admin Proving their mettle … safely!
Hot Strip Mill Project at Rourkela for SAIL
The MMH SBG has constructed a state-of- the-art 3 MPTA Hot Strip Mill – II for Steel Authority in India Limited at Rourkela, which also happens to be L&T’s first EPC project in collaboration with Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan. For Project Head, R Uma Sathiyan, the mandate is clear: live up to the trust reposed on L&T by a long- term client, meet the stringent Japanese requirements and, of course, build an infrastructure that makes India proud. With a labour force of close to 5,400 in tough conditions at a project that is spread over 0.58 sq. km, both Sathiyan and EHS Head, R Uma Shankar, had the added responsibility to maintain high EHS standards. As of November 2019, the site has clocked 37.5 million safe man hours and Uma Shankar is quick to add that they have had no incidents “due to accidents, environmental pollution, fire, explosions, uncontrolled waste water or oil discharge, spillages and the like that are typical of a steel plant project.” The site enjoys a clean record too regarding fatalities though there have been 7 reported near misses.
Leadership plays a very important role in keeping high safety standards at site and therefore we lead from the front in identifying hazards, defining EHS targets, ensuring a safe and healthy system, using safe equipment, improving qualifications and, most importantly, investing in people. We want them to drive our EHS initiatives and if we have thus far succeeded in our Vision Zero Harm, it is really thanks to their efforts.
R. Uma Sathiyan
Project Head
This safety performance is even more creditable when one considers the variety of critical operations that the project team has already executed including the erection of two 112 m tall stacks, an overhead tank 48 m high, scale pit and ROT structures involving depths of 23 m and 18 m respectively, successful installation and charging of a 220 kV transmission line (also the first executed by MMH SBG) and installation of a 33 kV GIS that is India’s largest single board GIS with a sectionalizer, 2 bus couplers and 37 bays.
“Leadership plays a very important role in keeping high safety standards at site,” remarks Sathiyan, “and therefore we lead from the front in identifying hazards, defining EHS targets, ensuring a safe and healthy system, using safe equipment, improving qualifications and, most importantly, investing in people. We want them to drive our EHS initiatives and if we have thus far succeeded in our Vision Zero Harm, it is really thanks to their efforts.” He is visibly proud of his team’s achievements. While empowerment is fine, reasonable control is necessary to keep things on track that are in the form of consequence management, counselling repeated violators and violation memos or even show cause notices in extreme cases. “We have had 13,451 EHS Observations and 17 audits of which 5 have been by external agencies,” says Uma Shankar, adding with a smile, “We are sure that we are doing a good job but it is nice to be told so by external parties once in a while.” The taste of success for Uma Shankar and his team is even sweeter as they must comply with certain extremely stringent requirements from both the client, SAIL, and the government of Odisha.
We are very conscious of the environment too and regularly monitor the quality of ambient air, noise created and illumination at site apart from planting saplings and increasing the green cover.
Uma Shankar
Project Head
He ticks off several safety routines that are strictly followed at site like daily morning stand down meetings, monthly mass meetings, recognizing safety promoters, and other steps like clearly designated parking zones, defined areas for vehicle and people movement and events promoting safety initiatives such as quizzes and sports competitions. A slew of digital initiatives like the i-INS System, the app-based EHS observation system, app-based rigging permit and PTW systems have helped enormously to improve the site’s safety performance.
An encouraging sight at the project site is the number of large and colourful display boards that keep reminding everyone the importance of safety in everything they do.
“We have already conducted some 650 training programmes including VR modules and have trained over 13,000 workmen although at peak our strength has been about 5,400,” says Uma Shankar, alluding to the migratory nature of his workforce. “We are very conscious of the environment too and regularly monitor the quality of ambient air, noise created and illumination at site apart from planting saplings and increasing the green cover.” The quality of workmen camps is of a high order with clean, well-maintained toilet facilities, hygienic drinking water and paramedical services in attendance 24×7.
Mr. Ranjan Roy-Project Director, Mr. Umasathiyan-Project Manager and Mr. Umashankar-EHSM receives the Annual EHS Trophy from Mr. Anupam Kumar-SBG Head-MMH. Also in the picture: Mr. T.Kumaresan-M&M BU Head and Mr. K.N. Sen-Head EHS
For such impeccable EHS work, the accolades and awards are only to be expected. “We won FICCI’s Quality Systems Efficiency Platinum Award in 2018 and the RoSPA Gold Award in 2019,” shares Uma Shankar proudly, “apart from the awards from our client for achieving milestones in completing safe million man hours. We were among the most digitally enabled sites in MMH last year,” he says. In addition, both workmen and employees are recognized with monthly safety awards and the Best Safety Conscious award.
As the project proceeds rapidly towards completion, here is wishing Sathiyan, Uma Shankar and team to keep their safety record intact and deliver an excellent project.
