A gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Karnataka has left 25 workers hospitalized, most with breathing problems and exposure-related symptoms. The suspected cause: an ammonia leak from a cold storage system a standard setup in most seafood plants.
The incident has once again raised a serious question:
How prepared is Indiaโs seafood industry when it comes to workplace safety?
Hereโs whatโs alarming:
Ammonia is widely used but rarely monitored in smaller units
Many plants lack real-time gas leak detection systems
Safety drills and protective gear are often missing or outdated
Routine checks on refrigeration systems are either delayed or undocumented
This isnโt an isolated case.
From Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra, similar incidents have been reported in recent years.
Whatโs missing isnโt technology – itโs accountability.
The seafood sector powers a major part of Indiaโs exports and rural jobs.
But if we can’t keep workers safe inside processing units, it weakens everything โ from trust to trade.
Itโs time safety moved from compliance paperwork to daily operations.
