Introduction

To give recognition to good safety performance on the part of Industrial Establishments and to stimulate and maintain the interest of both the managements and the workers in accident prevention and safety promotion programmes, the Government of India instituted National Safety Awards(NSA) in the year 1965. Initially the NSA was instituted for factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 which work One million man-hours or more during the contest year. From the year 1971, separate schemes were introduced for factories working less than One million manhours and also for Ports. From the year 1978 two more schemes were introduced for factories working more than one lakh and less than two and half lacs manhours during each year of the contest period. Further, the schemes which existed prior to 1978 were modified in 1978 as per the decision of the Awards Committee specially constituted for this purpose by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt. of India. At present there are twelve schemes whose details are furnished as below. These schemes are operated by the Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

The Schemes I to X are applicable to the Factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948, Construction Sites under the Building & Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and Installations under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). The Schemes XI to XII are applicable to establishments under Ports.

Basis of Awards

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working one Million Manhours and More

Scheme I : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 15 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit. The weighted frequency rate is the sum of

• The number of non-fatal accidents per million manhours worked
• The number of total fatal accidents per million manhours worked multiplied by ten and
• No. of total permanent disabled cases per million manhours worked multiplied by ten.

Scheme II : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 15 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of manhours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working Less Than One Million Manhours Subject to a Minimum of Half a Million Manhours

Scheme III : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 11 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Factories/construction Sites/installations Under Aerb, Working Less Than Half Million Manhours Subject to a Minimum of One Quarter Million Manhours

Scheme V : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 11 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

Scheme VI : Based on Accident Free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of manhours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For factories/construction sites/installations under aerb, working less than one quarter million manhours subject to minimum of one lakh manhours.

Scheme VII : Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 11 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

Scheme VIII : Based on Accident free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of manhours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For factories/construction sites/installations under aerb, working less than one lakh manhours subject to minimum of fifty thousand manhours.(Newly Introduced)

Scheme IX :Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate

There is one Winner and one Runner-up in each of the 11 Groups of industries as given in the Schedule which achieve the lowest average weighted accident frequency rate over a period of three preceding consecutive years ending with the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

Scheme X : Based on Accident free Year

There is one winner and one runner-up in each of the 11 groups of industries as given in the Schedule which has worked the largest number of manhours, without any fatal/non-fatal accident/total permanent disability during the performance year. Each awardee will be presented with a shield and a certificate of merit.

For Ports

Scheme XI : For work on ships (Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate) – Previously designated as Scheme IX

Provides for the grant of three awards to employer handling any cargo, except bulk oil on board the ship who achieves the lowest average weighted frequency rate of accidents over a period of three consecutive years ending in the performance year. One award is for employers who work a minimum of 1,00,000 man-hours(Group A) during each of the three consecutive years ending in the performance year. The second award is for employers who work a minimum of 50,000 manhours but less than 1,00,000 manhours(Group B) and the third award is for employers who work a minimum of 25,000 manhours but less than 50,000(Group C) manhours during each of the three consecutive years. Under each group a shield is given to the winner and the runner-up. A certificate of merit is also given to the awards winners.

Scheme XII : For work on shore (Based on Lowest Average Frequency Rate) - Previously designated as Scheme X

Provides for the grant of three awards for shore employers, including port authorities, who achieve the lowest average weighted frequency rate over a period of three consecutive years ending in the performance year. One award is for employers who work a minimum of 2,50,000 manhours(Group A) during each of the three consecutive years ending in the performance year. The second award is for employers who work a minimum of 1,00,000 manhours but less than 2,50,000 manhours (Group B) and the third award is for employers who work less than 1,00,000 manhours but subject to minimum of 25,000 manhours (Group C) during each of the three consecutive years. Under each group a shield is given to the winner and runner-up. A certificate of merit is also given to the awards winners.

Procedure For the Grant of Awards

Every year applications are invited in the prescribed form for the grant of the awards through advertisement in important national and regional newspapers. Organisations are required to apply for awards under each scheme as applicable to them. The applications are adjudged by Tripartite Awards Committee constituted for three years by the Ministry of Labour and consisting of not less than five members selected solely on the basis of their experience and technical ability. The decision of the Awards Committee is final with regard to the final result.

Awards Distribution Function

The National Safety Awards(NSA) for each Performance Year will be granted to the winners and Runners up by the Hon’ble Labour & Employment Minister, Govt. of India, in a special function to be held in New Delhi. Usually the function is held each year on 17th September to coincide with the Vishwakarma Day.

Schedules For Schemes I And II

• Manufacture of Textiles
• Manufacture of Paper & Paper Products, Publishing, Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media.
• Manufacture of Chemicals & Chemical Products
• Manufacture of Coke & Refined Petroleum Products
• Manufacture of Rubber & Plastic Products
• Manufacture of Machinery & Equipment other than Electrical Machinery & apparatus.
• Manufacture of Electrical Machinery and apparatus.
• Manufacture of Electrical & Electronic machinery & equipment/apparatus & Medical Precision and optical instruments and watches and clocks.
• Manufacture of Transport Equipment
• Manufacture of Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi Trailers.
• Manufacture of Basic Metals & Fabricated Metal Products Except Machinery & Equipment.
• Manufacture of Non-Metallic Mineral Products.
• Manufacture of Food Products and Beverages.
• Construction
• Miscellaneous (not included elsewhere)

Schedules For Schemes III, IV, V, VI,VII, VIII, IX AND X

• Manufacture of Textiles
• Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products
• Tanning and Dressing of Leather : Manufacture of Luggage, Handbags, Saddlery,Harness and Footwear.
• Manufacture of Rubber and Plastic Products
• Manufacture of Non-Metallic Mineral Products.
• Manufacture of Food Products & Beverages.
• Manufacture of Electrical and Electronic machinery & apparatus, Medical Precision and optical Instruments, Watches and Clocks
• Manufacture of Machinery and Equipment except Electrical machinery.
• Manufacture of Fabricated Metal Products Except Machinery and Equipment
• Construction
• Miscellaneous(not included elsewhere)