Prioritising Safety in High-Risk Workplaces with Critical Risks Safety Audit
Suresh Tanwar, Head of Audit and Consultancy, British Safety Council India
Workplaces with high risks are understandably associated with significant health and safety hazards. Despite several noteworthy advancements in safety procedures in recent years, many workers still face avoidable risks during their daily work routines.
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In India, industrial accidents claim lives and disable thousands of workers annually. The numbers paint a pretty grim picture.
From 2017 to 2020, data from the Ministry of Labour & Employment’s Directorate General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) reveals that, on average, three individuals lost their lives and 11 were injured daily due to accidents in India’s registered factories.
Similarly, a Labor Ministry report to Parliament in 2021 says that at least 6,500 employees lost their lives while working at factories, ports, mines, and construction sites over the past five years. Labour activists and trade unions even argue that these figures could be higher since many incidents go unreported.
Health and Safety: Core Aspects of High-Risk Businesses
Ensuring safety and health is a fundamental aspect of business management for any organisation, but it is particularly imperative for those operating in high-risk industries. These typically encompass companies of any size engaged in critical risk activities with a high potential for causing severe injuries and fatalities, including sectors such as Construction, Metals, Chemicals, Power (Thermal, Wind, Solar & Hydro), Oil & Gas, and Pharma, and Automotive.
Such high-risk workplaces must regularly conduct a Critical Risks Safety Audit to ensure the implementation
