In February last year, the factory of Sanko Seika, a confectionery manufacturer in Niigata Prefecture, was completely destroyed by a fire that killed six people. Police said the fire started from pieces of rice crackers that had accumulated inside the dryer, and did not thoroughly clean it up. The company's representative director and four others were referred to prosecutors on suspicion of causing death or injury due to professional negligence due to problems with the company's safety management.
In February of last year, a fire broke out at the Sanko Seika factory in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, burning it down, killing six people, including four part-time employees, and injuring one person.
Police were investigating the cause of the fire, including a search of the company's headquarters, but police said they discovered that the pieces that had accumulated inside the dryer during the rice cracker baking process became hot and caused the fire. That's it.
There had been multiple fires caused by burning pieces of rice crackers at the factory at the site, and it is suspected that the four workers failed to take measures to prevent the pieces from accumulating, such as thoroughly cleaning the machinery while being aware of the danger. about it.
Additionally, during the late night hours when the fire occurred, it appears that initial firefighting and evacuation guidance training were not sufficient.
As a result, the police found that there were problems with the company's safety management, and referred four people, including Sanko Seika's representative director and the then head of the manufacturing division, to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of causing death due to professional negligence.
Police have not revealed the identity of the four people.
Sanko Seika "fully cooperates with investigation by relevant authorities"
Regarding the fact that the representative directors and others have been referred to prosecutors, Sanko Seika said, ``We will steadily implement measures to prevent recurrence, and work as a company to manufacture safe and secure products and prevent recurrence, and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation by the relevant authorities.'' I am determined to do so,” he commented.
Niigata Labor Bureau sends documents to Sanko Seika and representative director
Regarding this fire, on the 2nd, the Niigata Labor Bureau also referred the company Sanko Seika and its representative director to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of violating the Industrial Safety and Health Act, alleging that the company did not take necessary fire prevention measures.
According to the Niigata Labor Bureau, no measures were taken to block the heat from the surrounding area so that the rice cracker pieces that accumulated in the dryer would not reach high temperatures.
Bereaved family: ``I want people to take their responsibility and crime seriously''
Families who lost relatives in this fire spoke about their current feelings.
The eldest son of Miyoko Ito (68) said, ``I feel like I've finally moved on to the next level now that the documents have been sent to the prosecutor.However, I think it's just the beginning, so I want to wait for the results of the punishment issued by the prosecutors.Sanko Seika needs more employees.'' I still think there were things that could have been improved by conducting interviews with other people."
In addition, Hachie Chika (73), the eldest son and his wife, said, ``No matter what punishment is handed down after being sent to the prosecutor's office, it doesn't mean that our precious mother will come home.I think we have reached a conclusion, but we are looking forward to the future. I will continue to watch closely. I would like to quietly tell the story of my mother's death.I hope that the management team will take responsibility and take responsibility seriously."