Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Central Sulawesi branch of the Indonesian Forum for Environment or Walhi took to the streets today, Monday, February 19, 2024. The action was triggered by the number of work accidents in the nickel smelter area at PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP). The protest targeted the Manpower and Transmigration Service and the Central Sulawesi Regional Police.
Head of the Walhi Central Sulawesi Advocacy and Campaign Department, Aulia Hakim, said the protest called for four demands. First, improving occupational health and safety (K3) management in the IMIP area. Second, urge the police and relevant ministries to open to the public the results of the explosion investigation at PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) which killed 21 workers.
"The third demand is to carry out an audit of K3 and production equipment in the nickel industrial area," Aulia told Tempo on Sunday. "Finally, we ask that all companies that violate the occupational health and safety in the nickel industrial area be given strict sanctions."
The action was also a response to the naming of two workers as suspects in the PT ITSS explosion case.
Central Sulawesi Regional Police named two Chinese foreign workers as suspects on February 10. Head of Public Relations of the Central Sulawesi Regional Police, Chief Commissioner Djoko Wienartono, said the two suspects were ZG, the financial supervisor of PT. Zhao Hui Nickel and Z, the Deputy Supervisor of PT OSMI.
Walhi Central regretted the development since the organization found indications of company negligence during the case.
For example, there were no safety supervisors accompanying workers when repairing the exploded smelter furnace. It was even alleged that the work was done without a work permit from the supervisor. "The categories of work at the smelter are Hot Work Permit and Cold Work Permit. If this document is used in worker procedures, oxy-acetylene welding will not be used," said Aulia.
In addition, the absence of safety infrastructure in the area where the explosion occurred is thought to be one of the triggers for the large number of fatalities in the incident.
"Because most of the victims, especially those who died on the spot, were trapped," he.
PT IMIP was reluctant to answer Tempo's questions regarding its standard operating procedures (SOP) for smelter repair and alleged negligence. "Please confirm with the police, thank you," said PT IMIP's Media Relations Head Dedy Kurniawan.