Hyderabad: Energy, Labour, Employment, Training and Factories, and Mines Minister Dr Vivek Venkataswamy said the Telangana government is committed to enforcing the highest Industrial safety standards. He said the government is determined to prevent factory accidents through stronger safety practices and stricter regulations.
The minister inaugurated a two-day workshop on “Process Safety of Combustible Dusts” organised by the National Safety Council, Telangana Chapter, at the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI) in Lakdikapul. He also released a handbook on combustible dust safety.
Addressing the workshop, Vivek Venkataswamy expressed concern over industrial accidents caused by combustible dust and gas leaks across the country. However, he said industries already have comprehensive safety regulations. He added that weak implementation continues to cause avoidable accidents.
The minister said the government has given industries greater operational freedom under the Ease of Doing Business policy. At the same time, he said industries must shoulder greater responsibility. He urged managements to voluntarily adopt the highest safety standards and promote a strong safety culture.
Referring to the Sigachi incident, Vivek Venkataswamy said it should serve as a warning for every industry. According to the minister, the company failed to spend ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh on essential safety measures. As a result, the incident claimed valuable lives and caused financial losses worth hundreds of crores.
Industrial safety requires stronger safety culture
The minister said every company board should conduct a dedicated review of industrial safety during its meetings. Further, he asked factory occupiers and board members to continuously monitor compliance with safety standards. Companies, he said, should treat safety spending as an investment rather than an expense.
Vivek Venkataswamy said stronger safety practices would improve workers’ confidence and raise productivity. Therefore, he called for regular safety training programmes. The minister also urged industries to adopt modern technologies and best practices. Such workshops, he said, help governments and industries exchange knowledge and improve safety standards.
The minister directed industries not to deploy contract workers in hazardous operations. He said inadequate experience and training among contract workers was one of the factors behind the Sigachi incident. Accordingly, he instructed the Factories Department to frame regulations within six months. The rules should ensure that only permanent employees perform hazardous operations.
Meanwhile, Vivek Venkataswamy directed the Director of Factories to prepare dedicated safety guidelines for combustible dust and gas leak hazards. He also asked the department to ensure their implementation across industries. Finally, he reiterated that the government is treating industrial accident prevention as a top priority. He said there would be no compromise on workers’ safety.
About 300 representatives from the cement, food processing, coal and textile sectors attended the workshop. CSR scientist Dr Suryanarayana, Director of Factories Mohan Babu, representatives of the National Safety Council Telangana Chapter, senior industry officials and safety experts also participated.