Make safety your personal habit instead of only following rules of company/state

Durganand Thakur, GM & Head-Safety, Vodafone Idea Ltd. speaks about the pre-requisites for safety managers before they conduct a workplace safety audit, key points to be conveyed to employees as part of an Occupational Safety Communication Program, his views on addressing non-compliance to safety norms among employees, a key moment in his career where he wished he had handled a safety incident differently and his views on OSH India show and the role played by it in enhancing awareness around industrial safety.

Interviewed by Adeesh Sharma

What are the pre-requisites for safety managers before they conduct a workplace safety audit? 

A safety manager needs to have the following skills to conduct an audit program at workplace:
• Observations skills
• Aptitude to learn with the situation
• Flexible with timings
• Trained/certified for the job
• Experience of similar audits may be as an assistant auditor
• Understanding on the workplace/area specific technology or project Practical work experience in similar area becomes an added advantage

What are the key points that you would like to convey to employees as part of an Occupational Safety Communication Program?

• Personal safety is most critical factor to save their own and others lives.
• Safety is only sustainable if this gets in to the value system instead of priority.
• Make safety procedure as your personal habit instead of rules of company/state.
• Always expect the unexpected.

How would you address non-compliance to safety norms among employees?

Always keep in mind the following:
• Clear Policy and safety standards for the company
• Common rules reward/punishment for all level of employees • Frequent communication
• Counsel/Improve; move and then remove

Please tell us about a key moment in your career where you wish you had handled a safety incident differently. In my career there have been times when the incident happened in one of the contractor company and the immediate supervisors and safety manager has been removed. This should have been dealt differently. Ultimately the senior management team must be answerable.

Your views on OSH India show and the role played by it in enhancing awareness around safety.

OSH India is doing great job in enhancing the connect among safety professionals and suppliers. Also the safety discussion in the form of panel discussions helps a lot to understand the various industry perspectives on safety. I wish all the best to OSH India.