We spoke to Azmath Ullah Baig, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Academy of Safety to understand his assessment about the current occupational safety and health scenario in India and how it compares to global standards, key challenges related to implementing safety regulations within a large organisation, activities and training programs they undertake to improve awareness around safety in India, key challenges to EHS in the aftermath of the pandemic and how their training programs reflect those changes.

Interviewed by Adeesh Sharma

• What is your assessment about the current occupational safety and health scenario in India? How does it compare to global standards?

                Over 80% of India’s working population is part of the unorganised sector of which Agriculture. Much of the growth in Indian economy has come from outsourcing of back office operations from western countries. Experts believe that manufacturing and energy are the next growth sector. With the rapid industrial growth and a significant increase in industrial employment the need for occupational health and safety need to be considered with seriousness. With the population exceeding 1.2 billion in India, about 64% are from working age group. The existing Occupational Safety culture and consciousness among owners, employers, labour unions, workers and enforcement   agencies need to be further developed and implemented specially in manufacturing, chemical, pharma, & commercial goods sector.            

                Emerging economies like ours have unique features like high growth rates, large population density, poor literacy rates etc. which increases challenges compared to other countries. With the new OSH bill 2020 which is yet to be executed is well equipped to overcome the challenges of implementing safety and health scenario in India.

• What are the key challenges related to implementing safety regulations within a large organisation?

                I would say the biggest challenge relating to implementing health and safety is to ensure everyone know and understand importance of safety culture at work. Implementing safety culture becomes more complex with large organizations.

                Another challenge is reporting of accidents and incidents at work place. It is challenging that the mindset on which workers in general are relying on luck, it will never happen to me principle. Any incident or accident occurs they ignore it until it leads to major loss.

                Greatest challenges of all is the commitment from People. How can we motivate them and how can we change the mindset and behavior.

• List the activities and training programs you undertake to improve awareness around safety in India.

                We have various HSE certifications from IOSH, NEBOSH and in house courses to train and create awareness among different cadre of employees and managers. We offer IOSH managing safely, NEBOSH Health & Safety at Work, NEBOSH International General Certificate etc.. Our inhouse courses are First Aid at work place, accident reporting and investigations, asbestos safety, working at heights, COSHH, fire safety training and many more… We believe in creating awareness around working professionals and this can happen only through proper trainings.

• What are the key challenges to EHS in the aftermath of the pandemic and how do your training programs reflect those changes?

Pandemic has caused significant personal and business disruptions to everyone. The immediate focus for the business community is on the safety and welfare of employees. The ‘new normal’ have already impacted how other compliance and sustainability measures are implemented.  EHS executives have to face challenges on the front lines, preparing workplaces with new safety measures including social distancing, training and personal protective equipment. Most of the regulatory programs which EHS workers have been operating had mild deviation, But now EHS have to work with new approved modifications which will cause resistance in regular process. Technology advancement will offer better and safety methods to implement this new change through virtual trainings and better communication. All our trainings are now conducted online or virtually which helps the upcoming and current EHS professionals get comfortable with ‘the new normal.