The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population is establishing the causes of the explosion at the KazZinc plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk, reports Todayinfo. This was announced by Yerbol Tuyakbayev, the first vice-minister of the department.
“We are currently investigating the specific cause. Whose fault it was: non-compliance with safety regulations, or failure to familiarize personnel with safety regulations, or a technological malfunction at the enterprise, or they failed to replace outdated equipment. We will find out this cause, and believe me, accountability will follow,” Tuyakbayev said on Thursday in the Senate corridors.
The vice-minister also mentioned that KazZinc had received directives in previous years.
“As far as I remember, in the past two years, the activities of KazZinc and other large enterprises were inspected as part of preventive checks. The directives were fulfilled on time, and as far as I know, we did not impose any fines. But in connection with this situation, as you know, an investigative task force has been created, which includes the Department of State Labor Inspection along with the Ministry of Emergency Situations,” Tuyakbayev explained.
Recall that on May 5, a large fire broke out on the territory of KazZinc in Ust-Kamenogorsk. The fire was later completely extinguished, after which search operations continued at the site. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov took personal control of the situation.
It became known that the Department of Ecology of the East Kazakhstan region is conducting measurements after the explosion at the plant.
The company confirmed that two people died and five were injured as a result of the fire. The Ministry of Emergency Situations clarified the area of the fire, and doctors reported on the condition of the injured.
The regional Police Department reported that a criminal case had been initiated regarding the death of two workers.
Furthermore, it was announced that an interdepartmental commission would be created for the investigation.
The Sanitary and Epidemiological Service also checked the air quality after the incident at KazZinc.
On May 6, Adilov reported that no one had yet been detained in the case and named the main versions of the explosion's causes.
On May 12, the company announced that one of the injured during the explosion had died in the hospital.
