Hyderabad: Labour, Employment and Mines Minister Dr. G. Vivek Venkatswamy directed industries to prioritise safety and aim for zero-accident factories during the National Safety Day celebrations in the city on Wednesday.
He said safety must be treated as an investment, not an expense. He added that productivity improves only when workers feel secure at the workplace. Therefore, managements must make mandatory investments in safety systems and review them regularly.
The Minister spoke at the 55th National Safety Day event held at Ravindra Bharathi. The Government of Telangana organised the programme along with the Directorate of Factories and the National Safety Council of India. Principal Secretary Dani Kishore and Director of Factories Mohan Babu attended the event.
He noted that some managements earlier viewed safety measures as a financial burden. However, he said industries have now begun to recognise the long-term value of safety compliance. He urged board members to review safety standards at frequent intervals.
Minister calls for stronger National Safety Day compliance measures
Referring to rapid technological changes, Dr. Vivek Venkatswamy said safety standards must evolve with new industrial practices. He stressed that awareness among workers should continue throughout the year.
He also linked industrial safety to the Chief Minister’s vision of transforming Telangana into a $3 trillion economy. Industries, he said, play a crucial role in achieving that target. Hence, they must adopt best practices and strive to become zero-accident factories.
Citing a recent incident, the Minister said a major accident could have been prevented with minor precautionary steps. “Had ₹20 lakh been spent on preventive measures, the accident could have been avoided. However, after the incident, the same management spent crores,” he said.
While companies have safety plans, he said wrkers must strictly follow safety norms. Finally, he directed department officials to strengthen the culture of safety across industries in the State.
