Lok Sabha Question No. 1237 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Accidents in SAIL
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Vijay Baghel

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1237 FOR ANSWER ON 19/09/2020

## ACCIDENTS IN SAIL

1237.  SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the  measures  taken  to  check  the  industrial  accidents  in  steel  plants  run  by SAIL during the last five years;
- (b) whether any detailed annual  or  periodical  report  is  made  of  these  industrial accidents after listing these accidents in the steel plants run by SAIL;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the industrial accidents that took place in the Bhilai Steel plant during the last five years; and
- (e) the details of the compensation and other facilities given to the injured workers and employees of Bhilai Steel Plant during the last five years?

## ANSWER

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) The measures taken to check the industrial accidents in the Plants and units of SAIL are given in Annexure I.
- (b)&(c):  Detailed  analysis  is  carried  out  by  SAIL  for  the  fatal  accidents  occurred during  preceding  year  and  the  details  are  circulated  among  all  Plants/  Units  for learning as well as preventing accidents. Investigation as well as root cause analysis is  carried  out  for  every  accident  and  recommended  measures  are  implemented  to prevent  recurrence.  Action  taken  is  reviewed  periodically  at  various  levels and  the findings are shared with other Plants/ units to prevent further accidents.
- (d) The  details  of  incidents  of  industrial  accidents  (fatal  &  reportable)  occurred during last five years at Bhilai Steel Plant are given in Annexure II.
- (e) Compensation and other facilities given to the injured workers and employees of Bhilai Steel Plant as per statutory provisions and Company's policies/rules are as following:-
-  Compensation/Benefits admissible as per the Employee Compensation Act / ESI Act, as applicable.

-  Though  not  a  statutory  liability,  compassionate  employment  to  one  of  the eligible  dependents  in  case  of  death  or  permanent  total  disablement  of employees due to accident  arising  out  of  and  in  course  of  employment.    In case of death of a contract labour, due to accident arising out of and in course of  employment  within  the  works  premises  (including  those  engaged  for projects  work),  employment  to  one  of  his  /  her  dependents.  In  the  last  five years, employment to 14 dependents of deceased employees/contract labours (due to fatal accidents) has been provided by Bhilai Steel Plant.
-  Medical facility made available by Bhilai Steel Plant / ESIC.
-  Benefits  under  Employee  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (EFBS)  for  ex-employee  / dependents of ex-employee in case of permanent total disablement and death respectively,  if  employment  for  dependents  is  not  opted  for  (i.e.  in  lieu  of employment). 05 dependents of deceased employees (due to fatal accidents) have been extended the EFBS benefits.
-  Amount  equivalent  to  benefit  under  Employees  Deposit  Linked  Insurance Scheme  (EDLI) is  given  to  permanent  total  disabled  employee.  In  case  of death,  benefit  under  EDLI  Scheme,  subscribed  by  SAIL,  is  extended  by Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO ).

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## ANNEXURE  I

## Measures taken to check industrial accidents

Some of the salient safety measures taken by SAIL are as follows:-

- i. Engagement of consultant for 'Safety Management Consulting Assignment' in Bhilai Steel Plant for a period of two years.
- ii. Preparation of Safety Alert Messages  (SAMs)  on  learning  points  from accidents. 14 SAMs issued till date are as follows:-
3.  Safety Precaution in Arc Welding.
4.  Grinder Safety.
5.  Crane Safety During Maintenance.
6.  Safety in Operation of Dumpers.
7.  Safety in Storage & Handling of Furnace/Fuel Oil.
8.  Safety during Maintenance job on Transformers/HV equipment.
9.  Safety during Maintenance job on Wagon tippler drive.
10.  Pre-start up safety guidelines for post lockdown period.
11.  Safety during working in Low voltage equipment/lighting circuits.
12.  Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation.
13.  Boiler Safety.
14.  Compulsory usage of Seat Belt & adhering to speed limits.
15.  Guidelines for preparation of Standard Work Procedures.
16.  Safety Precautions while working in High Voltage (HV) lines, circuits, cables etc.
- iii. Adoption  of  latest  and  state-of-the  art  new  technologies  in  new  projects  to minimize human exposure to process hazards.
- iv. Compliance to all applicable statutory rules & regulations.
- v. Thrust  on  systematic  approach  to  safety  management  on  continual  basis (organizing internal & external safety audits and inspections along with timely compliance and review).
- vi. Development  of  safety  standards  &  guidelines,  SOPs  &  SMPs  (Standard Operating and Maintenance procedures), HIRA (Hazard identification and Risk Assessment) documents etc. and their periodic review/updation.
- vii. Adherence  to  protocol/permit  to  work  system  for  hazardous  jobs,  during Capital Repairs/Major breakdown repairs involving multi agencies.
- viii. Setting up of a Safety Excellence Centre for safety briefing of plant visitors.
- ix. Preparation of On-site emergency preparedness plans approved by concerned factory inspectorate and organizing periodic mock drills.
- x. Adherence to Standard Operating & Maintenance Procedures, Safe Commissioning Procedure etc.
- xi. Mandatory two days induction training to contract workers before issue of gate pass  and  job  safety  training  at  work  site.  Mass  awareness  workshops  for contract workers are regularly organized.
- xii. Spreading safety awareness through training programmes & workshops for all level of employees including contract workers.

- xiii. Conducting safety & fire prevention inspections as per checklist and liquidating deviations from prescribed norms.
- xiv. Ensuring usage of job specific Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) by all concerned including contract workers.
- xv. Provision  of  online  gas  monitors  with  audio-visual  alarms/  usage  of  fixed  & portable CO detectors in gas prone areas and periodic Gas safety training to spread awareness.
- xvi. Monitoring  health  of  pipelines  by  periodic  NDT  (Non-  destructive  test)  and documentation  for  timely  actions  in  respect  of  cladding/  replacement  of damaged portions.
- xvii. Undertaking  periodic  drives  &  campaigns  on  rail  &  road  safety,  machine guarding,  proper  working  platforms  &  railings,  illumination  etc.  Undertaking 'Roko-Toko' to identify violators of safety norms.
- xviii. Displaying  safety  signages,  posters  and  slogans,  Do's  &  Don'ts  etc.  at conspicuous  locations.  Installation  of  Audio-visual  alarms  and  signals  at  the railroad crossings.
- xix. Periodic review of safety performance at different levels.

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## ANNNEXURE II

|           | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   | Details of incidents of industrial accidents (fatal + reportable) occurred at Bhilai Steel Plant during 2015 to 2019   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           | 2015                                                                                                                   | 2015                                                                                                                   | 2016                                                                                                                   | 2017                                                                                                                   | 2017                                                                                                                   | 2018                                                                                                                   | 2018                                                                                                                   | 2019                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                        |
|           | Fatal                                                                                                                  | Reportable                                                                                                             | Fatal Reportable                                                                                                       | Fatal                                                                                                                  | Reportable Fatal                                                                                                       | Reportable                                                                                                             | Fatal                                                                                                                  | Reportable                                                                                                             |                                                                                                                        |
| Accidents | 3                                                                                                                      | 13                                                                                                                     | 3                                                                                                                      | 2                                                                                                                      | 3                                                                                                                      | 4                                                                                                                      | 1                                                                                                                      | 6                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                        |
|           | 16                                                                                                                     | 16                                                                                                                     | 6                                                                                                                      | 5                                                                                                                      | 5                                                                                                                      | 5                                                                                                                      | 5                                                                                                                      | 7                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                        |
| Deaths    | 3                                                                                                                      | 3                                                                                                                      | 3                                                                                                                      | 2                                                                                                                      | 2                                                                                                                      | 14                                                                                                                     | 14                                                                                                                     | 1                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                        |

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