‘Accident Stats Must Be Compiled On Uniform Definition Basis'

The mining industry in general is a hazardous one and all manufacturing plants, including a steel plant, come with their own hazards.

It is found that Indian mines have considerably higher accident and fatality rates compared to those in the US and South Africa. Because of the unique dangers in mining operations, workers need extensive safety training, Ranjit Ravindran, Business Head, Mining & Construction Equipment, Voltas Limited, tells Ritwik Sinha. Excerpts from an interview:

Safety is monitored at the highest level of management to provide impetus on inculcating safety awareness and improving human behaviour towards safety. Safety is discussed as the first item in all appropriate forums, and directions are issued for adoption of all requisite measures to bring continuous improvement in safety standards. And yet, as per sources, the fatality rate in the steel sector is one of the highest in the world, around 50 in a year. Why is it that despite being accorded the status of one of the highest priority areas in the management, safety somehow loses its importance in India at the plant/mine level?

The mining industry is known worldwide for its highly risky and hazardous working environment. Technological advancement in ore extraction techniques for enhancing of production levels has caused further concern for safety in this industry. Research so far in the area of safety has revealed that the majority of incidents in hazardous industries takes place because of human error, the control of which would enhance safety levels in working sites to a considerable extent.