Mumbai: A recent incident at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in Vikhroli's Kannamwar Nagar has raised serious concerns about the safety and health security of manhole cleaners employed by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Images shared on social media show labourers entering manholes without proper gear, sparking outrage and questions about the BMC's adherence to safety protocols.
An X page, (@MarjiMumbai2025), shared the images of labourers being shirtless and going inside the manhole to clean the waste collected. The user questions about the safety and health security of these manhole cleaners to BMC. The incident took place at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in on April 16 at 9:30 am, according to the X post.
The caption of the post translates to,"What about their health and safety?
Laborers working half-naked
@mybmc @mybmcWardS @mahasjsa
Cleaning of drains by contractor workers at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, Vikhroli Kannamwar Nagar-2, S Ward, Mumbai Municipal Corporation on 16th April 2025 at 9.30 am."
Health Risks Faced by Manhole Cleaners
Workers who clean manholes encounter dangers associated with hazardous substances and working in confined spaces, which can result in respiratory issues due to inhaling toxic gases, infections from coming into contact with sewage, and significant physical injuries from falls or equipment failures, all of which affect their overall health and safety.
Equipment That Should Be Provided By BMC
Manhole cleaners need PPE like gloves, masks, safety helmets, and gas masks for toxic protection. Safety gear includes harnesses, ropes, rescue equipment, ventilation systems, plus specialized tools like vacuum trucks and sewer machines for efficient cleaning.
Laws Governing Manhole Cleaning
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, strictly prohibits manual scavenging and mandates proper safety gear and equipment for sanitation workers. The Supreme Court has also emphasised the use of modern technology for cleaning sewers and manholes.
