Plastico Industries employee burnt on duty, deserted – report
A 20 year old Blantyre based young man who is an employee of Plastico Industries Limited was few days ago burnt by molten plastic in the line of duty and has since been deserted by his employees.
According to published reports, on this fateful day, the casualty whose name is Amos Mwenyemuzi and works as a Machine Operator, reported to work like any other day and faced the ordeal as he was trying to rectify a fault
the machine developed.
“I had just resumed my night shift around 8:00pm when I noticed that the machine I was assigned to work on was becoming dry (performing abnormally). From experience this meant that there was a blockage then I started unblocking it as the machine was operating on manual as required when unblocking. In the process of doing that, a nut moved from its position pushing the materials (molten plastic) and releasing it into my face and arms. I fell down but I was conscious and experiencing excruciating pain” Mwenyemuzi is quoted as saying in the Sunday Times.
Since the incident happened, Mwenyemuzi whose basic salary is K8, 250.00 has not received anything from his employees.
The company has only managed to pay for his transport to and from the hospital.
His aunt Edith Siliya said: “We have been asking Plastic Industries Management to assist us take
care of our relative but they have refused. He needs liquid food and anti-burns cream which were prescribed by the doctor but we are failing to provide these on our own.”
Plastico Industries Human Resource Manager Steve Ndovi said : “We have been providing transport to and from hospital, I think that is assistance.”
Labour Minister Eunice Makangala has however promised to launch investigations into the matter.
She has however advised employees to resist when they are pushed to work in unsafe environment.
