Zero Accident is not merely a slogan but a realizable goal , says Kharge

“Zero accident” is not merely a slogan but a realizable goal, says Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Minister for Labour & Employment presenting the NSCI Safety Awards 2009 at a Function in Mumbai     The Government of India celebrated the year 2008-09 as the Year of Industrial Safety and Health. The year-long celebrations culminated into the declaration of the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace on 20th Feb., 2009. The policy recognizes safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental human right. It aims at enhancing the well-being of employees and society at large, by eliminating the incidence of work-related injuries, diseases and loss of national assets. One of the several actions specified for improving safety and health is the system of incentives to employers and employees for achieving higher standards of safety and health. The National Safety Council of India NSCI Safety Awards scheme is furthering this very objective of the National Policy.     Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Minister for Labour & Employment today presented the national level NSCI Safety Awards for 2009 in Mumbai. These Awards are for companies from three sectors - factories; construction; and micro, small and medium enterprises.     Following is the text of the Speech delivered by the Union Minister for Labour & Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on the occasion:     Shri Anand Mahindra ji, Chairman, National Safety Council, Prof. Kalyan Chakravarti and Shri Mukesh Galav, Vice Chairmen, NSC, Dr. Anup Chander Pandey, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Shri V.B. Sant, Director General, NSC; Representatives of Award Winning Organizations; Distinguished Invitees; Representatives of media; Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to be here this morning at this function. The function is organised for presenting the national level NSC of India Safety Awards for 2009. These Awards are for companies from three sectors - factories; construction; and micro, small and medium enterprises. It has been my privilege to present the prestigious NSCI safety awards in the presence of this august gathering a little while ago. These award winning companies have made significant contribution to safety by participating in the safety awards schemes. I congratulate all the award winners and extend warm felicitations to them.     The National Safety Council was established by my Ministry. Its object is to build a national level movement on safety, health and environment and prevent accidents, minimize danger and mitigate the consequences thereof. As part of this movement, the Council undertakes activities and services as per the emerging needs of various sectors. Within the spectrum of these activities, Safety Awards Schemes play an important role. They strengthen the voluntary effort by addressing the crucial need for providing recognition to companies for achieving excellence in safety.     Recognising the importance of providing incentives to managements and workers for achieving excellence in safety standards, the Council had launched the awards scheme, to start with, for the factories sector in 1998.     Legislation alone is not enough to achieve full compliance. Concerted efforts by all the stakeholders are required to raise the standard of safety and health and to reduce the rate of injuries on construction projects. I am glad to know that the Council conducted three training programmes for Inspecting Officers from the organization of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). The training was on safety and health provisions under the Building & Other Construction Worker’s Welfare (BOCW) Act and the Central Rules. I suggest similar programmes may be organised for inspecting officials notified under the State Rules. I am sure, this will result in more effective inspection and better compliance. I appreciate the Council for their initiative to start a separate safety awards scheme for the construction sector in 2005 which alone employs 30 million people.     It has been a well accepted fact that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector is the engine of economic growth of our country. Through 26 million enterprises, this sector provides employment to about 60 million persons. But, as regards safety & health, they have several limitations to compete with large scale units and win the Awards. I am happy that the Council has therefore launched a separate awards scheme for MSME sector from the year 2009, which was declared as the “Year of Industrial Safety and Health”. I am happy to present the first Awards under the Scheme to seven enterprises.     The Government of India celebrated the year 2008-09 as the Year of Industrial Safety and Health. The year-long celebrations culminated into the declaration of the National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace on 20th Feb., 2009. The policy recognizes safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental human right. It aims at enhancing the well-being of employees and society at large, by eliminating the incidence of work-related injuries, diseases and loss of national assets. One of the several actions specified for improving safety and health is the system of incentives to employers and employees for achieving higher standards of safety and health. It is gratifying to note that the NSCI Safety Awards schemes are furthering this very objective of the National Policy.     In all, 240 factories covering a wide spectrum of different industrial groups participated in the scheme for the factory sector. I am happy that 32 factories have bagged the Awards. It is heartening to know that none of these 32 factories had any fatal accident during the assessment period of three years and even thereafter. I am happy to know that another 56 factories that could score above the qualifying marks.     The standard of safety on construction projects depends to a great extent on the client’s commitment to safety also. In order to project the key role of the client in monitoring and ensuring implementation of safety systems by contractor effectively, similar awards are given to both the contractor and the client. To achieve this objective, two trophies and citations are given for each level of Awards –one each to the Client and the Principal Contractor. I compliment the Council for incorporating such an innovative feature in the awards scheme for the construction sector.       Occupational safety and health is a multi-disciplinary area concerned with protecting safety and health of workers. The main goal of the OSH programmes is to foster a safe work environment. Fostering a preventative safety culture resulting in safe work environment and preventing human suffering would rank as the most valuable contribution of the award winners to the society. Improved productivity and efficiency, waste reduction and management of hazardous wastes are the other major benefits which accrued to the society. All these factors undoubtedly contribute to the triple bottom line strategy and a positive image of these organizations. Therefore, even purely from the business point of view also, the examples set by these award winning organizations make a strong case for others to emulate. The performance also shows “zero accident” is not merely a slogan but a realizable goal. Therefore, given the right commitment, teamwork and professional approach, there is no reason why other organizations should not achieve this goal of zero accident.     It is heartening to note that most of the Award winning factories and construction companies are implementing voluntary and self-regulated OSH management systems in their organizations for promotion of OSH. I appreciate the managements for their proactive efforts in this direction and hope others will emulate them.     It is the worker, who by his dint of hard work and dedication sets the pace of our industrial development. He constitutes an important asset and his active participation in OSH management is very essential. I am happy that, to reflect the teamwork which has gone in achieving the award winning OSH performance, the awards are received by a 3-member team comprising a representative of workers, Head of safety department and the Unit Head. I wholeheartedly compliment the workers, managements and safety professionals for their dedicated work. My heartiest congratulations to the teams present here and received the safety awards.     While concluding, I would like to say that winning an award tremendously boosts morale of the management and the workers. However, participation in the award schemes by itself is quite rewarding as it provides a roadmap for achieving outstanding safety performance.      Source - PIB