Accord will inspect 200 more garment factories in Bangladesh that were added to its list after completion of its initial assessment in September. It rolled out its initial safety inspection in February 2014 and completed assessment of some 1,103 factories in September 2014.

Accord is the European Union-based group with over 190 members including H&M and Inditex. The platform was formed to ensure workplace safety in Bangladesh’s apparel industry for a period of five years following the Tazreen and the Rana Plaza tragedies that killed more than 1,200 workers. On December 17, Accord sought a proposal from interested firms for carrying out fire, electrical and structural integrity assessment of 200 garment factories.

Accord has some 38 full-time permanent local engineers. After each factory is inspected for fire, electrical and structural safety, factory owners and signatory companies will develop a Corrective Action Plan, which will be published online after approval by Accord.

After its initial assessment, Accord found more than 80,000 safety hazards in its assessed garment factories. Accord inspections have also identified more substantial safety requirements, such as installing fire doors and automated fire alarm systems, establishing fire protected exits from factory buildings, and strengthening columns in the buildings.