A tragic explosion at a steel factory in Erbil resulted in the death of a foreign worker and injuries to two others. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in the Kurdistan Region’s labor sector.

Explosion at Erbil Steel Factory

A foreign worker was killed and two others were injured in an explosion at a steel factory in Erbil on Wednesday. Workers were cutting pieces of scrap metal for reprocessing when an apparent “old bullet exploded,” Yusuf Karim, head of the Erbil branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Syndicate, told local sources. The deceased worker was from India, and the injured workers are also foreigners, according to Karim. The incident is currently under investigation.

Work-Related Accidents in the Kurdistan Region

Work-related accidents are a frequent occurrence in the Kurdistan Region. According to data compiled from the four provincial branches of the syndicate, 18 workers died on the job in the first six months of 2024. However, this data might not be accurate, as Chalak Rauf, head of the syndicate’s Sulaimani branch, suggests some deaths are hidden by employers.

Discrepancies in Fatality Data

Forty-one workers died across the Kurdistan Region in 2023, according to the syndicate’s data. The construction workers’ organization, however, has very different figures, reporting that 73 workers lost their lives in 2023. These discrepancies underscore the challenges in accurately tracking workplace fatalities in the region.

Dire Working Conditions and Lack of Safety Measures

Workers in the Kurdistan Region often endure dire conditions, as many employers do not sign contracts with their employees to avoid installing safety measures. As a result, workers who suffer accidents frequently lose their source of income, highlighting the urgent need for improved labor protections and enforcement of safety regulations.