Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) organised the 4th ICC Occupational Health and Safety Conference & Awards to recognise the companies which have taken measures to maintain workplace safety. The conference included the discussion among various corporate companies which have adopted technology and have made occupational health and safety their topmost priority. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Dr. Krishna Nirmalya Sen, Chairman of ICC OHSE Expert Committee, Mr. Aloke Mookherjea, Former Chairman, Flakt India Limited, Dr. R K Elangovan, Director General, DGFASLI, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Gol, Professor Dr. Manas Kumar Sanyal, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Kalyani, and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC.
Dr. Krishna Nirmalya Sen, Chairman of ICC OHSE Expert Committee, talking about OHSE said, “Health in the workplace is still not considered important. 374 million people become victims of non-fatal accidents that take place every year and 278 million suffer from work-related diseases. 81% of deaths in the workplace are due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, which are a result of being exposed to long working hours. Health and safety in the workplace are non-negotiable. Workplace health and job satisfaction ensure the effectiveness of the workers. Workers of some industrial sectors such as mining, construction, and agriculture are likely to be victims of health and safety hazards. The Indian Government is also trying to establish the National Occupational Health & Safety Advisory Board to promote occupational health and safety and design policies for organizations. ICC National Occupational Health & Safety Awards started in 2019, and this year we have received more than 50 applications. Platinum Award is presented to companies that have scored above 80 points, Gold to companies that have scored 70 – 80 points, and Silver to companies that have scored 60-70 points. We were amazed and elated by the applications from educational institutes.”
Dr. R K Elangovan, Director General, DGFASLI, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Gol said, “There are around 3,64,042 factories in India where more than 20 crore workers are employed. In order to ensure safety in the workplace, everybody in the organization should work together and technology should also be incorporated. Workplace-generated data is important, as real-time data can help in designing practices.”
Mr. Aloke Mookherjea, Former Chairman, Flakt India Limited, said “Equal attention needs to be given to all workers. Training should be provided to the management. The physical, social, and mental well-being of the workers comes under the purview of health. Industrial sectors especially construction, agriculture, and mining have to be more proactive. Every worker should understand that they have a family to go to. Occupational health and safety, which are a part of an ongoing process, are the moral and legal responsibilities of organizations. Organizations can establish Health & Safety software and should also include third-party audits. Leadership is essential to improve the policies.”
The Guest of Honour, Professor Dr. Manas Kumar Sanyal, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Kalyani said, “The mental, social, and physical well-being of workers ensure their efficiency. We would like to sign an MoU with ICC to cater to education, technology, construction,improvement of health, and environmental aspects.”Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, while delivering the Vote of Thanks stated, “These policies help the workers and their families. Making the workplace safer acknowledges the amazing work they do. By sharing knowledge, companies here can become role models for other companies.”
