Leadership failure in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy; speaker at UPES

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

UPES, Dehradun organized a two-day residential management development program on Occupational Health, Safety, Fire and Environmental issues in Indian Industries on the theme of “Safety Leadership & Sustainability”. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) scenario in India is complex. The national policy on OSH at workplace adopted by government in 2009 is yet to be implemented. Some of the major occupational risks are accidents, pneumoconiosis, musculoskeletal injuries, chronic obstructive lung diseases; pesticide poisoning and noise induced hearing loss.

Experts from various reputed Educational Institutes, Research Institutes & Industry including IOCL, GAIL, Reliance, Vedanta, L&T, Fedders electric, India Glycols ltd., ITC, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Ashok Leyland ltd, ADIDAS, and MOCHIKO participated in this program and discussed the relevant and contemporary issues on the subject including Legislation to extent OSH coverage to all sectors including the unorganized sectors, Spreading awareness about OSH among stakeholders, Development of OSH infrastructure and OSH professionals.

The program was inaugurated by RK Singh Dy Chief Inspector-Factories, Department of Labour, Uttarakhand. He stressed that these types of programs should take place more often so that it could be a help to the society and the nation for development in Occupational Safety and Health and public health too. Manoj N Kamaliya, Senior Vice President, Reliance Industries Ltd speaking on the topic Safety and Leadership while reflecting upon leadership failure in the tragic Bhopal Gas Tragedy also discussed about the importance of Work Permit System. He emphasized that not only do safety and leadership go hand in hand bu safety is non-negotiable and it’s the duty of a leader to ensure it. He quoted that “Safety is our value not just priority”.

Dr. TK Joshi. Ex Director, Center for Occupational Health, New Delhi while presenting his study on Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Issue & Remedial Measures explained the non-reversible hazards of heavy metals like Arsenic, Chromium and substances like Benzene that are carcinogenic and its impacts on Health and Environment.