CSIR-NCL Annual Report 2011-12grEgAmB©Ama-EZgrEb dm{f©H$ à{VdoXZ 2011-12 140

S & T Support Services

Safety Management

Safety awareness and orientation to CSIR-NCL staff & students: In the past safety awareness was included as a part of the research methodology course work (conducted twice a year for 16 hours each). A revised programme (mandatory for all new comers) has been initiated in January 2012 to conduct safety awareness and orientation course for new entrants to CSIR-NCL (JRFs, Trainees, PAs, SRFs and new staff) once / twice a month & round the year. During the year, a total of 12 such courses were held.

Training for emergency response for all staff and students in CSIR-NCL: At least 2 sessions with 4 batches each are conducted for the fire safety demonstration & training to learn about the causes of common lab fire and how to prevent and extinguish it with portable fire extinguishers. More than 300 staff and students participated in these two sessions.

Several invited seminars, workshops and lecture programmes scheduled in colleges & universities, chemistry and pharma laboratories and establishments engaged in strategic fields at different locations in western India have been delivered to raise public awareness, sensitize and educate the researchers and line managers on a priority about chemistry, its safe practice, emergency planning and disaster management. Conduced more than 21 seminars (within CSIR-NCL and outside) during the last one year with an audience of college & university students and CSIR labs, professionals employed in manufacturing units, senior army officers and experts engaged in disaster management.

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board: Air, water and hazardous

waste management as per the relevant acts and liaison with MPCB for the consent management is taken care of.

Several new systems have been initiated for the storage of flammable solvents and for its disposal in a regulated manner. This has led to a reduced exposure to toxic chemicals and reduced danger of fire incidents. The concept has been propagated to several other academic and industrial establishments, who have also initiated such programmes.

Disposal of hazardous wastes and spent chemicals is a very crucial activity of the safety unit. During the year, with appropriate coordination with other scientists, the targets in this activity have been successfully accomplished.

Assistance to outside agencies: Timely assistance was provided to outside agencies in the event of an accident or a crisis in a chemical accident. Public awareness programmes and lectures on various aspects of safety, accident prevention and mitigation, disaster management were also organized for various educational and industrial establishments.

Lab preparedness, assistance to the security staff and programme organization and coordination during the visit of Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh (April 2011) and Minister of S & T (Dec 2011).

As proposed in previous year, Emergency response has been strengthened with building of teams for response, better training for evacuation. Mock drills have been just initiated.