As the construction industry is largely unorganised and do not follow various safety directives in the absence of stringent law, how this task could be fulfilled?
Construction industry bodies such as Construction Industry Development Council and Builders’ Association of India are already in the process of inculcating safety awareness among the various stake holders. In this scenario only awareness among the stakeholders such as small contractors, customers, engineers and workmen will help in improving the situation.
Will the stringent law and safety audit solve the problem? Or this should come from within the industry? The onus lies with whom?
While stringent law enforcement and audit will surely help in improving the situation, it alone cannot solve the problem. We need to have contribution from all stakeholders like the govt, principal employee and industry to improve the situation. The Industry should rise up to the occasion and recognise health and safety management as an important element for business sustainability.
Principal employers also play a major role in the safety. They should treat safety, health and environment management at construction sites as any other business investment and integrate it with all other functions.
The govt on its part first should ensure that the construction safety act is enforced properly throughout the country. Another task could be the establishment of more recognised institutes in India to develop qualified safety professionals. It also needs to spearhead the vocational training in India for improving the skill level of workmen.
The govt should set example for health and safety in the projects which are executed by them.
What are your suggestions for improving the safety standards in India?
I think good standards of safety and health in a construction project start with the decisions made by the client; this determines the whole safety health climate of the project. The govt should take proactive steps to ensure strict adherence by employers to safety standards.
There is a shortage of recognised institutions to train safety professionals in India. For example for the whole of south India covering four major states, only one recognised govt institute is available.
The student intake is also only 40 per year which is grossly in-adequate to meet the needs of the entire gamut of industries. Of this, hardly five students are for the construction industry – showing the inadequate levels looking the labour intensity of the industry. As you see, only common institute is available to meet the needs of all.
Lastly, health and safety awareness should be a part of education system at the school level, vocational training and other technical qualifications.
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