11-member SAIL delegation explores VAML’s technology-driven safety initiatives, risk management systems and operational best practices

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JHARSUGUDA, NOVEMBER 7, 2026

Reinforcing the importance of industry collaboration in building safer and more resilient industrial ecosystems, Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited (VAML), India’s largest aluminium producer, hosted an 11-member delegation of senior officers from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) at its Jharsuguda operations for a safety benchmarking and knowledge-exchange visit. The engagement provided a platform for both organisations to share insights and learn from each other’s approaches to strengthening workplace safety, leveraging digital technologies and driving operational excellence across large-scale manufacturing facilities.

The visit offered the SAIL delegation an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into VAML Jharsuguda’s comprehensive, multi-layered safety framework and its implementation across critical manufacturing operations. The delegation toured several key locations within the plant, including the expansive Safety Galaxy Park, a dedicated facility designed to demonstrate essential safety concepts, promote awareness and provide an overview of the plant’s integrated safety systems. The officers also visited the potline and casthouse areas, which form the backbone of aluminium manufacturing, to observe safety protocols, operational safeguards and industry best practices in action. Interactions with the Jharsuguda management team further explored the role of technological advancements, innovation and proactive risk management in strengthening safety standards across complex industrial environments.

Commenting on the initiative,  C Chandru, CEO, VAML Jharsuguda, said, “Safety is fundamental to operational excellence. At VAML Jharsuguda, our endeavour is to build an environment where robust systems, advanced technology and clear accountability come together to anticipate risks and protect our people. Safety is a continuous journey of learning and improvement, and engagements with industry peers such as SAIL provide valuable opportunities to exchange perspectives, benchmark our practices against evolving industry standards and collectively raise the bar for safety across the metals and manufacturing sector.”

Suresh Kumar, General Manager-in-Charge (Safety), SSO, SAIL, said, “Safety is an area where the industry benefits immensely from shared learning and exposure to diverse operational practices. Our visit to VAML Jharsuguda offered valuable perspectives on how safety is being systematically embedded across a large and complex modern manufacturing environment. Such knowledge-exchange initiatives enable organisations to learn from established practices, critically evaluate their own systems and collectively contribute towards creating safer and more responsible industrial operations across India.”

VAML’s manufacturing operations place strong emphasis on emergency preparedness, proactive risk identification and the continuous strengthening of workplace safety systems. At its Jharsuguda facility, these efforts are supported by a comprehensive range of initiatives, including nearly 33 kilometres of dedicated pedestrian pathways designed to segregate people from vehicular movement, immersive simulator-based training programmes for heavy vehicle drivers and specialised digital applications that empower employees across organisational levels to report unsafe conditions, potential hazards and process deviations. These technology-enabled interventions facilitate timely identification of risks and reinforce a culture of shared responsibility and accountability.

Complementing these initiatives, the company regularly conducts mock drills, emergency response exercises and comprehensive safety audits across its operational and residential areas. These exercises are designed to enhance workforce preparedness, reinforce adherence to established safety protocols and ensure prompt and coordinated responses to potential emergencies. The initiatives are further strengthened through continuous safety awareness programmes, behavioural safety interventions and active leadership engagement, ensuring that safety remains an integral part of everyday decision-making and operational practices.

The effectiveness of VAML Jharsuguda’s sustained efforts towards building a robust safety ecosystem has also received recognition at national and international levels. The facility recently received the British Safety Council Five-Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit Award, one of the globally respected recognitions in occupational health and safety. The distinction underscores the plant’s continued commitment to maintaining high standards of workplace health, safety and wellbeing, while fostering a proactive safety culture across its workforce and operations.