The Tata Steel Group Vision speaks of creating value for all its stakeholders. Goal 2012 encompasses key drivers in the area of Safety with a focus on high hazard facilities, increase in occupational safety and a keen eye on the overall health of Tata Steel employees.
Ensuring safety in all its operations has always been a strategic priority for Tata Steel and it has adopted the outstanding safety programme of M/s. DuPont Safety resources for establishing safety culture by inculcating safe behaviour among its employees. Every activity in Tata Steel is carried out not only with a cost efficient, quality conscious purpose but also with the highlight always on safe practice. 2010-2011 recorded a Lost Time Injury Frequency (LTIF) rate of 0.78 in Tata Steel’s Indian operations, which is 18% reduction since last year. Workplace fatality is addressed separately through the Fatality Risk Control Protocol, which aims at eliminating potential fatality hazards. The Company aims at achieving a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of (LTIFR) of 0.4 by 2012, which is the worldwide matrix for the measurement of safety.
The DuPont philosophy is pivoted on the idea that ‘Safety is the line management function and all injuries can be prevented’. To deploy this effectively, a robust safety organisation, involving the line management and the union representatives, have been created and includes Ten Apex Safety Sub-Committees for providing directions and Seven Divisional Implementation Committees for its effective deployment across the organisation.
For sustainability of its operations and reducing Process Hazards by strengthening safety in processes, Tata Steel has implemented Process Safety and Risk Management (PSRM) in high hazardous operations and launched the PSRM initiative at the Coke Plant and L.D. Shops, two major departments at the Steel Works, Jamshedpur. The prime objective of Process Safety Management is to achieve “Operating excellence through operational discipline”. The Process Safety Management Model adopted at Tata Steel primarily focuses on the technological aspects, the personnel aspect being taken care of in the scope of behavioural safety. PSRM will be implemented in all facilities by FY 12.
Focused campaigns were carried out in the areas of Gas Safety, Material Handling, Conveyor Belt Safety and Road Safety. Comprehensive Job Cycle Checks and Integrated Safety Audits were also implemented. To revitalise the focus, a mascot – Jeevan – was launched.
Realising the importance of Community Safety, the Company is working with SAFE organisation and has engaged external consultants to arrange a systematic safety education drive for school children in Jamshedpur and at the different mines and collieries. This is a positive advancement on the part of the Company in the direction of generating alertness in the community that will be to everybody’s benefit. The safeguarding and promotion of the physical, mental and social well-being of employees have been enhanced by a number of programmes across the Group. In India, the programme ‘Wellness at Workplace’ targets the major health risks such as heart disease, diabetes and includes proactive reviewing of individual medical condition and identifying improvements.
Tata Steel in Europe has strengthened its Health and Safety Management systems with comprehensive tools, standards and procedures. Its structured approach covers 15 fundamental principles including accountability, management of change, audit and review and is based on best practices from BlueScope Steel – recognised as a leader in the steel industry in this aspect.
A Safety Excellence Journey was rolled out at the Group’s wire mills in Thailand, while NatSteel has also been recognised for its efforts in this area. NatSteel Singapore has embarked on the two-year DuPont Safety journey in FY 09. The various initiatives include continuous active involvement of senior management, safety training, formation of Apex council for review, formation of risk containment groups to identify and contain high risk activities and STOP (solve this on-going problem) teams to observe safety behaviour and interact with employees on safety. The other subsidiaries will gradually be aligned to the DuPont safety management system.
According to the Occupational Health Screening organised by the government, when the noise and dust level in the Xiamen Plant when identified to fall below the minimum required level, remedial efforts put in place. Emergency Assembly Points and Emergency Drill and Experience Sharing Sessions are organised to enhance staff awareness of safety. Zebra crossing walkways are provided along the safety passageway for visitors inside the Xiamen Plant.
Tata Steel has also initiated safety awareness programmes amongst associate companies and other industries, mainly on a knowledge and experience-sharing basis. These measures have also contributed to the reduction in LTIFR significantly. The Group Vision has a target of 0.4 LTIFR with Zero Fatality by 2012.