“Let us make collective efforts to create a zero harm workplace,” says Mr. Alok Verma, DIC, RSP in his address at National Safety Week Award function
“Let us make collective efforts to create a zero harm workplace and ensure whoever comes to the Plant returns home safely,” said Mr. Alok Verma, Director In-Charge, SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in his address at the 54th National Safety Week Award function held at Gopabandhu Auditorium on 14th March 2025. Mr. Tarun Misra, ED (HR), Mr. A K Behuria, ED (F&A), Mr. B R Palai, ED (Works), and Mr. Bibhu Prasad, Deputy Director, Factories and Boilers, Govt of Odisha were also present on the dais. The ceremony was attended by Mr. Anil Kumar, ED (MM), Mr. MP Singh, ED (Mines), Mr. S Pal Chowdhury, ED (Projects), Mr. Vivekananda Nayak and Mr. SS Rout, both Assistant Directors, Factories and Boilers, Govt of Odisha, CGMs. HODs, DSOs, ASOs, and a large number of senior officers and employees of the Steel Plant.
Speaking on the occasion, the DIC said, “We should continuously innovate new practices to improve safety in the workplace. Reporting hazards, finding out faulty equipments, ensuring safety trainings, encouraging open communication and limiting distractions in workplaces are some age old practices that we need to inculcate in our daily lives to ensure safety”.
Mr. Tarun Misra, in his address said that the dream of Viksit Bharat is only possible if we make Safety a ritual and part of our everyday life. “It is our responsibility to ensure safety of our workmen and make RSP a safe haven for everyone” he added.
“Prevention and Precaution are the two keys for ensuring safety in the shopfloor” said Mr. A K Behuria. He also said that Safety is individual responsibility and there is no fixed budget for safety.
Mr. B R Palai, appreciated participants for actively participating in the Safety drive organized during the Safety Week. Speaking further he said, “We need to have technologically-backed system that identifies human errors and prevents any hazard”.
In his address, Mr. Bibhu Prasad cited a number of instance and incidents where overconfidence led to accidents. “Hazards spare none – whether it’s the factory owner or the worker, our individual behavior towards safety needs to be improved in order to fulfill the larger goals of Viksit Bharat” he said.
In the award ceremony prizes were given by the dignitaries to the individuals as well as departments wining various competitions organised to mark the occasion. Sintering Plant –I won the Champions Trophy for Best Housekeeping and Safety for the year 2024-25.
Earlier, the ceremony commenced with lighting of the ceremonial lamp and chanting of shlokas by Guru Jyotirmaya Acharya, MOMT (EMD). Mrs. Asha Kartha, CGM (Safety & Fire Services) welcomed the gathering. A safety song was presented by Mr. N Panigrahi, AGM (CRM). Mr Abakasa Behera, GM (Safety) proposed a formal vote of thanks and also coordinated the award distribution ceremony. Ms Prangya Nath, Assistant Manager (Safety) anchored the event.
An Exhibition of Personal Protective Equipments organised at the lawn of L&D Centre was inaugurated by the Director In-Charge on this occasion.
