
The leak left dozens of workers requiring medical attention. The fact that some of the affected employees were Odia workers has prompted swift concern in Bhubaneswar.
In an official communication, the Directorate has instructed all Divisional Deputy Directors to conduct thorough safety audits of every marine food processing factory in their respective divisions. Each inspection team must comprise at least two officers to ensure detailed and accountable verification.Key points in the urgent order include:
Checking the existing safety systems currently in place at each factory
Identifying gaps and additional safety measures required
Setting clear timelines for implementing the necessary upgrades
Special focus on units that use large quantities of ammonia
All inspection reports must be submitted to the Directorate within one week. Factories found using higher volumes of ammonia have been specifically flagged for closer scrutiny.
The move comes as a proactive safety measure aimed at protecting workers in Odisha’s growing seafood processing sector, where ammonia is widely used for industrial refrigeration and freezing. Officials have emphasised that no compromise will be made on worker safety following the Tamil Nadu incident.
The Directorate has made it clear that the inspections are not routine — they are urgent and mandatory. Factories failing to meet safety standards will be required to take corrective action within stipulated deadlines.
With the reports due within seven days, the coming week is expected to see heightened activity across Odisha’s coastal industrial belts as safety teams fan out to verify compliance.
