National Safety Day/Safety Week Campaign focuses on the importance of reduction of the rate of industrial accidents and also focuses on the areas that have not yet been covered by any safety legislation. The campaign urges several organisations to participate in developing several activities as per their legal safety requirements. The campaign is mostly comprehensive, general and flexible.
National Safety Day: Objectives
- To spread Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) movement to various parts of the country.
- To ensure the participation of different industrial sectors at different levels.
- To promote a participative approach for the employees in SHE activities.
- To promote several developmental activities required for self-compliance and professional SHE management systems at workplaces.
- To cover voluntary SHE movement sectors.
- To motivate and remind employers, employees, and others of their responsibility in making the workplace safer.
Note: The above objectives highlight the overall goal of creating and strengthening SHE culture in the workplace and integrate it with the work culture.
National Safety Day: History
The Ministry of Labour, Government of India set up the National Safety Council of India (NSC) on 4 March, 1966. To develop and sustain the movement on SHE that is focusing on safety, Health and Environment at the national level. Basically, NSC is an autonomous body. Therefore, the foundation day of the National Safety Council was decided to observe as National Safety Day in 1972. It was also decided to celebrate it as National Safety Week (NSW) Campaign that will last for one week.
About National Safety Council (NSC)
As mentioned above on 4 March, 1966, the National Safety Council was established by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India (GOI) to sustain a voluntary movement on SHE at the national level. It is an apex non-profit making, tripartite body that is registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950.
Activities focusing on the objectives of NSC are performed including conducting specialised training courses, conferences, seminars, and workshops, conducting consultancy studies like safety audits, hazard evaluation, and risk assessment, etc. Not only this several national and international conferences like XIII World Congress (1993) and APOSHO Conferences (1995 and 2016). It also implemented several prestigious projects that are organised by NSC. In the course of more than 50 years of service, it has built technical experts and competence to meet the emerging challenges.
National Safety Day: Activities
At the national, state and enterprise-level it organise several activities.
At the National Level:
- Seminars, discussions, public functions, and debates focusing on safety measures.
- On SHE issues, sports films are released.
- Proper coverage is also organised at Doordarshan's National Network and regional Kendra’s, All India Radio stations and the national/regional press also provide coverage of the important activities and functions held during this week.
At the State Level
- In regional languages, several functions and events are organised focusing on safety measures at the state level.
- NSC display banners, various locations in the state and it's capital and major cities citing the importance of National Safety Day/ Safety week, etc.
At the Enterprise Level
- Model of the Safety Pledge designed, developed and distributed by the NSC.
- The unfurling of the NSD Flag.
- Safety competitions including essay, slogans, posters, housekeeping, safety performance, etc.
- Exhibitions
- Training Programmes/Workshops/Seminars, etc.
- Organising emergency drills
- Holding award functions
- Invite eminent guest speakers
Community Awareness Programmes, etc.
Therefore, National Safety Day is celebrated on 4 March to commemorate the foundation of the National Safety Council to raise awareness about the safety measures to prevent mishaps and accidents due to lack of awareness.