APROPOS of the recent boiler burst at a Lahore factory, I have the following observations and questions: First, this is neither the first nor the second case of ‘boiler bursts’ in the country. The inquiry officer should investigate:

Was there any qualified engineer under whose supervision the boiler was being operated? Were the boiler operators qualified and did they possess boiler certificates?

If so, were the certificates genuine? (I have come across operators in a factory in Daud Khel who did have a certificate but did not know where the safety valve of the boiler was located; they had links with the certificate-issuing authority.)

Was the boiler operator on normal duty? Or was it his second or third shift? I have observed operators working two or three shifts non-stop. I have observed that (barring a few factories) no safety rules are followed in our country.

S. HASHIM HUSSAIN Karachi