Question : Safety Audit of Industrial Companies

(a)whether the Government had issued necessary guidelines to the industrial companies to get third party fire and safety audit done;
(b)if so, whether many companies are not following rules despite the issuance of such guidelines;
(c)if so, the details of action taken in this regard along with the number and details of industrial companies which have failed in safety audit, State-wise;
(d)the action taken against the industrial companies which have failed on safety norms; and
(e)the details of preventive steps taken by the Government to check industrial disasters and accidents?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had prepared an “Integrated Guidance Framework for Chemicals Safety in Respect of the Isolated Storages and Industries Covered Under Manufacture,
Contd..2/-
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Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals (MSIHC) Rules, 1989” in compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Green Tribunal dated 11.06.2021 in the matter of Original Application no. 60/2021. The framework covers chemical accident scenarios like spillages/ leakages of hazardous chemicals, fire, explosion or other incidents arising out of handling of hazardous chemicals and provides guidance to industrial units on conducting safety audits in adherence to Indian Standard, IS:14489:2018 - Code of Practice on Occupational Safety & Health Audit.

The Government of India has also enacted the Factories Act, 1948 which provides for the occupational safety, health & welfare of workers working in the factories registered under the said Act. The Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards (CIMAH) Rules framed under Section 41-B of the Factories Act, 1948 provide for ‘Safety reports and safety audit reports’ which are applicable to Major Accident Hazards (MAH) installations.

The MSIHC Rules and CIMAH Rules are enforced by the Chief Inspector of Factories (CIF)/Director of Industrial Safety & Health (DISH) of the respective States /UTs Governments. The details of industrial companies that failed in safety audit along with action taken against such companies is not maintained centrally.

(e): The Central Government has enacted the Factories Act, 1948, for ensuring the occupational safety, health and welfare of the workers employed in the factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948. The Occupier and Managers of the factories registered under the Act are required to comply with the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and in case of violation of any of the provision of the Act and Rules, the Chief Inspector of Factories/Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health of the State Governments are empowered to initiate penal action against the occupier and manager of the factories.

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