Steel Ministry Sets Up Apex Safety Council to Strengthen Industry Safety

New Delhi, Sep 29 (KNN) The Ministry of Steel has decided to establish a Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC) as an apex industry-level body to strengthen safety standards, accident prevention and safety practices across the steel sector.

The council will be headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and include senior ministry officials, chief executives of integrated steel producers and representatives from organisations including the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and steel technology institutions.

The SISC will assess safety conditions in the industry, facilitate studies on safety practices, approve safety standards and recommended practices, and review serious accidents, accidents and near-miss incidents. It will also issue directions on safety awareness, training and preventive measures.

The ministry will also establish a Steel Industry Safety Directorate (SISD) to provide technical support to the council. The directorate will cover areas including process safety, blast furnaces, steel melting, rolling mills, coke ovens, electrical and mechanical safety, occupational health, fire engineering and disaster management.

The SISD will oversee implementation of SISC decisions, conduct periodic safety audits, maintain accident and near-miss data, investigate serious incidents and review emergency preparedness and safety training programmes.

It will also develop and issue Steel Industry Safety Standards, Recommended Practices and Guidelines suited to Indian conditions.

(KNN Bureau)