JHARSUGUDA: Odisha Power generation Corporation Ltd., by following stringent safety standards, has created a benchmark in industrial safety in Odisha. Soon industries all over India would look towards OPGC in formulating their safety standards, said Managing Director Subramanium Shankaran speaking at the concluding ceremony of AES safety day programme on 28th May, 2014. Director (Operation) Mr Indranil Dutta congratulated all the employees on achieving 5 million Lost Time Injury (LTI) free 
man hours in January this year, which is an unique feat and symbolises OPGC’s the first one of its set of values which is “Putting Safety First”. He also pointed out that the “Stop Work Authority” given to all its employees on seeing an unsafe and potentially dangerous act inside the plant and its campus is unique in itself. “Our employees have shown great resolve in applying this authority which has made the premises safer” he said. Among others, Mr. A Srinivas Rao, Country Manager of AES India, Mr Sukanta Mohapatra, Plant Manager of OPGC and senior officials of AES spoke on the occasion.
The concluding function started with Safety Day message campaign through banners & posters display and pinning of Safety badges. At 8.30 am, about 700 OPGC and Contractor employees gathered to reaffirm the commitment to the cause of safety on this year’s theme “I am Always On”. Later, to spread awareness on safety, a video presentation on “AES Global Safety Day” was organised followed by a safety quiz competition among the employees.
The week long AES Safety day celebrations commenced on with the “Table Top exercise for Toxic gas & Spill emergency response on 22ndMay 2014. Key persons, Emergency Response and Spill Management team leaders, deputy leaders & key members actively participated in the exercise. The celebrations continued with a community safety culture development initiative by conducting a general safety awareness talk to 80 community school children invited from nearby five villages followed by safety art competition on home safety and road safety. The students were provided with art kits and the winners of the competition were rewarded.
Tool box talk was held on the subject “All occupational injuries are preventable” at different work locations – Main plant, CHP, Resource Centre, Plant Canteen, Warehouse/ MGR & Township. To emphasise the role of good housekeeping for a safe workplace, OPGC & Contractor people together were engaged in housekeeping at respective areas after the tool box talk.
Road safety campaign was carried out in and around the ITPS complex, through banner display, leaflet distribution & audio system. The campaign started from ITPS Township and about four villages, viz. Adhapada, Banharpali, Telenpali & Charpali were covered. During campaigning spot meeting cum awareness sessions were conducted. Overwhelming response found from the community.As a commitment towards community safety, OPGC took initiative to rectify the unsafe condition found with the substation located in Village Telenpali, which is about 2 km away from the plant.
