Punjab today became first state in the northern India by approving the on-site emergency plan for all the 64 major accident prone factories to create an accident free and healthy working environment in factories thereby strictly ensuring the implementation of international safety norms. Addressing a august gathering after awarding “Punjab Kirty Shiromani award” and “Punjab Kirti Veer award” on the 43rd National safety day Mr. Chunni Lal Bhagat, Labour Minister said that to create awareness and sense of responsibility among industrial managements and workers. He said that Punjab Government was working in association with the Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal and the labour department has asked this institute to prepare off-site emergency plans for six districts having maximum concentration of major accident hazardous units.
The Minister said that Punjab Government has taken some major steps for rthe safety of labour class which has shown outstanding results as 98.9% industries were accident free in the state. 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.
On this occasion the 29 representatives of factories were given “State Safety awards” for zero accidents in their factories, whereas those 8 workers who have played exemplary role in bringing about safety and higher productivity by their valuable suggestions were honoured with state level awards known as “Punjab Kirty Shiromani award” and 6 with “Punjab Kirti Veer award”. Mr. Harbhupinder Singh Nanda, Labour Commissioner cum director of factories said that in Punjab accident rate is less than one per thousand workers against the national figure of nine. Mr. Vishavajeet Khanna, principal secretary labour has also addressed the gathering. On this occasion the workers and managements took ‘safety pledge’ for adopting safe methods of work to keep work environment safe, healthy and clean.