MANAGEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

AT STATE LEVEL

 

Assam’s economy is predominantly an agrarian economy .Tea industry occupies an important position in the State’s economy and which is about 150 years old is basically a combination of agricultural and manufacturing activities. Still, the history of industrialisation of Assam dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century when the British at Digboi in Upper Assam set up the country’s first petroleum refinery. After Tea and petroleum came the plywood industries. With the almost unending forest reserves dotting the landscape of Assam miles after miles, there was a proliferation of plywood and veneer mills in the upper Assam districts.  A few central sector projects like, Guwahati Refinery, Bokajan Cement factory, Oil India Ltd, ONGC Ltd, HFC Ltd, HPC, Bongaigaon Refinery and Petro Chemical projects and more recently Numaligarh Refinery were set up as a result of economic planning in India. The State Government also chipped in the process by promoting a few large industries in pulp and paper, petrochemicals, Fertiliser, Sugar and Textile sector. In between there have been a sizeable numbers of small-scale units. More recently a good number of medium scale projects too had come up particularly with the support of State level financial Institutions.

 

There are 23 District Industries Centres (DIC) in the State and the Government recognised the vital roles to be played by the DICs for development of SSI and Tiny sector Industries. The Government strengthen the DICs with adequate and basic facilities. The newly created six DICs of Bongaigaon, Morigaon, Golaghat Tinsukia, Dhemaji and Hailakandi has been upgraded to full fledged DIC at the earliest. Each DIC will have a Udyog Sahayak Cell to guide the entrepreneurs in the matter of setting up of Industries including selection of industries/ entrepreneurs, preparation of project report and arrangement of finance for projects. There is also a Women Cell in each DIC to give special attention to the women entrepreneurs. Steps taken to prepare viable project profiles for each DIC and make them available to the entrepreneurs. The Date Bank is created in each DIC for benefit of the entrepreneurs. The District Advisory Committee is reconstituted for monitoring the working of the District Industries Centres.

 

 

CATEGORY OF INDUSTRIES

 

a)    Small Tiny and Ancillary Industries - There are more than 25000 numbers of small Scale and tiny sector registered units in the State. According to the last SSI census, generally 45% of the units are either closed or untraceable.

 

b)    Large and Medium Industries - The Government encourage environment friendly Industries and projects in the State. The AIDC Ltd. has identified several viable projects for the coming years.

 

c)     HANDLOOM AND HANDICRAFT INDUSTRIES - The State of Assam is traditionally known for its rich Handloom and Handicraft products and the Government ensure promotion of this sector through various development schemes. The State Government takes all possible steps for getting Financial and Technical assistance from the Government of India for implementation of various schemes.   The State Government conducts survey on various Handicraft products and registration of Handicraft unit by DICs of Assam. The Government strengthen the Handicraft Research and Design Centre, Cottage Industries Training Institute in the State. All possible measures taken to assist the craftsmen, artisans of various crafts and also the Non Governmental Organisations (NGO)/ Co-operative Societies for development of Handicraft Industries in the State. The Government takes necessary measures to export the Handicraft products to out side the country and also participate in exhibitions at various parts of the country to give exposure to the Handicraft products.

 

d)    RURAL NON-FARM SECTOR - The Rural Non-Farm Sector (RNFS) has a tremendous scope for development in the State. In a recently conducted survey, NABARD has identified 10 sectors for development which includes sectoral schemes like Agriculture, Fish rearing and processing, Rural Retail Trade, Sericulture & Silk Textile, fibre products, Construction, Small Plantation products, Handloom, handicraft mainly cane, bamboo and wood products, These activities are developed for creation of additional employment in the rural areas. The development Department like Agriculture, Handloom and Textile, Sericulture, Fishery, Veterinary, Panchayat and Rural Development etc. are associated to implement these schemes within a definite time frame.

 

e)     AGRO AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES - There is ample scope for development particularly in the rural areas for processing of cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat and other agricultural products like Jute, Ramie etc. The Government encourage development of Agro and Food processing industries by providing possible basic infrastructure to the industries. The Government of Assam encourage setting up of Fruit Processing, Vegetable Processing, Spice Processing, Aquaculture, Horticulture based projects in the State. Apart from that, Government will take necessary action to motivate the investors for commercial exploitation and processing and setting up of projects on medicinal herbs, aromatic plants, rubber plantation and processing, Small Tea garden etc. The Government of Assam is very much aware about the viability of setting up of Industries like diversified Jute products and Ramie based Industries in Assam by prospective entrepreneurs. The Government of Assam provides necessary support for setting up of such units in the State.

 

f)       ELECTRONIC INDUSTRY - In the Electronic sector Government of Assam declare the Assam Electronic Development Corporation Ltd. (AEDC Ltd.) as a Nodal Agency for over all development of Electronic industries in the State. The AEDC Ltd.  prepares a detail action plan for setting up of Software Technology Park, Optical Fibre project and other viable projects including skill development, raw material assistance to the other smaller units. The Government provide necessary incentives to these units under the policy.

 

g)    PLASTIC BASED INDUSTRIES - Plastic are fast replacing the conventional metal and wood item in our day to day life. Their uses have been more pronounced in industrial sectors. The Government of Assam has attached considerable importance for development of this sector. All possible efforts have been mobilised for development of this sector providing necessary incentives under the policy.

 

h)     GAS CRACKER AND REFINERY DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRIES - In a bid to tap the vast resources of oil and gas, the fourth oil refinery at Numaligarh has already been set up and works are going on. The much-awaited Gas Cracker project is also in the way. The State Government takes necessary measures to establish feasible down stream/ancillary industries in the State based on these two mega projects. It is proposed to be engaged in the manufacture or production of parts, components, sub-assemblies, tooling or intermediates or rendering of services, undertaking supplies or renders or proposes to supply or renders not less than 50% of its production or services as the case may be, to one or more other industrial undertaking and whose investment in fixed assets in plant and machinery whether held on ownership terms or on lease or on hire purchase, ELIGIBLE UNIT means only New Units set up on or after 1.4.97 and existing units undergoing expansion/diversification at the same place in the State of Assam on or after 1.4.97 shall be eligible for the incentives under 1997 incentives scheme provided that :

 

A unit shall have employment of 80% people of Assam in the managerial cadre and 90% people of Assam in the non-managerial cadre and that over a period of 5 years from the commencement of commercial production such units would take all effective steps to ensure 100% employment of people of Assam in non-managerial cadre and at least 90% in managerial post.

 

The management system of OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH at the STATE LEVEL may be broadly grouped as under for our discussion purpose of this report..

 

1.         Legislative Activities

2.         Government Departments-Central.

3.         Government Departments-State

4.         Other Organizations

 

 

Legislative Activities :      

 

Administration and enforcement of Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare is primarily vested with the State Government because the instruments like policies, legislation etc. are required to be more comprehensive to take care of safety and health issues at  State Level in order to fulfill the  aspirations of the State and related needs..  Apart from the Factories Act 1948, there are other legislations dealing with better work environment, safety, health and welfare facilities.

 

These act grants OSH authorities, among other things, (a) to promulgate, modify and revoke safety and health standards, (b) to conduct inspections and investigations and to issue citations including proposed penalties (c) to require employees to keep records of safety and health data (d) to petition the courts to restrain imminent danger situations and (e) to approve or reject state plans for programme under the act.

 

The safety and health at workplace is governed by various statutes in the state depending on the nature of workplace, manufacturing activity and specific aspect of safety and health.  Some of the important statutes / Legislations are given below:

 

1)         The Factories Act, 1948 and the Rules framed there under (The Assam Factories Rules),

 

            2)         Indian Boilers Act 1923 and Rules framed there under.

 

            3)         The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation Act, ) 1986 and the Rules made there under

 

            4)         The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989.

 

            5)         Indian Electricity Act and Rules Framed there under.

 

            6)         Dangerous machines (Regulations) Act.

 

            7)         Indian Explosive Act.

 

            8)         Petroleum Act and Rules.

 

            9)         Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels Rules.

 

There are different departments of Central Government and State Government entrusted with the responsibility of enforcement of these statutes.  The other organization such as training and research institution, employers associations, employee’s organization etc. also supplementing the efforts of enforcement agencies in promoting occupational safety and health in the state directly or indirectly.

 

The Following major industrial companies and Non-Government organization have a system of OSH management by conducting training programme on Occupational Safety and Health for its workers and Supervisors, conducts Safety Audit at a regular intervals arrange Safety Competition, Seminars and Workshop on OSH etc.

 

1)     Indian Oil Corporation, Guwahati, Refinery Division, Noonmati, Guwahati.

 

2)     Indian Oil Corporation (Assam Oil Division), Digboi Refinery, Digboi.

 

3)     Indian Oil Corporation, LPG, Bottling Plant, North Guwahati

 

4)     Assam Gas Company Ltd., Duliajan

 

5)     Bongaigao, Refinery

 

6)     Hindustan Paper Corporation

 

a) Nagaon Paper Mills Ltd., Jagirroad, Morigaon

b) Cachar Paper Mills, Ltd. Panchgram, Hailakundi

 

7)         National Productivity Council, Khanapara, Guwahati - 22

 

Activities of INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD. in respect of Occupational Safety and Health management in the State of Assam are given below:

 

Training Programme

Year

No. of Training Programmes conducted

No. of Industries Participated

No. of Participants Attended the Training Programme

2000

2

1

38

2001

2

1

28

2002

1

1

21

2003

1

1

34

 

Seminar/Workshops

Year

Title of the Seminars/Workshops

Venue

No. of Participants attended the Seminars/Workshop

2000

Refresher Course on Occupational Health for Plant Medical Officer

Kolkata

1

2001

Smoking & Tobacco

GR (Med. Deptt.)

50

2002

Occupational Health for Nurses Health/Medical Assistant

Mumbai

2

2003

Life Style Management for Senior Executives

 

Awareness Programme on Asthma

 

Tobacco and its ill effects

GR (Med Dept.)

 

GRTC

 

 

GR-DDCS Control Room

50

 

 

50

 

 

60

 

Industrial Hygiene Studies

Year

Area of Activity (e.g. Noise, Illumination, Ventilation study)

No. of Studies Conducted

2000

Noise

4

2001

Noise

4

2002

Noise

4

2003

Noise

4

 

 

National Productivity Council (NPC)

 

NCP is a national level organisation to promote productivity culture in India,  Established as a registered society in 1958 by the Government of India.  It is an autonomous, tri-partite, non-profit organisation with equal representation with equal representation from the government, employers and workers’ organisations, apart from technical and professional institutions and other interests on its governing council.  Besides providing training, consultancy and undertaking research in the area of productivity, occupational safety and health.  NPC also implements the productivity promotion plans and programmes of the Tokyo based Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an inter-governmental body of which the Government of India is a founder member.

 

Activities of National Productivity Council in respect of Occupational Safety and Health in the State of Assam are given below:

 

1.         Consultancy Services for Conduct of Safety Awareness Survey a BRPL - Bongaigaon (Assam), which is based on OISD guidelines and will cover around 1700 employees from different levels.

 

2.         OHSAS 18001 : 1999 implementation at North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd., Shillong.  (Which covers awareness training, complete documentation guidance, conduct of Internal Safety Audit etc.).