We have a robust R&D cell constantly innovating on the safety design and the metallurgy of the components used in the Fall Protection systems

Sanjay Verma, President, Mtandt Group dwells on how Mtandt is focused on providing safety solutions when working at heights, from incorporating safety design features in Aerial Work Platforms to ensuring that their EN-certified Fall Protection systems are user-friendly and enhance the safety of the workers to equipment training.

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

India's population exceeds 1.2 billion. However, OSH standards are optional by and large in India. It is encouraging to note that companies today are waking up to acknowledge safety as paramount importance at work sites. Agencies like National Safety Council and structured safety departments in organizations are now enforcing strict guidelines and regulations.

Unprecedented industry growth and progress go hand in hand with challenges such as -:

• A huge unskilled/semi-skilled workforce in unorganized sectors.
• Availability of cheap labour.
• Lack of reliable OSH data.
• Infrastructure problems. Etc.

There fore, with mandatory safety standards, achieving global standards would be easier. In comparison, the Global industry has adopted more than 40 standards specifically dealing with occupational safety and health across various sectors, from construction to manufacturing etc.

What innovations in safety products do you plan to bring for the Indian industry?

Mtandt is focused on providing safety solutions when working at heights, from incorporating safety design features in Aerial Work Platforms to ensuring that our EN-certified Fall Protection systems are user-friendly and enhance the safety of the workers to equipment training.

We have a robust R&D cell constantly innovating on the safety design and the metallurgy of the components used in the Fall Protection systems to ensure globally benchmarked safety standards.

What is your organization's vision for the near future to inculcate safety practices among the Indian workforce?

Our organization's vision for the near future to inculcate safety practices among the Indian workforce are:-

1. Commitment and Communication -: Both are critical aspects of a successful and positive safety culture in the workplace. E.g. employee welfare, reduced absenteeism, better reporting and a clearer picture of current issues.
2. Lead by example -: It is paramount that you lead by example. If management is willing to commit to safety, employees will follow suit, and it also helps them understand why specific measures have been put in place and how they can contribute to a culture of safety within the organization.
3. Develop and Implement a Positive Reporting Process -: A positive safety culture will be much easier to build and maintain when employees feel comfortable reporting concerns and believe that the reporting process is positive.
4. Provide training -: Having good technical competencies and providing training from supervisors strongly emphasizes leadership, initiative and an out-of-the-box thinking style.

What is your advice to large occupational safety and health shows such as OSH India to help further the cause of spreading awareness about safety in Indian organizations?

1. OSH should take the initiatives to spread the show to class B cities & nearer to Industrial areas to attract more classes of workmen & employees.
2. Open the online enquiry and information support centre and develop standardized safety guidelines for different organizations.
3. OSH should organize safety workshops at industrial belts across India to ensure adherence to safety standards and engagement with senior safety leadership teams.
4. OSH should set up an India safety leadership Group comprising safety and industry stalwarts across the variant industry that could work with National Safety Council.