Lok Sabha Question No. 1095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-08
Subject: Accidents in Steel Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Ramesh Chandra Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1095

FOR ANSWER ON 08/02/2021

## ACCIDENTS IN STEEL PLANTS

1095.  SHRI. RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the measures taken to check the industrial accidents in steel plants run by the Steel Authority of India Limited(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;

- (c) if so, the details thereof;

- (d) the details of the industrial accidents that took place in the Rourkela 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 Rourkela steel plant during the last five years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)         The  details  of  measures  taken  to  check  the  industrial  accidents  in  the Plants/Units of SAIL are given at Annexure - 1 .

- (b)&(c):  Yes,  Sir.    Detailed  analysis  i.e.  cause-wise,  location-wise,  age-wise,  shift- wise etc. is carried out for the fatal accidents occurred during preceding year and the details are published in the form of an Annual Report which is circulated among all Plants/Units as a learning for preventing such accidents. Investigation and root cause analysis is carried out for every accident  and  recommended  measures  are implemented to prevent recurrence. Actions taken are also reviewed periodically at various  levels.  The  findings  are  also  shared  with  other  Plants/Units  to  prevent accidents.

- (d) The details of  industrial  accidents  (fatal and  reportable)  occurred during  last five years in Rourkela Steel Plant are at Annexure - 2 .

- (e) Compensation and other facilities given to the injured workers and employees of  Rourkela  Steel  Plant  as  per  provisions  of  the  Acts/Statutes  and  Company's Policies/Rules are as following:-

-  Compensation/Benefits  admissible  as  per  the  Employee  Compensation  Act /ESI Act, as applicable.

Contd…………2/-

-  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; Employment  to  one  of  his  /  her  dependents  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 project work).
-  Medical facility by Rourkela Steel Plant /ESI.
-  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).
-  Benefit under Life Cover Scheme/Employee  Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (LCS/EDLI) to total disabled employee.

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## Measures taken to check industrial accidents

SAIL  management  is  committed  towards  bringing  continual  improvement  in  safety standard  of  the  Plants/Units.   Some  of  the  salient  safety  measures  taken  are  as follows:-

- i. SAIL has implemented 15 process based safety guidelines for its Plants.
- ii. Engagement of consultant for 'Safety Management consulting assignment' in Bhilai Steel Plant for a period of two years.
- iii. Certification of OHSAS-18001  and  subsequent  migration  to  ISO-45001 OHSMS system.
- iv. Preparation of Safety Alert  Messages  (SAMs)  on  learning  points  from accidents. Following 18 SAMs issued till date:-
5.  Safety precaution in arc welding,
6.  Grinder safety,
7.  Crane safety during maintenance,
8.  Safety in operation of dumpers,
9.  Safety in storage and handling of Furnace / Fuel Oil,
10.  Safety during maintenance job on transformers / HV equipment,
11.  Safety during maintenance job on wagon tippler drive,
12.  Pre-start up safety guidelines for post lockdown period,
13.  Safety during working in low voltage equipment / lighting circuits,
14.  Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation,
15.  Boiler safety,
16.  Compulsory usage of seat belt and adhering to speed limits,
17.  Guidelines for preparation of standard work procedures,
18.  Safety precautions while working in high voltage lines, circuits, cables etc.,
19.  Take 5 (Personal Risk Assessment Process),
20.  Safety during load lifting handling by crane,
21.  Safety precautions during operation of heavy machinery, and
22.  Scaffolding safety.
- v. With a view to improve safety standards, a system of identifying Good Safety Practices in plants/units of SAIL/steel industry introduced in the form of G-SaP (Good Safety Practices). The following 04 G-SaPs circulated till date:-
24.  Voltage Reducing Device (VRD) in Arc Welding Machines.
25.  Safety Clearance from Safety Engg. Deptt. before starting contractual jobs.
26.  IT based Safety Management System (SMS) in Bhilai Steel Plant.
27.  Usage of RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection).
- vi. Adoption  of  latest  and  state-of-the  art  new  technologies  in  new  projects  to minimize human exposure to process hazards.
- vii. Compliance to all applicable statutory rules and regulations.
- viii. Thrust  on  systematic  approach  to  safety  management  on  continual  basis (organising internal/external safety audits, inspections along with timely compliance and review).
- ix. Development of safety standards and guidelines, SOPs and SMPs (Standard Operating and Maintenance procedures), HIRA (Hazard identification and Risk Assessment) documents etc. and their periodic review / updation.

## Annexure-1

- x. Adherence  to  protocol/  permit  to  work  system  for  hazardous  jobs,  during capital repairs/ major breakdown repairs involving multi agencies.
- xi. Setting up of a Safety Excellence Centre for safety briefing of Plant visitors.
- xii. Preparation of On-site emergency preparedness plans approved by concerned factory inspectorate and organizing periodic mock drills.
- xiii. Adherence to Standard Operating and Maintenance Procedures, Safe Commissioning Procedure etc.
- xiv. 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.
- xv. Strict monitoring during execution of project jobs by contract workers.
- xvi. Spreading safety awareness through training programmes and workshops for all level of employees including contract workers.
- xvii. Conducting  Safety  and  fire  prevention  inspections  as  per  checklist  and liquidating deviations from prescribed norms.
- xviii. Ensuring usage of job specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) by all concerned including contract workers.
- xix. Provision of online gas monitors with audio-visual alarms/ usage of fixed and portable CO detectors in gas prone areas and periodic gas safety training to spread awareness.
- xx. Monitoring  health  of  pipelines  by  periodic  NDT  (Non-  destructive  test)  and documentation  for  timely  actions  in  respect  of  cladding/  replacement  of damaged portions.
- xxi. Undertaking  periodic  drives/campaigns  on  rail  and  road  safety,  machine guarding, proper working platforms and railings, illumination etc. Undertaking 'Roko-Toko' to identify violators of safety norms.
- xxii. 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.
- xxiii. Investigation  of  accident  cases,  analysis/review  of  all  incidences  including near miss/dangerous occurrence cases and taking control measures.
- xxiv. Online IT interventions for safety suggestions and Near Miss reporting.
- xxv. Use of CCTV cameras for safety monitoring and surveillance throughout the plant.
- xxvi. Use  of  Public  Address  system  at  Gates  as  well  as  through  mobile  van  for increasing safety awareness.
- xxvii. System  of  monitoring  and  implementation  of  safety  related  issues  thru' Departmental Safety Officers (DSOs) in deptt. strengthened.
- xxviii. Behaviour Based Safety (BBS) implemented and monitored.
- xxix. Periodic review of safety performance at different levels.
- xxx. Employees rewarded for good safety performance.

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## Annexure - 2

|   Details of Industrial Accidents (Fatal + Reportable) occurred in Rourkela Steel Plant during 2016 to 2020. |   Details of Industrial Accidents (Fatal + Reportable) occurred in Rourkela Steel Plant during 2016 to 2020. |   Details of Industrial Accidents (Fatal + Reportable) occurred in Rourkela Steel Plant during 2016 to 2020. |   Details of Industrial Accidents (Fatal + Reportable) occurred in Rourkela Steel Plant during 2016 to 2020. |   Details of Industrial Accidents (Fatal + Reportable) occurred in Rourkela Steel Plant during 2016 to 2020. |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                         2016 |                                                                                                         2017 |                                                                                                         2018 |                                                                                                         2019 |                                                                                                         2020 |
|                                                                                                            5 |                                                                                                            5 |                                                                                                            8 |                                                                                                            6 |                                                                                                            1 |

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