A hot water pipe burst at a slate production plant in Semey, causing five workers to leap out of a second-floor window to save their lives. The workers, now hospitalized, fear they won't receive help with costly treatment. Stropper Dulat Kyuykov, who has been in the hospital for a week with cuts and fractures, described the chaotic scene when the pipe burst while he was taking a shower. The workers, facing scalding steam, decided to jump out of the window to avoid being scalded alive in boiling water.
Colleagues found the five men lying on the ice outside the building and called an ambulance. While one worker received treatment at the trauma center and was sent home, the rest with severe injuries were hospitalized. The injured suffered head injuries, limb fractures, bruises, and cuts. Their conditions are currently stable as they prepare for surgeries.
Employees of the plant had long complained to management about issues in the shower room, but repairs were never made. Now, the injured workers lack the funds for treatment and recovery. Their families are uncertain if the employer will provide assistance. The labor inspection has initiated an investigation into the incident, with a promise to hold those responsible accountable.
The labor inspectorate assured that the employer must cover the medical expenses of the injured workers during the investigation period. Furthermore, compensation for temporary disability will be paid to the workers. The incident is under full investigation, and appropriate measures will be taken based on the findings.
Preliminary findings suggest that the accident was caused by a burst adapter connecting the hot water pipes. The investigation results are expected to be announced in 10 days. This incident follows a recent report of five construction workers injured in a fire at a school in Taraz.
