National Safety Council (NSC)

In 1962, Labour Ministers' Conference was held with an objective to serve the Society by creating a preventive culture, scientific mindset and organised approach to Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) issues. Eventually, National Safety Council (NSC) was established by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India on 4th March, 1966 as an independent, non-commercial, non-profit making and autonomous body at the national level. NSC has 8 Chapters, covering 21 States and a Union Territory.

Initiatives for construction and infrastructure sectors

“The Council is making significant difference to the Safety and Health aspects of workers in construction and infrastructure sectors.  It is a membership based organization having more than 5,900 corporate members with about 300 members from construction sector.  As a part of corporate membership, we provide free services such as posters & calendars and publications such as Industrial Safety Chronicle and Industrial Safety Newsletter. All these materials contain messages and information relating to safety, health and environment relevant to Construction as well as other Sectors,” says Mr. Vinodkumar Sant is the Director General of the National Safety Council

The Council every year organizes more than 25 National level training programmes at various cities across the country, including at least three programmes on Construction safety.  Some of the programmes conducted by the Council such as Testing and Examination of Lifting Machines; Fire Prevention and Protection; Occupational Health and Safety Management System, etc. are also common to all sectors.  During the last 8 years, 26 specialized programmes on Construction Safety have been conducted benefitting more than 1350 participants. The Council also offers consultancy services in order to assist the management to improve safety and health status at their construction sites.

Compliance for builders and contractors to maintain EHS

It is pertinent to mention here that compliance with relevant legal requirements i.e. the Building and other   Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1996 and the relevant rules notified there under, is one of the important elements covered in these audits.

Construction safety in India

During the last few years with greater emphasis on construction and infrastructure sectors by the government; well known and professionally managed companies are entering into this sector.  These companies are also having financial and technological collaboration with foreign companies.  As a result it has been noted that now construction safety is viewed more professionally in the country.  Many construction companies have taken on themselves to ensure safety of construction workers engaged by their contractors also and they actively monitor their conditions.

Safety is critical at all stages of construction; it is immaterial of the height of the construction. However, more specific safeguards such as fall arrest system, safety net, barricade etc. are required for working at height.

“The present scenario of construction safety in India is very much comparable with the developed countries when they were under development.  It is not that India is lacking in construction safety.  In fact in certain externally funded projects such as construction of metro rail, airports, etc. our safety performance is better than the developed countries,” says Mr. Sant.

The mechanization of construction activity increases the productivity and safety.  However, one has to ensure that the hazards arising out of introduction of automation and mechanization are also taken care of by appropriate measures particularly training of employees, according to him.

Rewards and recognition

National Safety Council had introduced NSCI Safety Awards Scheme for Construction Sector during 2005.  The scheme is designed to recognize the excellence in safety performance and implementation of safety and health management system at construction sites by the contractors.  The award is also given to the client for encouraging the maintenance of high standards of safety at construction sites by the contractors. 

Skill development programmes

NSC conducts various training programmes on ‘Construction Safety’. In addition, recently NSC has launched E-learning course on “Safety at Construction Sites” with the objective of imparting and improving the Safety and Health Competency needed for timely and cost effective, accident free completion of the projects. The Course has been specially designed in consultation with the experts from the Construction Industry. It is most suited for the Supervisory and Managerial personnel at the Construction sites. These personnel are always performing under acute time pressure and find little time to improve their knowledge and competence through traditionally available methods of training. The Course offers a very convenient way to enhance their competence as it can be accessed online at any place suitable for them.

With increased emphasis on infrastructure development for achieving high rate of growth in the country including in the manufacturing sector; the construction activity is likely to grow phenomenally in the country.  More international funds will also flow into the country for financing such projects.  The international finance companies such as World Bank, IFC, etc. have the policy to insist on measures for safety, health and environment protection at construction sites.  As a result, there is a huge demand for catering the requirements of safety, health and environment in the construction industry.  The National Skills Development Corporation has also projected that about 6-7% of the total manpower requirement in the construction industry will be in the field of safety, health and environment.  Therefore, the government, voluntary organizations and private institutions will have to come together to meet this huge challenge.

Box Item:

Profile of Mr. Vinodkumar Sant, Director General, National Safety Council

Mr. Sant is serving NSC since 2010 and prior to this, he was holding the post of Dy. Director General in NSC from Aug. 2009.

He was graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai with a PG Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has over 33 years combined experience in the fields of OSH, Project Management and Teaching.

He started his professional career in Project Management initially with Escorts Ltd., Faridabad and then switched over to Hero Honda Motors, New Delhi. He is actively involved in planning and commissioning of the Hero Honda ‘CD 100’ Motorcycle Project. He worked for 20 years in Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai, a technical arm of Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India in different positions.

During his tenure at DGFASLI he was associated with; Annual Conferences of Chief Inspectors of Factories & Inspectors of Dock Safety; execution of  national & international projects; formulation of National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at Workplace; and  framing of OSH legislations

Under his leadership and guidance, NSC has made significant progress:

• Long term technical cooperation agreements (MoU) have been signed with German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), Germany, American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), USA, and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA), Korea and at national level with Steel Authority of India Ltd, Tata Housing Development Company Ltd.
• Modified NSCI Safety Awards Scheme for Manufacturing Sector for 5 different industrial categories.
• Developed & introduced Specialised long term training programmes as per the needs of the industry.
• Organised 12th NSCI National Conference on “Safety, Health and Environment: Challenges and Opportunities” in Nov. 2011 at New Delhi.
• Implemented project on “Return on Prevention” in 12 establishments in and around Mumbai in technical collaboration with DGUV and ISSA.
• Produced 5 video films on different topics related to ‘safety at construction sites’ and ‘road safety’.
• Launched for the first time E-learning Course on ‘Safety at Construction Sites”.

Mr. Sant is Chairman of Industrial Safety and Chemical Hazards Sectional Committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards and was member on various Govt. Committees (i) Working Group on OSH for the Twelfth Five Year Plan constituted by the Planning Commission, (ii) Expert Committee of NIOH on Coal fired Thermal Power Plants, (iii) Expert Committee to examine the Amendments to Factories Act constituted by Govt. of India (iv) Committee of Experts on Chemical Weapons Convention and (v) Inquiry constituted by the Govt. of India to enquire into accident  in fireworks unit at  Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. He participated, chaired technical sessions and presented papers in a number of International events including APOSHO Conferences at Mauritius, Perth-Australia, Cebu-Philippines; UNEP Programs at Beijing, China, Lithuania and  Sri Lanka and was a member of UNEP’s Expert Advisory Working Group for revision of APELL Handbook.

Consultancy Services

• Safety Audits – Covers sectors like manufacturing, construction & services and cooperative society buildings, offices, etc
• International consultancy assignments carried out at Lagos, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia
• Risk Assessment & HAZOP Studies
• Safety Awareness Surveys – An aid in assessing and rating safety awareness/culture at all levels in an organisation
• Disaster Management Services
• Preparation and review of on-site emergency/disaster management plans for industrial units & Offices.
• Off-site emergency plans for industrial pockets
• Training for corporates, transporters, factory inspectors, community awareness and organize emergency drills
• Preparation of Safety Manuals
• Advice on Statutory Compliance and specific HSE issues

NSC members are entitled for few free services including Industrial Safety Chronicle--a quarterly publication devoted to SHE developments, reports and views, Industrial Safety News--a copy of NSC's bi-monthly publication covering important events, accident reports and information about international organisations and forthcoming events and National Safety Calendar--that contains a Safety information sheet on a subject of public interest.