Investigations into an incident wherein an employee of the University of Karachi (KU) fell unconscious by inhaling venomous chemical has revealed that the varsity has hired most of the staff for its sensitive laboratories who do not possess even matriculation degrees.
The illiterate staff has not been properly trained and they are not acquainted with basics of bio-safety rules. The Bio-Safety Association of Pakistan held several training workshops in the varsity to train the staff of sensitive laboratories but how they make out anything from such workshops when they lack the basic knowledge about the bio-safety rules.
The intensity of the issue could be gauged from the fact that a KU senior most laboratory in-charge (BS-16), who is presently deputed at the Department of Microbiology can not write even his name. Investigation has also disclosed that most of the laboratories staffers in KU were hired purely on political grounds.
As per reports, a laboratory assistant of Bio-Chemistry Department namely Arshad fell unconscious few days before when he inhaled poisonous chemical which fell on the ground during shifting to another store. The affected employee was taken to the varsity clinic, however, he was referred to a private hospital for treatment.
The eye-witnesses present on the spot told Pakistan Today that the assistant inhaled the poisonous chemical after it fell onto the ground. “When chemical fell onto the ground, fumes started omitting from it,” the eye-witness said. “The laboratory staffer started inhaling the chemical to identify its group,” they added.
“The affected staffer is completely safe and stable,” KU Public Relations Officer (PRO) Farhin Zehra said. “Arshad was shifting old chemical to a store when a poisonous substance fell on the ground,” Zehra said, adding “He was not feeling well as he inhaled fumes omitting from the chemical and he was shifted to the university clinic for treatment.”
“Later, he was taken to a private hospital for x-rays on his insistence,” she said. “The medical reports of Arshad confirmed that he was safe.”
“I have talked to the Bio Chemistry Department chairperson and she told me that the laboratory assistant inhaled the chemical which fell on the ground,” Faculty of Science Dean Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi said.
“It seems the laboratory assistant was not properly trained,” the dean said, adding “The staff of the sensitive laboratories should know bio-safety rules.” When she was asked about minimum qualification for the laboratory assistant, she said the varsity now made it mandatory for appointment of laboratory assistant that the candidate must possess matriculation degree in science group.
“Earlier, many people have been hired in laboratories who do not possess even Matric degree but now the varsity administration has made it mandatory for laboratory assistants,” she added.
in same news the Dean of the faculty has said that "previously non qualified people have been hired but now we will ensure proper induction".The interesting point is that Dean Mrs Shahana Urooj herself have hired this kind of staff illegally without merit as Pro Vice Chancellor and now blaming others.
making an appointment in the University is the task of Establishment Division of KU, not the Dean, or Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academics). The above person should properly blame the concerned people rather than an individual.
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