Recalling the chemical disaster at Union Carbide Bhopal, PSUs’ apex body SCOPE today called for effective implemention of occupational safety and health standards in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

“There is an urgent need to implement occupational safety and health (OS and H) in CPSEs in a more effective manner.”

“The need of the hour is to improve the situation in this area and to focus on the workplace improvement and implementation of sound work practices,” SCOPE Director General, U D Choubey said here.

He was speaking at a function organised by SCOPE in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and International Labour Organisation (ILO).

SCOPE said it has identified OS&H in the workplace as a key priority area with the setting up of ‘SCOPE Network on OS&H.’

This network is supporting the PSEs in studies, information sharing and promoting good practices, enhancing safety and health culture along with adopting a system approach on a continuous basis, Choubey said.

Meanwhile, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Labour & Employment A C Pandey said: “The government is committed to regulate all economic activities within the country with a view to ensure that every working employee is provided with safe and healthy working conditions.”

He also said that PSUs can play an important role in capacity building and designing of a system containing standards, modules and training programmes in this area.

As on March 31, 2012, there were 13.98 lakh employees in CPSEs in the country.

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