A joint CII and VVPL publication titled, “Innovative Safety Approaches towards Emerging OHS Challenges: A Study Report” was released against the backdrop of the 8th edition of the Conference and Exhibition on “Safety Symposium & Exposition 2014” organized by CII on 11-12 September, 2014 in Kolkata. Globalization and free markets scenario has compelled industries to enhance their production capacity and productivity to remain operative in a highly competitive market. Sudden rise in the quantum of production keeping the unit price competitive has necessitated use of more sophisticated equipment and machinery and production processes in replacement of the conventional ones. Technology life cycle is becoming shorter by the minute.
Radical changes have taken place in the safety processes, technology, and equipment. Earlier people used to manage safety by procedures and equipment. Now a day’s OHS management is largely influenced by social and behavioral aspects. Customer requirement and perception towards OHS is also changing at a greater pace. This change management process is leading to the need of innovative approaches for managing emerging OHS challenges.
According to data released by the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 2.3 million of workforces in various industries succumb to work related accidents or occupational diseases every year which corresponds to over 6000 deaths every single day. The statistics also reveals that around 340 million occupational accidents are taking place and 160 million victims are suffering from work related illnesses annually worldwide.
The twenty first century workplace is becoming more and more challenging in the context of Occupational Health and Safety. This report has been prepared with the representation of industries which have been successfully using innovative approaches in managing respective occupational health and safety management systems. The strategic intent is to share the outcome of these initiatives for mitigation of some of the safety issues faced by them with the premise that the same may be beneficial to other industries.