NFC gives utmost importance to the safety of workers, environmental protection and prevention of accidents / incidents at various fields of NFC. NFC is regulated by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). To take care of overall safety aspects, to achieve the objectives of safety and co-ordinate with various plants and sections of NFC, Safety Engineering Division (SED) is formed in the initial years of NFC. SED coordinates with AERB on regular basis for implementation of Factories Act, 1948 and Atomic Energy Factories Rules, 1996 and other statutes.
The division is headed by very senior officer who is also a member of Executive Committee, a policy making body and he / she directly reports to Chief Executive, NFC. SED includes trained, experienced and qualified personnel drawn from different engineering disciplines viz, chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical. Many of them are also having Diploma in Industrial Safety. To reduce risks and eliminating hazards at the work place, SED involves right from the design stage for any process modification and issues safety clearances for installation of new machines, processes and plants and prepares emergency plans for major hazardous substances.
SED officials carry out safety inspections of work areas on regular basis to advise plants to follow good safety practices and for compliance of statutory requirements. The same are communicated to the concerned sections, plants and group heads for corrective action.
Job hazard analysis is carried out before taking any hazardous works. Safety work permit system is followed for non-routine hazardous works and also for works carried out by outsourced personnel.
An independent unit of BARC stationed at NFC carries out Radiological, Environmental surveillance and Industrial hygiene surveillance in and around NFC. This unit is equipped with radiation monitoring and measuring instruments, which are being used by a team of trained and experienced man power for assessing the extent of radiological hazards and keeps them in state of readiness to respond for any emergency situations. NFC ensures all the pollutants and radio active material release are well below the limits prescribed by AERB & International Atomic Energy Agency. Principle of "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" is followed.
NFC has a three tier safety committee system, viz., plant level safety committee, Apex safety committee and AERB's safety committee to discuss and review safety systems in plants of NFC. These committees meet regularly.
All accidents including minor and unusual occurrences are analyzed for identifying their causes and remedial measures are recommended to prevent recurrence of such accidents.
Plant level and shop floor safety committees meet once in a month to discuss safety related issues of the respective plant.
A modification committee is also in place to thoroughly review the proposals for changes in processes / equipment / layout, etc. with respect to safety prior to implementation. The committee is chaired by a Deputy Chief Executive level officer with experts of various disciplines as members.
Safety training is imparted to employees and outsourced personnel on regular basis. For outsourced personnel, safety training about hazards and safety measures to be taken is rendered and training pass is issued. Retraining and renewal of pass is being done regularly with fixed interval. In case of change in work, these personnel have to undergo training and obtain the training pass accordingly.
Authorization is issued to operators by expert committees to shift in-charges / chemical plant operators / electrical technicians for safe operation. These authorizations are renewed on regular basis.
For safety publicity and awareness among personnel, safety display boards, safety posters, emergency exit boards / markings, speed limit boards, caution boards, do's and don'ts, etc., are provided at various common places and plants in NFC. Also, safety competitions like safety slogans and essay writing in Hindi, Telugu and English; safety posters; spot the hazard contest and quiz are conducted every year and prizes are distributed on National Safety Day.
Safety award scheme is in vogue in NFC for working two million man-hours without reportable accident. A safety memento is given to all eligible employees.
NFC and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has jointly organized "36th DAE Safety & Occupational Health Professionals Meet (DAE-SOHPM)". For more details click here.
Safety Display Boards
