Workers involved in container scanning in Kochi have announced that they will boycott the process from next Monday, alleging that repeated exposure is causing serious physical and mental health problems and that authorities have not honoured an assurance on protective clothing.
According to a report by Kerala Kaumudi – Kochi, workers assigned to shifts are required to pass through the scanning machine as many as six or seven times a day. Workers have reported vomiting, headaches and blood-pressure problems after undergoing the repeated scanning process, the report said.
The workers’ decision follows an assurance from authorities that only employees wearing adequate protective clothing would be assigned to the scanner. The workers said that this assurance had not been implemented, prompting them to decide on a boycott. The report did not specify the type of scanning technology involved or identify the authority that gave the assurance.
The proposed action places worker safety at the centre of an operational dispute involving container-handling infrastructure in Kochi. Scanning is part of the process through which containers are checked, and a boycott by personnel assigned to the equipment could affect the continuity of that activity. The source report, however, did not provide details on the number of workers involved, the expected operational impact or whether an alternative arrangement had been prepared.
The health complaints cited by the workers include vomiting, headaches and elevated blood pressure. These claims are based on the workers’ account as reported by Kerala Kaumudi – Kochi; the report did not include an independent medical assessment, occupational-health findings or a statement from the authorities responsible for the scanning facility.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the T.U.C.I., chaired by P.S. Ashiq. The meeting resulted in the decision to boycott scanning from next Monday unless the concerns over protective equipment and working conditions are addressed. No details were provided in the report about further negotiations, inspections or a revised safety protocol.
The dispute highlights the importance of clear occupational-safety procedures wherever workers are repeatedly required to pass through scanning equipment. It also raises questions about how protective clothing requirements are communicated, monitored and enforced at facilities handling time-sensitive cargo. The available report does not establish whether the reported symptoms have been formally linked to the scanning process or whether any regulatory review has been initiated.
The immediate next step is the workers’ proposed boycott from next Monday. Any response from the facility authorities, including clarification of the scanning process, protective-equipment requirements and arrangements for workers, will determine whether the dispute is resolved or affects operations.
