re: #199 lawhawk

Not only that, but the death toll from the factory collapse has now topped 930+.

And I doubt any Bangladeshi official knows how many factories were built illegally - or operate under unsafe conditions by any rational standard (insufficient exits in case of emergency, locked exits, overloaded floors and structural problems, etc.).

The factory collapse occurred because of the owners’ greed. They wanted a bigger factory and crammed in extra floors illegally atop a design meant for five stories. Then, even after warnings from their own engineer who thought there was problems with the structure, the owner said for workers to get back in there and made threats to boot. Just hours after the engineer went on tv about the problems, the building collapsed.

Nearly a thousand people died in an eight story building.

A government that was powerless and turned a blind eye to public safety in buildings didn’t have the means or ability to shut down the factory or demand fixes before people were let back in. Again - greed and avarice play a role. The garments have to be made and it’s a huge part of the country’s economy so anything that might be seen as hindering the industry can’t be allowed - even if it threatens public safety.

That’s an attitude that must change - not only in Bangladesh, but elsewhere around the world that treats workers like disposable trash.

An eight story building that was approved to be five stories…greased palms made three floors magically appear and nobody noticed. I wonder if that inspector’s other projects were looked at after this tragedy. No I don’t. I am pretty sure I know that answer.

Topologically, Bangladesh shouldn’t have more than two story buildings as they do not have the needed type of ground to sink a foundation. They could do what Montreal did (inject gas into the ground to freeze it - a freezing process that will last 10,000 years) but it is expensive.

You’ll see this type of thing for as long as they look at their people, as you said, as disposable.