In a major step toward building a modern, hazard-free workplace environment across the state, the Directorate of Factories & Boilers, under the Labour & Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) Department, Government of Odisha, organized a day-long high-level workshop titled “Safer Industries, Stronger Odisha – Technology, Innovation, Excellence in Industrial Safety” at the Krushi Bhawan Auditorium in Bhubaneswar.
Addressing the valedictory session as the Chief Guest, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, IAS, emphasized that industrial safety can no longer be viewed as an afterthought or a compliance burden, but as an essential core pillar of industrial growth. She aligned the initiative with the broader state and national roadmaps of Viksit Odisha @2036 and Viksit Bharat @2047.
Safety as an Uncompromising Core Priority
“Industrial safety must be treated as an uncompromising priority, both by industries and by the officers responsible for ensuring compliance,” Chief Secy Anu Garg stated. She noted that procedure monitoring and best practices must take precedence regardless of operational costs.
To build a continuous safety culture, CS Garg advocated for structural changes in how companies evaluate success: “One simple way of reinforcing this culture is to make safety performance an integral part of every interaction and review, so that safety reports become as important as any other aspect of industrial performance.”
She firmly rejected the notion that workplace hazards are unavoidable, urging industry stakeholders to eliminate systemic vulnerabilities. “Most importantly, we must move away from the mindset that industrial accidents are inevitable. Many incidents are the result of gaps that build up when safety is not given adequate attention or priority,” she added, encouraging daily self-assessment and collective responsibility between academia, industry leaders, and regulators.
Tech Interventions and Industry Collaborations
The workshop commenced with an inaugural address by Dodda Venkata Swamy, Principal Secretary of the Labour & ESI Department, who outlined the necessity of technological modernization and leadership in lowering occupational risks.
The event featured two technical deliberations detailing practical industry integrations:
- Session 1: Technological Interventions in Core Sectors — Focused on tech-driven safety enhancements across primary industries. Representatives and safety experts from Tata Steel Limited, Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited, and NTPC Limited shared real-world applications including safety monitoring in iron and steel manufacturing, digital interventions in aluminium smelting, and enhanced risk mitigation in coal-fired thermal power plants (CFTPP).
- Session 2: Leadership & Next-Gen Innovation — Centered on “Safer Industries, Stronger Odisha – Strengthening Through Leadership,” exploring how safety protocols must evolve alongside modernizing factory floors. The session featured a presentation on “BonV: Enhanced Air Mobility” presented by Startup Odisha, demonstrating how futuristic technology can assist in emergency management and industrial oversight.
A Collaborative Roadmap for Odisha’s Industrial Future
The workshop brought together senior government officers, safety inspectors, private sector executives, and technical experts. Key officials attending the event included Indramani Tripathy, Director of Factories & Boilers, Odisha; Dr. M.K. Pradhan, Deputy Director of Factories & Boilers (Safety); and Anil Kumar Nanda, Assistant Director of Factories & Boilers (Safety).
By integrating smart technology, proactive leadership, and rigorous oversight, Odisha aims to set a national benchmark for workplace safety, proving that industrial expansion and worker welfare go hand in hand.
