Safety is no longer merely a regulatory checkbox but a business imperative, a governance priority and a profound moral responsibility said Shri Koushik Chowdhury, Hon’ble Minister of State, Department of Fire & Emergency Services and School Education, Government of West Bengal, while addressing the 20th CII Safety Symposium & Exhibition organised by CII Eastern Region in Kolkata today.
Mr Chowdhury highlighted that West Bengal’s progress must be measured not only by the factories built but by the lives protected and outlined three strategic elements towards achieving Zero Harm – Safety by Design with fire-detection systems and electrical infrastructure integrated at the planning and approval stage, noting that prevention remains more effective and less costly than correction; Smart Compliance, through a more efficient and predictable licensing ecosystem with time-bound applications, risk-based inspections and recognition of high-performing facilities; and continuous readiness, with regular third-party safety audits, electrical-load assessments and evacuation drills at hazardous facilities. He further mentioned that a safer tomorrow begins with the education of today, calling for stronger institutional partnerships between government, industry and academia to train community first responders and build safety awareness among the youth.
The CII Eastern Region Safety Symposium & Exhibition is intended to share best practices across industries, showcase the latest safety equipment and technologies and explore how Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can be brought into the broader safety journey, said Mr Rajiv Mangal, Chairman, CII Eastern Region Safety Subcommittee & Vice President, Safety, Health & Sustainability, Tata Steel Ltd. He noted that Eastern India, with its strong presence of mining, metals, large industries, infrastructure and logistics, offers a diverse mix of participating sectors.
Mr Mangal further added that the event marks the culmination of a year-long safety assessment process and that the platform has evolved into both a learning platform and a feedback mechanism, recognising companies performing well on safety while offering guidance on areas for improvement.
The 20th CII Safety Symposium & Exhibition served as a platform for sharing best practices, showcasing innovations, and recognising organisations for their achievements in workplace safety, said Mr Saikat Basu, CEO & Founder, Consultivo Business Solutions Pvt Ltd. He mentioned that 90 organisations from six states participated in this year’s assessment process, largely units from West Bengal, followed by Jharkhand and Odisha, with the majority units from the manufacturing sector alongside significant participation from mining, construction and services. He added that the representation spanned large, medium and small-scale industries, forming a diverse composite sample from across the region, though he noted that participation from small-scale industries could be strengthened further.
Mr Basu further mentioned that the assessment process this year identified 24 best practices, to be made freely available on the CII website for all to access, alongside 77 good practices overall, reflecting the knowledge-sharing and learning the Symposium seeks to promote through the awards and recognition programme.
The second day of the symposium and exhibition witnessed Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Excellence Awards and footfall of key stakeholders from across the industry. The CII Safety Symposium & Exhibition Exhibitor Directory was also launched.
