How Can Safety Circles Boost Workplace Safety on National Safety Day?

National Safety Day Program: Safety Circle Initiative

On the occasion of "National Safety Day" on 4th March 2012, I have attached a suggested program titled "SAFETY CIRCLE (Among the Employees) PROGRAM," which is expected to yield good results. The Safety Circles are established to promote safety awareness among all employees in the plant, including contractor workers.

A Safety Circle typically consists of 10 to 15 members with one leader, and these circles are formed in all departments/sections (sometimes combining 2/3 departments or sections). All members belong to the same work area. The duties and responsibilities of the safety circle leader and members are well-defined. The total number of Safety Circles is determined by the total strength of the section/department.

Regards,
PBS KUMAR

Thank you for sharing a nice idea with all of us. I have a few doubts regarding the concept:

1. Will this Safety Circle be a short-term initiative or a permanent team?
2. How can we motivate employees through this?

I feel this is akin to a Toolbox Talk, where everyone gathers section-wise to discuss safety for 10-15 minutes daily. In the Safety Circle, you suggested conducting it fortnightly. I believe that daily Toolbox Talks are more effective than this. What do you think?

Kind regards,
Regards

It depends on your company policy. My advice is to engage a permanent team. Certainly, it will give you the best result if we engage it successfully. Start by wearing the PPE first. The daily Toolbox (SUGGESTION BOX) is one method, no doubt. It is for individual opening collection purposes only. However, the concerned department head is also involved and explains the importance of safety and how to obey the rules within this safety circle.

Once Try and See the Changes Among the Employees

Regards,
PBS KUMAR

Thank you for clearing the doubt. In our plant, we have the following two systems:

1. **Tool Box Talk**
Before the start of each shift, we conduct a Tool Box Talk, which lasts mainly 5-10 minutes. During the Tool Box Talk, we explain the Job-Specific Safe Work Practices (SWP) to all the workers involved in that particular job. For the general shift, the TBT time is from 8:30 AM to 8:40 AM.

2. **Team Meetings**
We have teams consisting of workers and staff for each section in our plant. These teams primarily handle all the process parameters and safety aspects. The teams meet every morning for half an hour from 8:45 AM to 9:15 AM. This is part of our World-Class Manufacturing (WCM) System. I believe your concept of the safety circle aligns with our WCM System. Those who choose to adopt this idea will likely see positive results, but visible management support is crucial for successful implementation.

Thank you once again for sharing this with us.

Best regards

Safety Circle Program in Construction

The "Safety Circle Program" is a great initiative in construction. We conduct a similar program daily from 06:30 to 07:00. All our contractor and subcontractor safety representatives and the construction manager (mandatory) gather in a designated area. During this meeting, everyone discusses the day's activities, including the types of equipment and tools they will use. Additionally, we have the site layout drawing available for reference. We also review the previous day's near-miss incidents, and accident reports.

World Class Manufacturing System

Dear Dipil, it's nice to hear that your company is using the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) System. Keep in touch.

Regards.

Safety First: A Priority for All Organizations

Safety is first, work is next. Everybody should review safety aspects. Untoward incidents have occurred in the past. Steps are being taken to ensure 100% safety in all organizations. It is a must.

Celebrate Safety Day as a Festival

Follow at least on Safety Day - celebrate the day as a festival. Managements should be at the forefront to celebrate such festivals. It is good for the organizations as well as for their working employees.

Role of the Factories Department

The Factories Department will issue slogans, pamphlets, and exhibits. Also, seek their assistance and invite the Factories Inspectors who will share safety measures they may come across.

Regards,
D. Gurumurthy HR/IR Consultant.

Why Are We Celebrating National Safety Day?

After independence, there was rapid industrialization in our country, which also resulted in an increase in the number of accidents. At that time, there was no such body to guide industries on safety.

In view of the rising trend of industrial accidents in the country, the labor minister's conference in its 22nd session in 1962 recommended that "a conference on safety in factories should be convened and the question of setting up the National Safety Council for conducting a campaign on accident prevention should be considered."

The recommendation of the conference was approved by the 24th session of the standing labor committee, which met on 13th to 14th February 1966 in New Delhi under the chairmanship of the late Shri Jagjivan Ram (at that time he was a union minister), and the proposal concerning the constitution of the National Safety Council (NSC) was set up on 4th March 1966 by the ministry.

Subsequently, it was decided that this day, 4th March, should be commemorated as National Safety Day every year in the form of a national awareness campaign. Since 1972, National Safety Day has been celebrated every year throughout the country to reiterate the importance of safety and create an awareness campaign nationwide.

Below is the theme for "National Safety Day - 2012":

"Ensure a safe and healthy working environment - A fundamental human right"

Regards,
PARAG BANE

Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Ltd.
EHS

Nice write-up, and thanks for remembering the Safety Day theme for this year! Keep on sharing and participating in the forum discussions.

A nice write-up to help people, especially those who are unaware, understand the meaning of Safety Day. It was good that you mentioned the theme as well.

Thank you.

Dear All,

On the occasion of "National Safety Day 4th March, 2012," here I have attached a good suggested program "SAFETY CIRCLE (Among the Employees) PROGRAM," which will provide good output. The Safety Circles are framed to create safety awareness among all the employees in the plant. They cover all the employees from all the sections, including the contractor workers.

A Safety Circle consists of around 10 to 15 members with one leader, and such circles are formed in all the Departments/Sections (sometimes clubbing 2/3 departments or sections). All the members belong to the same work area. The duties and responsibilities of the safety circle leader and the members are well defined. The total strength of the section/department determines the total number of Safety Circles.

Regards,
PBS KUMAR

I also tried to translate before raising the concern in the forum with the help of Google Translate. However, we will not get the exact meaning from this translated sentence. The line that you posted also does not reflect the perfect meaning. Every year, what we were doing is purchasing banners from the National Safety Council. They normally supply banners with English and Hindi themes. So, if anyone purchases these banners from the National Safety Council, I request you to share the exact wordings of the theme.

Thanks in advance.

On this day, I solemnly affirm that I will rededicate myself to the cause of safety, health, and protection of the environment. I will do my best to observe rules, regulations, and procedures and develop attitudes and habits conducive to achieving these objectives.

I fully realize that accidents and diseases are a drain on the national economy and may lead to disabilities, deaths, damages to health and property, social suffering, and the general degradation of the environment.

I will do everything possible for the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases and the protection of the environment in the interest of myself, my family, my community, and the nation at large.

A very warm welcome to the CiteHR EHS forum. Nice to see you participating here. In the first post itself, you have come up with a great contribution. Great program organizing for celebrating NSD. Thanks for sharing and try to keep on participating.