ecchelmet Safety Hall of Fame
DEDICATED TO SAFETY & EXCELLENCE AT 3 ICONIC PROJECTS
Development at Ayodhya Project
SARVASHRESHTHA SURAKSHA PURASKAR (Golden Trophy)
Seawooods Grand Centre. Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium. Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir. For Santhosh Bore, these three iconic projects have served as ideal opportunities to learn and refine his prowess in EHS. “Since joining L&T in July 2013, I have been dedicated to safety and excellence,” he shares, recalling his pivotal role at the Seawoods Grand Centre project in New Mumbai, to achieve 45 million safe man-hours and earn accolades from such as the NSC Pransha Patra and ROSPA Awards, despite being a challenging project having to overcome public interference, a live railway crossing, and more.
Santhosh Bore
Senior Manager — EHS, B&F IC
His challenge at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Motera, Gujarat, was size having to handle the huge precast ‘Y’ and ‘H’ type columns weighing 180 MT and 160 MT respectively. “We handled the entire exercise successfully and safely without any LTIs, clocking 24 million safe man-hours and winning BSC’s Sword of Honour and the RoSPA Gold Award in the process,” he flags off with great delight.
Presently, at the Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir site in Ayodhya, Santhosh and team have been maintaining the highest safety standards, both in construction and managing the movement of the pilgrims. “We have already clocked 12 million safe man-hours, won NSC’s Sarvashreshtha Suraksha Puraskar 2022 and a special appreciation from the Prime Minister of India,” he remarks smiling but, at the same time, enumerates the several unique challenges they face being such a high-profile project like dealing with several layers of security arrangements, and the unique construction methodology with stones that is different from RCC structures and concrete. “We have introduced best practices like adjustable web slings for stone handling, the first of its kind in India, and a vacuum lifter for stone handling — like glass lifting — again for the first time in India,” he signs off proudly.
S. R. Vadivelu
Senior Manager — EHS, B&F IC
SAFETY NOT JUST A PRIORITY; IT IS A CORE VALUE
The Prestige City Project, Bengaluru
SURAKSHA PURASKAR (Bronze Trophy)
Having managed some of the most prestigious projects under the Bengaluru Cluster, including the Prestige Finsbury Clock Tower and Prestige Jindal City,
SR Vadivelu’s present focus is to drive EHS at the Prestige City project, which according to him, is a monumental venture in the residential sector with 149 villas and 39 towers, each towering over 30 stories and exceeding 100 meters in height. “We have already achieved 27 million safe manhours and are preparing for the BSC’s Five-Star Audit,” he states purposefully.
Vadivalu’s claim to fame are the several accolades he has won, including BSC’s Sword of Honour, the Rolling Trophy for Excellence in SOP Compliance from the Bengaluru Cluster for the Prestige Jindal City Project, and the Bronze Award from NSC India for the Prestige City Project. “These achievements reflect our collaborative efforts and unwavering support from the HQ-EHS, Cluster, and Project teams,” he remarks gratefully.
Among some of his significant initiatives to drive safety and sustainability is a monthly newsletter providing comprehensive details on EHS statistics, new initiatives, training records, introduction of concrete recycling plant to prevent land contamination, promote sustainability, and effectively manage concrete waste. “We have installed a Speed Monitoring System at junctions and prominent locations, to prevent incidents and a Wall-Mounted Breath Analyzer to ensure that workers, drivers, and operators are not under the influence of alcohol while on duty,” he shares.
“I strongly believe that safety is not just a priority but a core value that must be ingrained in every aspect of our work,” he shares seriously. “As we continue to push the boundaries of construction excellence, our unwavering commitment to safety must ensure that we not only build great structures but also protect the lives and well-being of those who build them.”
Learning, developing, and evolving
with L&T
“My journey of 18.5 years with L&T Construction has been one of continuous learning and development,” says Nitin Pingale. “I have seen the organization evolve and am proud to have been a part of its growth. It is more than just a workplace; but where I’ve grown professionally and personally, and in the process, gained invaluable experience in the EHS space.”
Nitin’s tenure at L&T is also one of a trail of awards. His first project, the electrical package of TAPP 3&4 won the Annual EHS Trophy. “Next, at the Panvel to JNPT Railway line doubling and electrical line works, I learned a lot about challenges of infrastructure projects and how to overcome them and thereafter joined the Mumbai Regional office as Safety Coordinator,” he recalls. During his RO stint, he learnt about managerial aspects and EHS Systems. His next project was at the US Consulate to upgrade their OSHA standards.
Nitin Rajaram Pingale, Manager — EHS, B&F IC
CIDCO Project, Bamandongri SURAKSHA PURASKAR (Bronze Trophy)
Entering the space of high-rise residential towers, Nitin worked at a slew of projects including the Arshiya Warehouse, Birla Surya Factory, Ahuja Tower, Omkar Malad, and The Trees projects, learning to integrate EHS into every aspect of high-rise construction. “As EHS Coordinator with the Mumbai Cluster Office, I got to do Audits and EHS system process verifications,” he shares.
Nitin’s stint at the CIDCO Housing Project, Bamandongri, another Mass Housing Project of 43 towers, has been awards-filled winning BSC’s Five Star Award, the Sword of Honor, NSCI’s Bronze Trophy, the Annual EHS Trophy and CIDC’s Vishwakarma Award. Currently, he is at the CIDCO Housing Project, Kharkopar Navi Mumbai.
“EHS success depends on how well it is integrated into each business process and work procedure and how each process owner is responsible and accountable for EHS implementation,” he sums up. “I have enjoyed every moment at L&T, in the company of my encouraging leaders and colleagues and my team is like an extension of my family.”
Making a habit of winning EHS awards
His best moments with L&T over two wonderful decades in the EHS space, that began in September 2003, at the Microsoft Campus, Hyderabad, is all about awards, awards and more awards. “My habit of winning awards started at my first project itself where we bagged NSCI’s Bronze Safety Award (Trophy) under the Construction Awards Scheme in 2005 and the RoSPA Silver Award in 2008,” grins Umesh Swain. A proud moment for him was to travel to UK and receive the RoSPA Award in Birmingham.
Thereafter, he worked at the ICICI Building project in Hyderabad, the Kohinoor Square, India Tower and Reliance Twin Tower projects, all in Mumbai and is presently heading the EHS function at B&F’s Common Central Secretariat Integrated Buildings 1,2 & 3 Project (CCS), in Delhi.
The ICICI Building project won NSCI’s Golden Safety Award under the Construction Awards Scheme 2008. As Cluster EHS Manager, his projects, I Gate Airoli, Reliance Twin Tower, Wipro, Ikea, Mumbai, Nxtra Data Centre, Pune, Godrej Two and L&T’s Business Tower projects, won the RoSPA Gold Awards. The Ikea Project, Navi Mumbai, bagged NSCI’s Shreshta Suraksha Puraskar (Silver Trophy) Safety Award and Motera Stadium project, NSCI’s 4th level Safety Award 2020 (Prashansa Patra).
Umesh Chandra Swain, Dy General Manager (EHS), B&F IC
Common Central Secretariat Project, New Delhi | 4th Level Award: PRASHANSA PATRA
“The crowning pieces of my career were three projects, Godrej Two, L&T Business Tower and Chalet Commercial, all of which won BSC’s 5‑Star rating and the coveted Sword of Honour awards,” he shares with relish. “As EHS Head, I have continued the tradition at the Common Central Secretariat Project, bagging both the 5‑Star Rating and the Sword of Honour Award 2023.” Additionally, the project has won the GRIHA Exemplary Performance award for Construction Workers’ Health & Safety (2022–23), NSCI’s Prasansha Patra 2023 (4th level) and CIDC’s Vishwakarma award for achievement on Construction Health, safety, and Environment — 2024.