It is better that groups of similar industries in Mangaluru region form mutual aid groups along the lines of other States to exchange knowledge and assistance during disasters, A.R. Vijayendra, Additional Director, Department of Factories and Boilers, said.
He was speaking at a two-day national conference on ‘Risk Reduction and Disaster Management in Industries’ organised by the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal. This would ensure better exchange of knowledge and effective disaster management.
M. Venkatesh, Director (Refinery), MRPL, suggested the setting up of a Safety Chair at NITK that could assist the government and industries on framing policies and coming out with new techniques in safety management.
Prabhakar Rao, director, MCF, said while framing safety policies and acting on them, industries should take into account feedback from various stakeholders including employees, the public and regulatory authorities.
Behavioural safety should be addressed on a top priority since accidents occur mainly owing to human errors, P. Purander Shetty, head of Mangaluru site of BASF (India) Ltd, said.
More than 50% of hazardous chemicals used by industries across the State are present in Dakshina Kannada alone, said M.B. Sudatta, Dean (Academics), NITK. As such, adequate and proper safety culture has to be created, he said adding that NITK would always play a vital role in this regard. Conference chairman G. Sriniketan said risk and safety management should be introduced as a subject or at least certain concept of safety has to be brought in school curriculum.
All engineering disciplines should compulsorily have this in the curriculum, he suggested.
Hari Mahalingam, HoD (Chemical Engineering), NITK; and conference organising secretary Vidya Shetty were present.