Bangladesh, Aug. 31 -- A ministry probe has found severe safety lapses and negligence to be responsible for the deaths of 10 workers from toxic gas exposure at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industry's yard in Chattogram's Sitakunda.

The ministry panel recommended disciplinary action against the yard owner under The Ship Breaking and Recycling Rules-2011 in its investigation report.

The report noted that workers lacked gas masks or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) while puncturing the scrap vessel's ballast tank.

The high-risk operation took place on a weekly holiday without a safety manager, ambulance, doctor, or emergency rescue team on site.

Toxic hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas leaked on Aug 14 while workers were breaching a ba...