The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
JHARSUGUDA, MAR 18, 2024
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, orchestrated a significant road safety awareness campaign titled ‘Suraksha Sarathi’ at Lakhanpur Mines in Jharsuguda. In collaboration with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and major transporters’ unions such as Maa Samleswari Truck Owners’ Association (MSTOA) and Ayush Road Lines, the event drew participation from over 1500 drivers, honoring them as ‘Sarathis’ (charioteers) for their crucial role in ensuring road safety.
The initiative featured a variety of activities aimed at emphasizing the paramount importance of road safety. Notable highlights included a captivating ‘Nukkad Natak’ (street play) performance portraying mythical characters Yamraj and Chitragupta, complimentary health check-ups, a road safety quiz, and the distribution of road safety kits. These efforts were met with appreciation from the drivers, reinforcing the significance of adhering to traffic regulations and safety standards.
Esteemed officials in attendance, including Dinabandhu Sundhi, Road Transport Officer, Jharsuguda; Loknath Meher, Motor Vehicle Inspector, Jharsuguda; Sanjay Jha, General Manager, MCL, Lakhanpur; Akhil Swain, President, MSTOA; Santosh Mohanty, General Secretary, MSTOA; and Chandan Agrawal from Ayush Road Lines, actively participated in the initiatives.
Vedanta Aluminium COO Sunil Gupta reiterated the company’s commitment to a safety-first culture, stating, “At Vedanta Aluminium, safety of our people and partners is our foremost priority and we believe in extending our culture of care beyond our operations. It gives us immense pride to pioneer initiatives like ‘Suraksha Sarathi’, leading to more safeguards for our communities. The safety of our partnersis of utmost importance to usand we plan to conduct similar initiatives to bolster the safety quotient at our operations as well as beyond.”
Acknowledging the company’s efforts, Dinabandhu Sundhi, Regional Transport Officer, Jharsuguda, expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts between the district administration and Vedanta Aluminium, stating, “Through shared efforts, we can strive towards making Jharsuguda a district free from road accidents. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Vedanta for their proactive initiative in this regard.”
Vedanta Aluminium has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing safety across its operations.
The company’s “Sankalp” Safety Culture Transformation Programme is being executed company-wide to instill a safety-oriented mindset among employees.
Furthermore, Vedanta Aluminium has established an Augmented and Virtual Reality Training Centre to provide immersive safety training experiences. Extensive digitalization of operations and processes has been undertaken to minimize human interaction with machinery, ensuring comprehensive visibility of critical plant operations through a Manufacturing Execution System, facilitating remote decision-making via mobile applications. Video analytics are utilized for immediate fire event detection and employee safety standard adherence monitoring, ensuring continuous plant safety. In a notable move towards inclusivity and preparedness,
Vedanta Aluminium has formed an all-women firefighting team named “Agnivahini” at Jharsuguda, trained to respond effectively to emergencies and offer off-site support to the local administration and community.
Additionally, the company conducts the Safety Stand Down programme, where leadership teams engage with employees and business partners on various health, safety, and environmental facets to foster a holistic safety-first culture. Regular mock drills and safety awareness sessions, organized in collaboration with the National Disaster Reduction Force (NDRF) and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), further contribute to preparedness.
Moreover, Vedanta Aluminium’s employee volunteers conduct fire, electrical, and household safety training sessions for school students and community members, underscoring the company’s commitment to broader safety education and awareness.
