DHAKA, Bangladesh, March 11 (UPI) -- A team sponsored by western retailers in its first report Tuesday on factories in Bangladesh said it found missing fire doors and heavy weight loads.
The Bangladesh Accord Foundation plans to inspect 1,500 factories by September, the New York Times reported. The initial report was on 10 factories and listed problems like missing fire doors, combustible material stored unsafely and dangerous weight loads on upper floors.
The foundation, a consortium of clothing brands and retail chains from 20 countries, was formed after the collapse of a textile factory building last year killed more than 400 workers.
"Our inspection program is in full swing," Brad Loewen, the chief safety inspector, told the Times. "It's big news that we're in full flight."
The report described 10 inspections done in November and December. In two buildings, the problems were so severe they were temporarily closed, the group said.
The foundation's 38 inspection teams plan to look at 250 factories a month.
