Our CSR policy and Occupational Health and Safety Policy clearly outline the standards we strictly adhere to for ensuring a safe & healthy workplace environment for our employees.
Governance
We have setup dedicated health & safety working committees at each of our operating sites. Each health & safety committee comprises of management and worker representatives, with a dedicated health & safety manager. These health & safety working committees take responsibility of overseeing & daily monitoring of the health & safety management at each of the operating sites, including risk assessment, risk management, compliance, audits and investigations, complaint resolution, grievance addressal, as well as the deployment of specific initiatives. At each of our operating sites, the health & safety standards are adopted in compliance with ISO 45001:2018.
Risk Management
Our approach towards managing occupational health & safety risk is driven by the Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) review that is done at least once in a year and as & when required. This is led by the respective health & safety working committees at each operating site along with management and worker representatives. This proactive approach helps in identification and timely remediation of hazards and operational risks.
Worker exposure to potential safety hazards (e.g. electrical and other energy sources, fire, vehicles, and fall hazards) are to be controlled through proper design, engineering and administrative controls, preventative and safe work procedures (including lockout/tag out), and ongoing safety training.
Where hazards cannot be adequately controlled by these means, workers are to be provided with appropriate, well-maintained, personal protective equipment and educational materials about risks to them associated with these hazards. Workers shall be encouraged to raise safety concerns.
- Provide appropriate, well-maintained PPE
- Control safety hazards through Admin controls
- Preventive maintenance
- Provide educational materials with associated hazard risk
- Safe work procedure, i.e. lockout / tag out (LOTO), hot work permit
- Encourage to raise safety concerns
Potential emergency situations and events are to be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by implementing emergency plans and response procedures, including: emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training and drills, appropriate fire detection and suppression equipment, adequate exit facilities and recovery plans.
Such plans and procedures shall focus on minimizing harm to life, the environment and property.
- Emergency Reporting
- Employee Notification
- Evacuation Procedures
- Training (Annual)
- Drills
- Fire Detection and Suppression Equipment
- Exit Facilities
- Recovery Plans
Procedures and systems are to be in place to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness including provisions to: encourage worker reporting; classify and record injury and illness cases; provide necessary medical treatment; investigate cases and implement corrective actions to eliminate their causes; and facilitate return of workers to work.
- Medical emergency
- Response to First aid responder
- Who can access & communicate
- Inventory List
Worker exposure to chemical, biological and physical agents is to be identified, evaluated, and controlled. Engineering or administrative controls must be used to control overexposures.
When hazards cannot be adequately controlled by such means, worker health is to be protected by appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) programs.
Documented Program:
- Risk assessment
- Identify, evaluate & control
- Annual Plan
To identify, evaluate & control worker exposure to agents:
- Chemical
- Biological
- Physical
Procedures and systems are to be in place to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness including provisions to: encourage worker reporting; classify and record injury and illness cases; provide necessary medical treatment; investigate cases and implement corrective actions to eliminate their causes; and facilitate return of workers to work.
Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy or repetitive lifting, prolonged standing and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks is to be identified, evaluated and controlled.
Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.
Workers are to be provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities, potable water and sanitary food preparation, storage, and eating facilities.
Worker dormitories provided by the Company or labor agent are to be maintained to be clean and safe, and provided with appropriate emergency egress, hot water for bathing and showering, adequate heat and ventilation, and reasonable personal space along with reasonable entry and exit privileges.
Our approach to promoting health & safety awareness at all of our workplaces is driven by ongoing training programs. These comprise of
- General training: aimed at creating awareness and educating employees about health & safety issues – occupational and non-occupational. These include preventive measures for COVID-19
- Customized training: aimed at specific work activities, related health & safety risks, and towards various employee groups
These trainings are focused on several areas such as hazards identification, risk assessment, risk control, safety data sheet, chemical handling & spillage, first aid and CPR, precursor chemical management, emergency response team, hearing loss, contractors safety, fire risk, forklift driving, on the job training for new hires, X-ray handling, hearing conservation program, etc. At each site, the training program & plan is reviewed periodically to ensure that it incorporates the changes in operational, regulatory & industry aspects, as well as our health & safety performance.
Amidst the ongoing pandemic situation, online & virtual training sessions have become the order of the day at our operating sites. These include employees’ recertification, competency training, new equipment training by technical specialist, etc. This enables us to minimize and prevent interruption to employees’ training, certification and awareness programs. We conduct several virtual sessions with the relevant authorities and specialists to ensure high awareness of COVID-19 matters, among our employees.