Workshop on process safety of combustible dusts gets under way

Minister for SHAKTI, Gaddam Vivek Venkat Swamy on Wednesday directed the Department of Factories to frame rules incorporating best practices to address combustible dust hazards in industries while stressing that worker safety should not be compromised under any circumstances.

The direction came after he released a handbook on combustible dust safety at the inauguration of a two-day workshop on ‘Process Safety of Combustible Dusts’, organised by the National Safety Council, Telangana Chapter, in collaboration with the Department of Factories. The Minister also called upon industries to conduct regular safety training programmes for employees and adopt emerging technologies and globally accepted safety practices.

Emphasising the need for greater collaboration between the government and industry, Mr. Vivek Venkat Swamy said such workshops provide a platform to exchange knowledge and improve industrial safety standards. Reiterating the government’s commitment to preventing industrial accidents, he said there would be no compromise when it comes to the safety and lives of workers. He also directed that contract workers should not be engaged in hazardous operations.

Secretary, Department of Skill, Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives (SHAKTI), Harichandana Dasari urged industries dealing with combustible dust to adopt systematic hazard identification and risk management practices. She said industries should move beyond a compliance-oriented approach to one that integrates preventive maintenance, process safety management and emergency preparedness into their operations.

Director of Factories and NSC Telangana Chapter chairman Y. Mohan Babu said combustible dust poses not only a health risk but also has the potential to cause major industrial accidents. He said the Department had organised a train-the-trainer programme, which subsequently enabled the training of nearly 70,000 employees in factories across the State.

About 300 delegates from chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, cement, coal milling and other dust-hazard-prone industries in Telangana are attending the workshop, the organisers said.