Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of worker fatalities in Karnataka’s manufacturing sector, accounting for nearly 25% of industrial deaths, according to the Department of Factories, Boilers, Industrial Safety and Health.
Department director K. Srinivas said workers falling from 10 to 20 feet has been a recurring pattern across industrial units. “Hiring workers unfamiliar with the worksite and failing to follow safety protocols are the primary reasons behind these accidents,” he said. Other causes of fatalities include boiler explosions, machinery-related incidents and fires.
Srinivas noted that Karnataka recorded an average of 65 industrial deaths annually over the past four years. He said the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, which prohibits the use of contract labour in core industrial operations, is expected to improve safety outcomes.
“The code mandates deploying an educated and skilled workforce in core areas. Employing contract workers without the required skill set often leads to safety violations,” he said.
He was speaking at an event marking Chemical Disaster Prevention Day-2025, held on December 4 to commemorate the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy and raise awareness on industrial safety.
Bharathi Magdum, deputy director of the department, urged industries to conduct third-party safety audits to identify gaps and prevent future accidents.