India's Ministry of Steel Decides to Set Up Steel Industry Safety Council as Apex Safety Body

Key facts

• The Ministry of Steel, Government of India, has decided to set up a Steel Industry Safety Council (SISC) as an apex-level industry safety body under its administrative control, aimed at strengthening safety standards, accident prevention and safety awareness across the steel industry.
• The SISC will be chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and will include senior Ministry officials, Chief Executives of integrated steel producers, and representatives of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and steel technology institutions.
• The Council will assess the industry safety situation, approve industry safety standards and recommended practices, and review serious accidents and near-miss incidents.
• A Steel Industry Safety Directorate (SISD) will be established to provide technical support, oversee implementation of Council decisions, conduct safety audits and investigations, and issue Steel Industry Safety Standards and Guidelines suited to Indian conditions.
• The SISD's jurisdiction will cover primary and secondary steel and iron producers across India as well as mines of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Steel.
• Twenty five safety guidelines for the Iron & Steel Sector, inaugurated by the Steel Minister on 17 February 2020, were followed by 16 process-based safety guidelines formally launched on 25 July 2024.