We spoke to Hemant Sapra, president, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (SAMA) to understand the learnings from the pandemic and how SAMA as a community managed to help enhance occupational safety & health function within organisations, what shall be the key focus areas for SAMA going forward, new events or training programs that they’ve planned for to help increase OSH awareness in India and plans to work with the Central and state governments to improve the status of OSH in India.

Interviewed by Adeesh Sharma

1. Learnings from the pandemic and how SAMA as a community managed to help enhance occupational safety & health function within organisations? 

Covid-19 has brought about a new feeling and methodology to our daily activities and working mechanisms.  ‘Work from Home’ and virtual working has now become a reality for most of us which has helped us become more efficient & concentrate on the more relevant tasks at hand.  SAMA EC members have had several successful virtual meetings with progressive decisions which in turn has enhanced the industry. Virtual seminars to spread safety awareness amongst industry has become a norm of the day.

2. Going forward, what shall be the key focus areas for SAMA this year? 

We are looking to enhance our member base as well as create more awareness on the safety standards in the industry.  We are also looking to enhance our product safety measures and certifications and standards.  Creation of SAMA regional chapters in various states in the country

3. Any new events or training programs that you’ve planned for to help increase OSH awareness in India? 

SAMA has partnered with startups, participated in events like OSH, helped members plan visits to international shows like A+A, Interschutz, Fall Protection Seminar, Supply gap in quality PPEs for cement industry seminar.

4. Any plans to work with the Central and state governments to improve the status of OSH in India? 

The central govt of India has announced a new Labour Code 2020 replacing 14 acts including the Factories act. Under Labour Code 2020, there are four codes. One of these is OSH Code. The government has recognised the need for health and safety of workers and have created a separate code for the same. Currently, the government is working on creating standards under the OSH code. SAMA is working very closely with the central government in the process of drafting OSH Standards to increase the standards of safety in the country.