Within the intricate dynamics of the man-machine environment, the specter of potential injuries and fatalities looms large in the absence of vigilant safety awareness across various levels. The industrial landscape, in its pursuit of heightened production and expansive growth, places an onus on leaders to prioritize the mantle of safety within their precincts. Beyond being a mere concept or practice, safety embodies the very recognition of the dignity inherent in labor. The adage that an accident prevented is a gain and an accident compensated is an apology underscores the imperative for a safety-conscious approach.
Across the annals of time, the CII Eastern Region has undertaken a multitude of initiatives to sensitize leadership to a paramount objective – transforming their premises into ‘Zero Accident Zones’. This mantra resonates globally through the lens of Vision Zero, a preventive strategy championed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and embraced wholeheartedly in the Indian context. This philosophy stems from the unwavering belief that all accidents, ailments, and adversity at the workplace are avoidable. Yet, the trajectory towards Vision Zero hinges on the bedrock of prevention and is deeply intertwined with the essence of leadership.
The Vision Zero paradigm transcends traditional safety boundaries to encompass safety, health, and holistic well-being at every echelon of labor. A crucial tenet within this framework is that safe and healthy working conditions aren’t solely moral and legal obligations; they also yield substantial economic dividends. International research unequivocally demonstrates that each investment in safety and health begets more than double its value in positive economic outcomes. In essence, healthy work environments yield healthy businesses.
At its core, a preventive safety and health culture presides over a domain where the right to a secure and wholesome working environment is held sacrosanct across all tiers. Governments, employers, and workers collectively champion the pursuit of safe and healthy workspaces, substantiated by a matrix of rights, duties, and responsibilities. This principle aligns with Article 1(d) of the ILO Convention No. 187.
Guided by these tenets, the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and its 2002 Protocol, along with the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), advocate for the bedrock principle of ‘building a preventative safety and health culture’ as an integral facet of enhanced OSH management.
Leadership, as a transformative force, orchestrates the acceptance of objectives, delineates methods for achievement, and galvanizes individual and collective endeavors toward common goals. Within the realm of safety, leaders’ actions and decisions convey explicit messages to organizations, delineating policies of import.
While the significance of leadership within safety management has attracted research, its alignment with the Vision Zero ideology remains a relatively unexplored frontier. This study delves into the interplay between safety leadership and Vision Zero, with a particular focus on the expansive landscape of large manufacturing industries, including those categorized as hazardous. In the ensuing chapters, we navigate this intricate nexus to unveil the role of leadership in advancing the Vision Zero paradigm and its implications on safety, health, and holistic well-being within our industrial landscape
About Consultivo
Consultivo is a management advisory and consulting firm helping global businesses in the areas of Sustainability, Business Excellence & Risk Management – both in strategic and operational levels.
Consultivo research and analytics wing works on industry, society and community oriented research programs on ESG, Sustainability and business risk in both qualitative and quantitative fields.
As an Independent and leading CSR Consultant in India, Consultivo offers CSR Strategy Consulting, Baseline and Need Assessment, Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement, CSR Project Monitoring and Evaluation, CSR Impact Assessment, SROI Assessment and CSR Communication Reporting.
About CII:
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India’s development process. Founded in 1895, India’s premier business association has around 9000 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from around 276 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
CII charts change by working closely with Government on policy issues, interfacing with thought leaders, and enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and business opportunities for industry through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages. It also provides a platform for consensus-building and networking on key issues.
Extending its agenda beyond business, CII assists industry to identify and execute corporate citizenship programmes. Partnerships with civil society organizations carry forward corporate initiatives for integrated and inclusive development across diverse domains including affirmative action, healthcare, education, livelihood, diversity management, skill development, empowerment of women, and water, to name a few.
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