Keeping their safety standards flying high

On 29 December 2024, at 1.30 in the afternoon, an Indigo A320 aircraft smoothly approached and landed on the runway of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, greeted to a water cannon salute and rapturous cheers from L&T’s TI IC project team, for the event marked an important milestone in their project’s lifecycle. With the whole of the city waiting with bated breath for operations to start full swing by mid-2025 (as per media reports), Project Manager Arvind Kumar Jha and his team are up to their noses driving the project for partial handover. Though working at breakneck speed, they have still maintained their EHS performance and have been rewarded for their collective efforts with L&T Construction’s Safety Award 2024.

“If you ask me if there is something truly innovative that we have done in the EHS space, the answer is no,” shrugs Arvind, sounding matter of fact, “but, yes, we have Safety as our top priority at site and ensure that everyone right from me to the last worker has safety at the top of our minds, and by adopting a positive approach towards Mission Zero Harm, we have successfully created a strong safety culture.”

The EHS mantra for success

Clocking more than 13 million safe manhours is no mean feat in such a complex & challenging project, thanks to the sharp & clear message from the site leadership: NO compromise of Safety or Quality, which has brought a balanced focus to all perspectives. “Considering our humungous quantum of work that even involves working closely to hill blasting zones, it is only understandable that EHS is our top priority at every meeting with stakeholders, including clients, with matters thoroughly discussed for appropriate or corrective actions,” apprises Pramod Kumar Behera, Safety Consultant.

Adopting a top-bottom driven approach, Arvind and team are driving the project forward with planning, training, and complete involvement from every personnel to identify risks & hazards and implement appropriate SOPs. Prejob EHS risk assessment workshops with all stakeholders help to review and implement safety measures. “We have developed hazard identification & risk assessments and safe work methods for every activity and implemented control measures to execute the work safely, through 3,000+ training sessions, having clocked over 46,000 training manhours,” informs Shivanand Yerawar, Manager – EHS. The various aspects focused on include mechanical/manual material handling, airside safety & work procedures, excavation SOPs, defensive driving, work at height, electrical & scaffolding safety, and more, with a Project EHS Committee with representatives from all sections overseeing the process.

“We have assiduously worked on root causes of violations based on specific inputs,” adds Shivanand. “Teams from execution, supporting functions, and EHS work together to create awareness and enhance skills and behavioural aspects to meet our objectives.”

Safely managing man–machine interface

With 350+ vehicles/equipment in service and 2,300+ people at work, man–machine interface is a key challenge to address, for which the team has in place stringent safety measures like restricting entry & exits, isolating & properly demarking work areas with vehicle movements, adequate illumination, and structured training. Manoj Kumar Pradhan, Head – Plant & Machinery, mentions the safe and delayed starters installed on heavy machinery such as soil compactors, motor graders, and loaders to eliminate hazardous conditions around the machine before starting operations. Additionally, rearview cameras have been installed in all rollers, graders, transit mixers, and construction equipment.

“By adopting the ‘5S’ culture at stores, and the ‘Don’t Walk By’ initiatives, it is everyone’s responsibility to correct safety deviations (UA/UCs) right there and then,” affirms Nayudu Thatikayala R L, Airside In-charge.

Appreciating the importance of the workers’ mental health as a key driver of productivity, a stress management and mental health programme was conducted by Apollo Hospitals that integrated medical expertise with holistic approaches to address the physical and psychological aspects of stress and mental wellbeing. “We have thus far conducted 12 health checkup camps, 16 health awareness talks, and 3 first aid training sessions on basic life support,” informs Abhinav Agrawal, Head – Planning. The team has instituted a Monthly Motivational Award too, to keep workers engaged and committed.

Team – EHS from Left to Right — Millan Patnaik, Pramod Kumar Behera, Arvind Kumar Jha, Maheswari Mohanty, MD. Rizwan, Shivanand
Yerawar, Jethin KJ

Digitalization driving EHS efficiency

Digitization has been helping the team in their effort to largely control project risk levels, designing various EHS digital modules and mobile Apps to efficiently gather and analyse EHS data. “VR modules on EHS golden rules have helped to enhance EHS culture and promote positive behaviour to implement our EHS management system,” mentions Pramod.

The SHEILD App and Inspect Before Use (IB4U) are other lead drivers for EHS inspections, observations, and tracking of EHS records. GPS technology & IR speed guns help to track vehicles ‘live’, monitor speeds, and track status of operations.