THAT'S COOL!: Labour Minister G. Vinod checks out a fire extinguisher at the 36th National Safety Day celebrations in Hyderabad on Sunday. — PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: Labour Minister G.Vinod called upon managements and workers to collectively ensure a safe work environment in improving productivity in industries and factories.

Inaugurating the 36th National Safety Day celebrations organised by the Department of Factories in association with the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the National Safety Council here on Sunday, he urged the managements to focus on solving workers' problems and providing a stress-free ambience, medicare and developing HRD needs for achieving better results.

Asha Murthy, Special Chief Secretary, Labour, who presided, said safety systems must not merely remain on paper and should be implemented in letter and spirit. R. Karikal Valaven, Labour Commissioner, suggested expansion of the National Safety Day activities to cover `external safety' of workers in the unorganised sector.

Director of Factories and chairman of the chapter, R.Koteswara Rao, pointed out that the State's accident rate was 2.54 per cent for 1,000 workers, against the national average of 11.74 per cent. Mr. Rao said an emergency response centre would be launched here soon to cater to the needs of hazardous industries in Hyderabad and the neighbouring districts.

The Minister presented mementoes to managements which received OSHAS 18001 certification this year.

Earlier Teja, a student of Hyderabad Public School, released stickers titled " Safety survives".

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