DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 4 -- THE Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) says it had planned to visit five battery manufacturing factories this year but managed to reach three, where inspectors found significant gaps in the safe handling of lead minerals.

GCLA Director of Products and Environmental Analysis, Dr Peter Shimo, said on Tuesday that they have discovered that the production of batteries using lead minerals has been a challenge, endangering the environment and health.

“(This) including employees not using protective gear, lacking designated areas for changing clothes, lacking shower areas and lacking dust control equipment. Some employees even eat in the battery production area,” Dr Shimo said.

He said during a...