Lok Sabha Question No. 460 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Manak Manthan Initiative
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK  SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *460

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## MANAK MANTHAN INITIATIVE

*460.   DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of measures being taken by the Government to ensure wider adoption of BIS certified safety products across industries and workplaces;
- (b) the role of Manak Manthan Initiative in promoting awareness and implementation of labour safety standards;
- (c) the manner in which the newly discussed standards such as those related to respiratory protection, fall prevention and fire safety are likely to enhance occupational health and safety; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  compliance  with  BIS  safety  standards among industries and construction sectors?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (d)  :   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*460 FOR 02.04.2025 REGARDING MANAK MANTHAN INITIATIVE.

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(a)  &  (d)  :  The  Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS)  is  dedicated  to  ensuring  the  quality  of  products  and services in India. The Indian Standards formulated by BIS serve as the foundation for Product Certification Schemes,  offering  third-  party  assurance  of  product  quality  to  consumers.  To  strengthen  the  country's quality  eco  system,  the  Government  of  India  has  issued  various  Quality  Control  Orders  (QCOs)  that mandate BIS certification for a range of products including industries and construction sectors. Under the provisions  of  BIS  Act,  2016,  products  for  compulsory  BIS  certification  are  notified  by  the  concerned regulator/line  ministry  of  Government  of  India  through  Quality  Control  Orders  (QCOs)  under  various considerations  viz.  public  interest,  protection  of  human,  animal  or  plant  health,  safety  of  environment, prevention  of  unfair  trade  practices  and  national  security.  Through  the  issuance  of  QCOs,  the  notified products shall conform to the requirements of the relevant Indian Standard including safety standard and the manufacturers of these products have to compulsorily obtain certification from BIS. So far, a total of 187 Quality Control Order's covering 769 products have been notified for compulsory certification of BIS by various regulators/line ministries of Government of India, the list of which is available at https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/products-under-compulsory-certification/. Additionally, the following two horizontal QCO's exclusively for safety aspects of products are also notified by Government of India:

- i. Safety  of  Household,  Commercial and Similar Electrical  Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2024 issued  by  Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade,  Ministry  of  Commerce  and Industry. Through the QCO, all electrical appliances intended for household, commercial or similar applications with rated voltage not exceeding 250 V single phase alternating current or 415 V three phase alternating current and which do not fall under the scope of any other Quality Control Order issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act are covered under compulsory certification of BIS.
- ii. Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 issued by Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. Through the QCO, 20 categories of machinery and  electrical  equipments  and  their  sub-assemblies  /  components  are  covered  under  compulsory certification of BIS.

(b) : Branch Offices of BIS have conducted Manak Manthans on the subject Labour Safety at Workplace in different cities like Gwalior, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Hubli, Chennai, Dehradun. These sessions facilitated discussions  among  stakeholders,  including  government  bodies,  industries,  and  standard  organizations,  to improve safety practices at the workplace and raised awareness about labour safety standards and promoting their implementation.

(c)  :  Workplace  safety  is  a  critical  component  of  occupational  health,  ensuring  employee  well-being  and reducing risks that may  lead to injuries or fatalities.  The  introduction  and  adherence  to  newly  developed safety standards provide comprehensive guidelines for mitigating workplace hazards. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has established various  Indian Standards on Respiratory  Protection, Fall Prevention, and Fire Safety to enhance overall Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), safeguarding workers and fostering a safer working environment.

- i. Respiratory  Protection  Standards  and  their  Role  in  Occupational  Health  and  Safety : Respiratory  protection  is  crucial  in  industries  such  as  mining,  construction,  chemical  processing, and healthcare, where workers are exposed to harmful airborne contaminants. The Indian Standards (IS)  for  respiratory  protective  devices  ensure  that  workers  have  access  to  high-quality  protective equipment, reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Key Indian standards in Respiratory Protection are given as under:
1. IS  9473:  2002-  Respiratory  protective  devices  -  Filtering  half  masks  to  protect  against particles.
2. IS 14166: 1994- Respiratory protective devices - Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus.
3. IS  14746:  1999-  Respiratory  protective  devices  -  Self-contained  closed-circuit  breathing apparatus.
4. IS  15803:  2008-  Respiratory  protective  devices  -  Powered  filtering  devices  incorporating  a helmet or hood.
5. IS 10245 (Part 1): 1996- Respiratory protective devices - Self-contained breathing apparatus.
6. IS 10245 (Part 2): 2023- Industrial and firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus.
7. IS 10245 (Part 3): 1999- Respiratory protective devices - Chemical oxygen apparatus.
8. IS  10245  (Part  4):  1982-  Respiratory  protective  devices  -  Industrial  and  mining  oxygen respirators.
- ii. Fall Prevention Standards and their Role in Occupational Health and Safety : Falls from height are a leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries. The IS 3521 series provides guidelines on personal fall protection systems to mitigate risks in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. Key Indian standards in Fall Prevention are given as under:
1. IS 3521 (Part 1): 2021 - Full-body harnesses.
2. IS 3521 (Part 2): 2021- Lanyards and energy absorbers.
3. IS 3521 (Part 3): 2000 - Self-retracting lifelines.
4. IS 3521 (Part 4): 2021- Vertical anchorage systems.
5. IS 3521 (Part 5): 2021  - Horizontal anchorage systems.
6. IS 3521 (Part 7): 2021 - Connectors.
7. IS 3521 (Part 8): 2021 - Rescue equipment.
8. IS 3521 (Part 9): 2021 - Anchorage devices.
- iii. Fire  Safety  Standards  and  their  Role  in  Occupational  Health  and  Safety :  Fires  pose  a significant threat to workplace safety, particularly in industries handling flammable materials. The implementation  of  stringent  fire  safety  standards  ensures  that  workers  are  adequately  protected from burns, smoke inhalation, and other fire-related hazards. Key Indian standards in Fire Safety are given as under:
1. IS 16890: 2024  - Firefighter suits.
2. IS 16874: 2018 - Firefighter gloves.
3. IS 15683: 2018 - Fire extinguishers.
4. IS 2745: 1983 -  Non - Metal helmet for firemen and Civil Defence personnel
5. IS 18582 (Part 6): 2024 - Foot wear used by Firefighters

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