Punjab Government today organize State level function to celebrate 45th National Safety Day Chamber of Indian industry (CII), Chandigarh. The National Safety Day is celebrated to create awareness and sense of responsibility among industrial managements and workers towards safety measures to create an accident free and healthy working environment. On this occasion the managements who show outstanding performance in safety measures are honored and those workers who have played exemplary role in bringing about safety and higher productivity by their valuable suggestions are honored with state level awards known as Punjab Kirt Shromani Award and Punjab Kirt Veer Award. Thirty two Managements were given State Safety Awards for zero accidents in their factories. Three Kirt Shiromani and three Kirt Veer awards were given to workers for their valuable suggestions.
Speaking on the occasion Sh. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Hon’ble Labour Minister, Punjab, said that industrialization & economic growth is important for development but it should not come at the cost of health & safety of workers. He expressed satisfaction over functioning of the Directorate of Factories, Punjab. He also appreciated the work done by Punjab Industrial Safety Council and the managements of various industries who have worked very hard to bring about drastic reduction in the accident rate and desired that Punjab State should aim towards zero accident rate. He lauded the efforts of those industries who have maintained zero accident rate in their industries. He congratulated all winners of Safety Awards. He also emphasized that Labour Department is committed to provide hassle free services to the people of the state.
He further said that the Directorate of Factories has been playing its role friend, philosopher and guide to the managements of the factories to help them make necessary arrangements in conformity with law to provide safe and healthy working conditions in the factories, by way of conducting inspections.The Directorate conducts inspections covering various aspects of safety, health and welfare enacted in the Factories Act,1948. I advise them to do more work in this front because it is beneficial to the workers as well to the managements.But with the changing conditions in the context of opening up of our economy we have made many changes to come up to the demands of the time. New inspection policy has been framed. Now list of factories to be inspected is sent by the Head Quarter. Self Certification Scheme has also been launched. Aappreciating the work done by the department, he said that the department has been successful in keeping 99% of factories accident free in the State of Punjab. Emphasizing the importance of Safety in the industrial sector.
Speaking on this occasion Sh.. Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, IAS, Labour Commissioner-cum-Director of Factories, Punjab said that in Punjab State accident rate is less than one per thousand workers against the national figure of nine. Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 was a serious warning to all of us and the enormity of the tragedy can not let us relax our efforts to control and prevent such like tragedies in the times to come. There is thus need for protecting the life and limbs of not only the workers, building and machinery of the factories but also the life and property in the surroundings. The monster in the form of accidents has to be kept under check otherwise there will be tragedies, big and small, day in and day out. Without safe, clean environment as well as healthy working conditions, social justice and economic growth can’ t be achieved and that safe and healthy working environment is recognized as a fundamental right. Education, training, consultation and exchange of information and good practices are essential for prevention and promotion of such measures.The workers & managements took ‘Safety Pledge’ for adopting safe methods of work to keep work environment safe, healthy and clean.