National meet on “Safety at Workplace” kicks off in the city today

Safety is “ABC—Always Be Careful”: inform Safety experts at a national safety meet underway in Panaji, Goa Goa, Panaji, February 25, 2019: A National meet on Occupational Health & Safety kicks off here in the city at Hotel Taj Vivanta, in Panaji in Goa today. It is organised by Greentech Foundation. The meet assumes significance as it is organised in the backdrop of Phulwama Attack and 300 cars getting burnt to ashes at Bangalore Air Show. The theme of the one day conference was “Safety at Workplace”. Giving his opening remarks, RK Dubey, former CMD of Canara Bank said safety starts with individual. Safety must be imbibed into genes and cited an example of how Singapore, a small colony of Malaysia 50 years ago is transformed so well now. Be safe and be saved he gave a clarion call. Safety is as simple as ABC—Always Be Careful, he told his audience. The Chief Guest K.U Thankachen, Director of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd, a Govt of India Undertaking said Climate Change, Terrorism and Cyber Attack’s have become threat to mankind. And industries have to be on ties always away from these threats. A conference like this especially recent incidents help understand various dimensions of Safety. Better a thousand times careful than being sorry and suffer or yet times die, he added Safety is not just about wearing industrial shoes and wearing safety gears like helmets. Safety is not about equipment, gadgets and gizmos. Safety is about mindset, being alert. Safety is behaviour, attitude, a regular practice, way of life, heart and mind of everyone, everyday and and rywhere and it is a process and not practice observed speakers who spoke at the inaugural function. Rules, processes, equipment have little impact on behaviour, action and choices people make as they perform their jobs and related tasks, observed Dr. Madhulika Agrawal, a practicing Occupational Health & Safety Doctor while speaking about Improving Safety at Workplaces. Move away from fault finding environment to fact finding environment. Move away from who did it to how did it happen, she told 150 plus Occupational Health & Safety Professionals drawn from Public Sector Undertakings, Govt Bodies, Corporate Houses, Research Bodies from all over India. 2.3 million work related deaths are occurring each year in the country. Three million deaths are happening due to work related accidents and balance 20 million are work related illnesses, she shared. Replying to a question Dr. Madhurika said by avoid putting cold or hot water first on head while taking bath, our elders in our house can avoid slips and falls in bathrooms. When water is poured first on head, mind goes blank especially for elders for few seconds can be prevented, she informed. Organized by New Delhi based Greentech Foundation, not for profit organization, the meeting was organised to discuss improving safety at workplaces, Industrial Accident Prevention, Investigation, and others. Welcoming the gathering, Kamleshwar Sharan, President and CEO of Greentech Foundation said “working safely is like breathing— if you don’t you die”. It is better to pay less, prevent and accident instead of paying more post the accident. Think safety and act safely, he gave a call. V.P. Mahawar, Acting Chairman-Board of Governors, IIM Rohtak said “ Safety has to be demonstrated”. The safety of the people has to be the highest law”. It is better to be safe than sorry, he informed. During the meet 17th Annual Greentech Safety Awards were presented. Some of the winners include: ONGC Ltd; ITC Ltd(Food Unit at Haridwar), NLC India Ltd; Shree Digvijay Cement Co. ltd; Godfrey Phillips India Ltd, NTPC and others. R. K. Dubey, Former CMD, Canara Bank; Ved Prakash Mahawar, Retired Director of ONGC Ltd; S.K. Acharya, Former CMD of Neyveli Lignite; Deepak Hota, CMD, BEML Ltd; Surabhi Mittal, VP of Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd; and others spoke at the meet. The national was attended by the mix of specialists, professionals, and practitioners.