In a Decade or Two, Our Safety Standards Will Be at Par with Global Standards

We spoke to G. Sivaramakrishna Rao, General Manager-HSE, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd to get his assessment about the current occupational safety and health scenario in India, its comparison to global standards, the efforts required from the Government’s end to help improve OSH awareness, the kinds of training programs required to inculcate the culture of safety in Indian workers and his advice to large occupational safety and health shows such as OSH India to help further the cause of spreading awareness about safety in Indian organisations.

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?

The current scenario in India is very positive & safety awareness is growing exponentially. May be in a decade or two, our safety standards will be at par with global standards. The Indian companies are keen on workforce wellbeing & have taken several safety initiatives. The term Environment & Sustainability have become buzz words.

What more do you believe the government needs to do to help improve OSH awareness?

The Government of India is now become very active with regard to occupational safety & we look forward to it to for stringent application of the new occupational safety acts. Further, the government should declare subsidies for companies complying with OSH standards.

What kinds of training programs are required to inculcate the culture of safety in Indian workers?

The skill development & validation of skills of the workforce shall be the way forward. Occupational Safety should be embedded in all skills trainings as a mandatory requirement.

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 organisations?

It is a very proactive initiative by UBM India and the ambience at OSH India shows remind us of festivals. The safety employees enjoy the shows while simultaneously gaining knowledge from them. I suggest that OSH India shall take initiatives to spread the show to class B cities & nearer to Industrial areas in order to attract more classes of workmen & employees. It shall also include Environment & Health sections of HSE.