Minister urges people to obey safety laws

Shimla, Mar 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramesh Dhawala appealed to the people of the State today on the occasion of National Safety Day to dedicate themselves to preserve environment, health and safety and obey the laws and bye-laws framed for the purpose.

He said that the importance of safety was increasing with the progress in technology and industrial units, homes, offices, road and air traffic fall under the purview of safety management. He said that main cause of accidents was lack of awareness among people regarding the safety laws.

He said that Factory Act, 1948 was under implementation for safeguarding the interests of factory workers and Labour Department was ensuring the same by conducting inspections from time to time and added that the Department also ensures the use of safety equipment in factories. He said that the Department issues licenses to only those institutions which adhere to safety standards under the Act.

Mr Dhawala said that a training programme was held by the Department in coordination with Regional Labour Institute Faridabad for small-scale industries in Nalagarh industrial area recently to create awareness about safety measures.

He said that State Government was according priority to observance of safety measures in construction of all hydro electric projects in the State and added that directions had been issued to the Department and concerned District Administration to provide residential facilities to labourers in safe places to ensure their safety.

He said that issuing of identity cards had been made mandatory to workers in all industrial units and hydel projects and added that 1,42,832 identity cards have been issued by the Department so far.

He said that 523 inspections have been carried out during this financial year out of which challans have been filed in Court in 19 cases and Rs 89,000 fine had been realised. He said that the labour department was committed to protect the interests of workers.

UNI XC JN MMS1746