123Pune.com

PUNE: Faculty members from engineering colleges in the city will participate in a unique training session on 'Occupational safety and health' (OSH), which begins at the College of Engineering Pune (CoEP) from July 28.

Dilip T. Shah, an associate professor (OSH) at the North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, US, will conduct the six-day programme, which would focus on 'training the trainers' to incorporate OSH as an integral part of engineering studies.

The objective is to pass on the knowhow and make engineering students adept with OSH issues to check instances of onsite accidents or harmful exposure at actual work sites.

Cities like Pune have a thriving network of industry, especially the construction segment, which is going through a boom phase. At the same time, instances of accidents like construction workers falling to their death from heights have been on the rise in the recent past.

Shah told TOI on Sunday that the Factories Act of 1948 in India provides for enough OSH standards but, few employers seem to follow them for varied reasons. "In a profit-driven environ, there is a lack of apt expertise needed for ensuring enforcement of these standards," said Shah.

For instance, he said, in case of a chemical unit, the employer is required to provide adequate information on factors like exposure evaluation.

Shah said the meet would enable the faculty to understand the importance of incorporating safety issues in their lectures. For example, a mechanical engineering faculty would lay stress on building safer machinery where worker can not reach hazardous areas.

Similarly, he said, an electrical engineering faculty would emphasise the importance of following the government established guidelines in design and installation of electrical machinery or powerlines; or the construction faculty would emphasis proper use of scaffolding to avoid fall from heights.

The meet will cover a range of topics including OSH history and standards in India; OSH management; accident investigation and record analysis; introduction to ergonomics; hazard anticipation, evaluation and controls; workers compensation, laws and procedures; industrial hygiene; personal protection equipment; employers' and employees' responsibilities, et al.

Shah will be accompanied by other experts like R.K. Elangovan and D.R. Krishna, both from the Mumbai-based Labour Institute of India, and Sunil Johary, in training the faculty.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/US_expert_to_train_engg_faculty_...