ecchelmet Innovation Campus, Manapakkam, Chennai
Safety powered by digitalisation
Winning BSC’s ‘Sword of Honour’ in 2023 was a huge affirmation to Project Manager, Singaram Vadivazhagan, and his project team at the L&T Innovation Campus, Chennai, that they were ticking all the right boxes from an EHS perspective. Winning L&T Construction’s Safety Award 2023 is certainly a reaffirmation of their sound EHS practices, that also puts a responsibility on them to keep up the good work.
While establishing a strong safety culture is a priority, we have successfully fostered a mindset where safety is the priority at all levels. We have also adopted a whole set of digital solutions to drive safety which is perhaps why we were recognized as the ‘Best Digital Enabled Project 2023’.
Singaram Vadivazhagan
Project Manager
About the project: A mixed-use development sprawling over 40 acres, the project scope involves civil core & shell works, finishes, main MEP Works, façade & external development works in 2 towers with 3 basements, GF+12F, with a built-up area of 1.75 million sq. ft. to be completed in 29 months. Currently in Phase‑I, two towers can accommodate 1.05 million sq. ft. of leasable space with the potential for a total of 6.5 million sq. ft. to be leased in the future.
A ‘digital’ recipe for EHS success
Singaram attributes their EHS success, having already clocked 6 million safe man hours and counting, to two innovations at site: the pioneering use of safety screens in the construction of commercial buildings and the introduction of prefabricated scaffolds to construct columns more efficiently and safely. “While establishing a strong safety culture is a priority, we have successfully fostered a mindset where safety is the priority at all levels,” he says forcefully. “We have also adopted a whole set of digital solutions to drive safety which is perhaps why we were recognized as the ‘Best Digital Enabled Project 2023’,” he grins.
The integrated digital technologies they have adopted at site proactively identifies safety risks, improves communication & collaboration among teams, and helps create a safer working environment that translate into higher levels of productivity, efficiency, and safety. The combination of digital and safety applications such as ‘SHEILD’ and ‘Predictive Analytics – Safety Risk Profiling’ are both promoting efficiency and fostering sustainability. A strong proponent of Predictive Analytics, Singaram says, “Along with my EHS team, I closely monitor real time data on ‘safety risk profiling’ to guide our decision-making and focus on highrisk areas for continuous improvement. Section In-charges also engage with the Predictive Analytics dashboard daily, promptly addressing concerns to ensure a safe work environment.”
‘Computer Vision’, an AI-based digital platform, helps detect Unsafe Acts and Unsafe Conditions like workers without proper PPE, working near electrical panels, over speeding vehicles, those working in vehicle paths, with real-time alerts and notifications to the Section Incharge and safety officers. Other digital applications such as a fuel monitoring sensor, MOBA, has improved project outcomes.
Identifying high risk areas for special attention
Aravinth K, Head EHS and team have identified work at height, transport hazards, and material handling with equipment as the top hazards during the planning stage. The team has conducted detailed risk assessments with control measures to address them and continuously monitor these control measures to ensure compliance. “One of the unique risk mitigation measures appreciated by the auditor is competency assurance for safety critical roles among the workmen and standardized training for them in pictorial form/videos & regional languages.”
One of the unique risk mitigation measures appreciated by the auditor is competency assurance for safety critical roles among the workmen and standardized training for them in pictorial form/ videos & regional languages.
Aravinth K
Head EHS
In addition to proactive prevention measures, the project has implemented robust safety monitoring and inspection procedures. “Regular site inspections are conducted to identify potential hazards and ensure compliance with safety regulations and industry standards,” remarks Senior EHS Manager, T Bhuvaneshwaran, “apart from near-miss reporting and incident investigations to continuously improve safety performance.
Being lean and agile
Agile methodologies and streamlined processes are helping maintain project efficiency and achieve key milestones. The D‑wall of 440 Rmt was completed in March 2022, the first slab was cast in June 2022, and a 10,000 cum. of concrete pour was achieved in August 2022. “We have implemented lean principles such as 5S to enhance safety, quality and collaboration,” says Phaneendra Ballana, Head Planning, “and are always seeking opportunities to innovate, enhance efficiency and reduce waste. At our daily huddles, we review project goals, discuss safety concerns, address challenges, and encourage active participation and collaboration among team members to identify and resolve issues.”
We have implemented lean principles such as 5S to enhance safety, quality and collaboration and are always seeking opportunities to innovate, enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
Phaneendra Ballana
Head Planning
Workers are cross trained in multiple tasks and skills to improve flexibility, adaptability, and teamwork to mitigate the risk of bottlenecks, delays, and dependencies on specific individuals or trades.
Embracing innovation
The cup-lock formwork system adopted is faster to erect than traditional methods – up to 4 components are secured in one unique node point – and supports scaffold boards, battens, or decking platforms. The ergonomically designed components and intuitive assembly mechanisms enable workmen to work more efficiently and safely. What’s more, it allows multiple workers to work simultaneously at different heights, boosting productivity. The team led by Manikandan E & Arun Kumar P, In-charges for Tower 1 and Tower 2, set a record by achieving a 10-day slab cycle time in PT using the unique cup-lock formwork system to complete the Tower 1 structure in May 2023 and Tower 2 in July 2023.
Another feather in the team’s cap is that they have retained 100% of their workmen.
Even as the Innovation Campus progresses, crossing more milestones in the process, there is no doubt that one of Singaram and team’s prime areas of focus would be to keep their EHS record top notch.
BUILDING HIS CAREER FOR 16 YEARS AND COUNTING
E Manikandan
Senior Construction Manager (Civil), B&F IC
As In-charge of Tower 1 at the Innovation Campus, E Manikandan along with his team is responsible to ensure safe operations, and the fact that the project has won L&T Construction’s Safety Award 2023 is a fair testimony to their hard work. “To start with, we pro-actively planned all the high-profile activities like work at height, traffic management, and mechanical material handling,” he informs, flagging off the implementation of the safety screen in Tower 1 as a pioneering effort in commercial projects. “One of my life’s best moments was when we achieved a 10-day slab cycle for the 11th Floor of Tower 1,” he says with a huge sense of achievement.
Elaborating on their various other steps to ensure safety, Manikandan mentions the implementation of all fall prevention devices, and the adherence to SOPs that even exceed organizational requirements. “We have introduced a lifeline with ratchet type tensioner for working at height, leading floor edge protection is marked with yellow modular gates, the floor openings have standard mesh, and the lift shafts are equipped with accessible temporary gates.”
We have introduced a lifeline with ratchet
type tensioner for working at height, leading
floor edge protection is marked with yellow
modular gates, the floor openings have
standard mesh, and the lift shafts are
equipped with accessible temporary gates.
These are typical floors having 64 shaft cutouts closed with reinforcement along with slab casting as a fall protection system, he mentions. “The leading edge handrail has slab casting as a fall protection system and there are primary and secondary fall protection catch net arrangements,” he adds. The SHEILD App helps the team to monitor and control the risks involved in all activities, with the help of a dashboard that presents daily data, to be discussed by the team to take up lag indicators.
Having joined L&T in 2007, Manikandan is already a veteran, having worked at a host of B&F projects. “I have worked 16 years in L&T to grow my career,” he shares with an air of commitment. “This esteemed organisation recognises and suitably rewards hard work, as it has in my case, and has speeded up my personal and professional growth.”
Manikandan hails from Virudhunagar and is married to Sheela, who is a shadow teacher, and they are blessed with two children, Sabarish Rhythan and Rhythana. When free, he indulges himself by reading books and playing various sports.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Arunkumar P
Construction Manager (Civil), B&F IC
- We moved away from traditional construction methods to explore new methodologies and completed Tower 2 in July 2023 using a unique cup-lock formwork system.
Arunkumar P looks proudly at the twin towers of the Innovation Campus, savouring his contribution as Incharge of Tower 2 in its design, project management, and agile construction. “We moved away from traditional construction methods to explore new methodologies and completed Tower 2 in July 2023 using a unique cup-lock formwork system,” he shares with a lopsided grin. “Since then, there has been no looking back.”
He attributes their success to proactive planning in highprofile activities like work at height, traffic management, material handling, and efficiency of tasks. “Our thorough risk assessments help identify potential hazards associated with working at height,” he shares, and the team has gone all out to implement various safety initiatives such as lifelines with ratchet-type tensioner and primary & secondary fall protection catch net arrangements.
Arunkumar is not one to be bogged down by challenges, such as attrition being at an all-time high during the peak stage of construction, which affected progress. “The new workmen were not familiar about the organizational requitements, but we trained them to get the right output because there is no compromise when it comes to quality and safety,” he says forcefully.
A keen proponent of digital tools, he mentions the Safety App to monitor and control risks. Its dashboard of daily data helps the team work on the lag parameters to improve safety, compliance, and sustainability efforts.
Arunkumar joined L&T at the TCS Siruseri Project as a Site Engineer and thereafter at ESIC Kollam; JIPMER Hospital, Pondicherry; Commerzone-Raheja, Chennai; and Raheja, Hyderabad, projects before assuming his current assignment at the Innovation Campus. “My 16 years of experience in commercial projects has given me an edge and expanded my knowledge of high-rise structures,” he nods. He is grateful to his seniors for their guidance and support, especially for allocating resources on time, which has helped the team to achieve their targets without incidents.
Hailing from Palani, in Dindugal, he is married to Nanthini, a postgraduate in Physics, and they are blessed with a son, Kirthik. An avid movie buff, he catches up by watching the latest movies in his free time. His most memorable moment was becoming a parent in 2016.
A proud L&T‑ite, he believes that the organization hones its employees to rise to challenges and provides continuous learning opportunities to reach great heights, fostering personal and professional growth.
EMPOWERED TO GIVE HIS BEST!
Sundar Subramanian
Manager (P&M), B&F IC
For the safety of the equipment operators,
we provide comprehensive training on how
to safely and efficiently operate machinery
and ensure that they are aware of the safety
protocols, regulations, and best practices to
prevent accidents and injuries.
As the P&M Manager, Sundar Subramanian has contributed significantly to the construction activities at the Safety Award–winning Innovation Campus by effectively managing equipment, ensuring safety and compliance, and optimizing resource utilization, thus contributing to the project’s success.
He was instrumental in establishing a cutting-edge workshop for major maintenance and repairs and helped create a competency development centre for P&M workmen. “For the safety of the equipment operators, we provide comprehensive training on how to safely and efficiently operate machinery and ensure that they are aware of the safety protocols, regulations, and best practices to prevent accidents and injuries.” All his 110 P&M workmen follow 100% safety compliance, he notes proudly.
He has safely executed 84 high-risk E&D activities and implemented Equipment Related SOPs with 100% compliance. The team has thus far achieved 96,907 machine hours and safely produced, transported, and pumped 1.25 lakh cum.
“We faced challenges to ensure the safe operation of the tower cranes and boom placers due to their proximity,” he says, “but these were managed by swiftly deciding to reassign resources and adjust schedules to ensure smooth operation.” On the digital front, the team used MEHA, to analyse equipment telemetry data, historical maintenance records, and performance patterns for proactive maintenance scheduling, minimize unplanned downtime and reduce maintenance costs. The IB4U app is used extensively for inspections, IoTs for predictive analysis and SHEILD app for safety permits.
He is thankful to his seniors, Project Manager, S Vadivazhagan, and Cluster Plant Managers, P Ravichandran and M Kalaimani, for empowering him and establishing clear communication channels to disseminate information, provide regular inputs, and address concerns promptly. Furthermore, he is grateful to his colleagues and subordinates for their unwavering support and cooperation. Together, they have created a culture of safety that is deeply ingrained in their daily operations.
His journey with L&T began as a DET at TCS Siruseri in 2007. Since then, he has played pivotal roles in various projects, including Technology Centre 3 in Chennai, Cochin International Airport in Kerala, TANCEM Project in Ariyalur, and more, leading up to his current role at the Innovation Campus.
A native of Lalgudi, Trichy, he is married to M Karthiga Devi. They are blessed with sons S Pratheesh and S Rohith Varman. His most memorable moments are getting an opportunity to work at L&T and later, becoming a manager.
He is proud to work for L&T as the organisation empowers its employees like him to participate in changing cityscapes and building nations.
FINISHING WITH
SAFETY & QUALITY
G. Saravanakumar
Construction Manager (Civil), B&F IC
- Efficient materials handling using
machinery to reduce manpower, reinforced mesh to close vertical shafts, and having trained masons to handle the masonry works using cuplock instead of khalasi, are some of the reasons we won the award.
For a construction professional with over a decade of experience, G. Saravanakumar is happy that he is at the right place with L&T. “It’s a matter of great pride and happiness for me to be part of an organization that prioritizes safety and quality,” he says confidently and with immense satisfaction. Having started his career as a Finishes engineer, he is presently at the Safety Award–winning Innovation Campus, playing the key role of Finishing In-charge, overseeing intricate details to ensure project perfection.
Understandably, Saravanakumar and the entire project team are delighted at winning this coveted award that he attributes to their unique initiatives. “Efficient materials handling using machinery to reduce manpower, reinforced mesh to close vertical shafts, and having trained masons to handle the masonry works using cuplock instead of khalasi, are some of the reasons we won the award,” he smiles. Of course, it has not all been smooth sailing and he has encountered challenges like having to struggle with confined spaces when plastering the vertical shaft.
Grateful for the support of his seniors and team members, Saravanakumar highlights their collaborative efforts to overcome challenges. “Regular discussions with seniors and knowledge sharing have helped to safely execute the critical works,” he affirms. Digital solutions have helped streamline safety protocols on-site, enabling the team to monitor Safe-To-Go cards, work permits for shafts, and hot work permits daily, digitally.
With more than a decade in construction, Saravanakumar has contributed to various notable projects including MIOT Hospital, Cognizant Solutions, NTCB Shell Project, Wipro, Raheja Commerzone, and NXTRA Data Center. Reflecting on some of his memorable moments, he excitedly recalls the team achieving the British Safety Council awards for their contribution to safety at site.
Beyond work, Saravanakumar cherishes time he spends with his wife, S. Janani, a homemaker, and daughter, S. Hanvika. Despite his busy schedule, Saravanakumar, a native of Karaikal, Pondicherry, indulges in hobbies like playing cricket and chatting with his friends and colleagues.
At the Safety Award–winning Innovation Campus, Façade Manager, Ramar Pandi is happy to be building on his success at his first project Salsette-27, that featured twin 60-storey towers and installation of around 30,000 square metres of façade. “That was a challenging project,” he recalls, “but it has adequately prepared me for the challenges at this project,” he says, looking up at the two towers of the Innovation Campus.
“Thorough planning and review processes are crucial prior to commencing any critical activity such as façades,” he points out, “and we diligently focus on obtaining Work Method Statements, scheme drawings, and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA) from the façade contractor, which are then meticulously vetted by the team to pre-empt any practical challenges.”
From a safety perspective, Ramar mentions the challenges of installing large terrace panels weighing around 700 kilograms. “We had to modify our lifting arrangements to ensure the safe erection of these panels,” he remarks. Ramar credits his Project Manager for his encouragement and support towards completing their tasks, safely, efficiently and in time. “Open discussions and collaborative decision-making always help to solve complex challenges,” he notes wisely.
On the digital front, Ramar highlights the SHEILD Safety app, which facilitates real-time monitoring and risk control across activities. “The digital dashboard enables daily data analysis, allowing us to address any lagging parameters promptly,” he states. “Regularly raising Safety Task Sheets (STS) and implementing onsite Critical Control Points (CCP) has ensured ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement in our safety standards.”
Ramar cherishes the successful erection of the largest unitised panels at a height of 50 meters on both towers at L&T Innovation Campus. “These achievements underscore the collaborative efforts and commitment to excellence,” he shares, proud of their success.
He is thrilled to be part of a Company that is recognized as a Nation Builder. “L&T’s commitment to personal and professional development is truly commendable and it is an honour to contribute to projects that shape the nation’s infrastructure and foster personal growth.”
Hailing from Madurai, he is married to Sangeetha, a teaching professional, and cherishes spending time with his children, Dharanivel Pandian and Yogashree. While volleyball remains his passion, work commitments currently take precedence.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF SAFETY
Mathanagopalan M M
Assistant Construction Manager (Formworks), B&F IC
“Construction projects often involve a diverse workforce with varying levels of experience, language proficiency, and cultural backgrounds, making it the responsibility of the site team to ensure that safety protocols are properly communicated and understood by all workers,” points out Mathanagopalan M M insightfully, from his Safety Award–winning L&T Innovation Campus Project.
For a project that places such emphasis on EHS, the team has introduced several initiatives to maintain their impeccable record. For instance, they have implemented a lift shaft platform that provides workers with a secure and stable platform to move vertically within the lift shaft, thus reducing the likelihood of accidents or injuries due to fall. “Prefabricated scaffolds for columns have been designed with safety in mind and fabricated under controlled conditions to ensure uniformity,” informs Mathan, adding that this standardization minimizes errors and reduces the likelihood of accidents due to faulty or inconsistent scaffolding assembly. “It also reduces clutter and congestion at the site,” he notes with a smile.
In addition to the modular safety screen garnering attention, Mathan highlights competency development programmes focused on improving workmen skills and knowledge regarding safety practices, regulations, and procedures. “Thanks to this initiative, our workers are better equipped to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement safety measures effectively,” he says with a sense of purpose. Through digital solutions, the team is collecting data related to safety performance and incidents. “By analysing this data, we gain valuable insights into trends, patterns, and areas for improvement, enabling informed decision-making to enhance our overall safety culture,” he remarks.
L&T’s culture both inspires and empowers
me to contribute my skills and expertise
towards creating a better future. Being part of
an organization that values innovation and
excellence instils a sense of pride and purpose
in the work we do.
Mathan speaks highly of L&T’s rich history of pushing boundaries, pioneering new technologies, and delivering landmark projects. “L&T’s culture both inspires and empowers me to contribute my skills and expertise towards creating a better future. Being part of an organization that values innovation and excellence instils a sense of pride and purpose in the work we do.”
A native of Rasipuram, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, he is yet single with a love for exploring places, reading, photography, playing badminton, chess, and the keyboard.